Matt.12.22

Next a poor demon-afflicted wretch, both blind and deaf, was set down before him. Jesus healed him, gave him his sight and hearing.

Matt.12.22

Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.

Matt.12.22

Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.

Matt.12.22

Then a demon-possessed man, who was both blind and unable to talk, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see.

Matt.12.23

The people who saw it were impressed--"This has to be the Son of David!"

Matt.12.23

All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"

Matt.12.23

And all the multitudes were amazed and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"

Matt.12.23

The crowd was amazed. "Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?" they wondered out loud.

Matt.12.24

But the Pharisees, when they heard the report, were cynical. "Black magic," they said. "Some devil trick he's pulled from his sleeve."

Matt.12.24

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."

Matt.12.24

Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."

Matt.12.24

But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, "No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons."

Matt.12.25

Jesus confronted their slander. "A judge who gives opposite verdicts on the same person cancels himself out; a family that's in a constant squabble disintegrates;

Matt.12.25

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

Matt.12.25

But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.

Matt.12.25

Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, "Any kingdom at war with itself is doomed. A city or home divided against itself is doomed.

Matt.12.26

if Satan banishes Satan, is there any Satan left?

Matt.12.26

If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?

Matt.12.26

If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

Matt.12.26

And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.

Matt.12.27

If you're slinging devil mud at me, calling me a devil kicking out devils, doesn't the same mud stick to your own exorcists?

Matt.12.27

And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.

Matt.12.27

And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.

Matt.12.27

And if I am empowered by the prince of demons, what about your own followers? They cast out demons, too, so they will judge you for what you have said.

Matt.12.28

"But if it's by God's power that I am sending the evil spirits packing, then God's kingdom is here for sure.

Matt.12.28

But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Matt.12.28

But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Matt.12.28

But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.

Matt.12.29

How in the world do you think it's possible in broad daylight to enter the house of an awake, able-bodied man and walk off with his possessions unless you tie him up first? Tie him up, though, and you can clean him out.

Matt.12.29

"Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.

Matt.12.29

Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

Matt.12.29

Let me illustrate this. You can't enter a strong man's house and rob him without first tying him up. Only then can his house be robbed!

Matt.12.30

"This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, you're the enemy; if you're not helping, you're making things worse.

Matt.12.30

"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

Matt.12.30

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

Matt.12.30

Anyone who isn't helping me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me.

Matt.12.31

"There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven. But if you deliberately persist in your slanders against God's Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who forgives.

Matt.12.31

And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

Matt.12.31

"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.

Matt.12.31

"Every sin or blasphemy can be forgiven--except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which can never be forgiven.

Matt.12.32

If you reject the Son of Man out of some misunderstanding, the Holy Spirit can forgive you, but when you reject the Holy Spirit, you're sawing off the branch on which you're sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives.

Matt.12.32

Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Matt.12.32

Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

Matt.12.32

Anyone who blasphemes against me, the Son of Man, can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.

Matt.12.33

"If you grow a healthy tree, you'll pick healthy fruit. If you grow a diseased tree, you'll pick worm-eaten fruit. The fruit tells you about the tree.

Matt.12.33

"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.

Matt.12.33

"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.

Matt.12.33

"A tree is identified by its fruit. Make a tree good, and its fruit will be good. Make a tree bad, and its fruit will be bad.

Matt.12.34

"You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words.

Matt.12.34

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Matt.12.34

Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Matt.12.34

You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.

Matt.12.35

A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard.

Matt.12.35

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

Matt.12.35

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

Matt.12.35

A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart.

Matt.12.36

Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously.

Matt.12.36

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

Matt.12.36

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

Matt.12.36

And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak.

Matt.12.37

Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation."

Matt.12.37

For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Matt.12.37

For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Matt.12.37

The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned."

Matt.12.38

Later a few religion scholars and Pharisees got on him. "Teacher, we want to see your credentials. Give us some hard evidence that God is in this. How about a miracle?"

Matt.12.38

Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you."

Matt.12.38

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."

Matt.12.38

One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove that you are from God."

Matt.12.39

Jesus said, "You're looking for proof, but you're looking for the wrong kind. All you want is something to titillate your curiosity, satisfy your lust for miracles. The only proof you're going to get is what looks like the absence of proof: Jonah-evidence.

Matt.12.39

He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

Matt.12.39

But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

Matt.12.39

But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, faithless generation would ask for a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.

Matt.12.40

Like Jonah, three days and nights in the fish's belly, the Son of Man will be gone three days and nights in a deep grave.

Matt.12.40

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Matt.12.40

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Matt.12.40

For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so I, the Son of Man, will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.

Matt.12.41

"On Judgment Day, the Ninevites will stand up and give evidence that will condemn this generation, because when Jonah preached to them they changed their lives. A far greater preacher than Jonah is here, and you squabble about "proofs.'

Matt.12.41

The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.

Matt.12.41

The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

Matt.12.41

The people of Nineveh will rise up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. And now someone greater than Jonah is here--and you refuse to repent.

Matt.12.42

On Judgment Day, the Queen of Sheba will come forward and bring evidence that will condemn this generation, because she traveled from a far corner of the earth to listen to wise Solomon. Wisdom far greater than Solomon's is right in front of you, and you quibble over "evidence.'

Matt.12.42

The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.

Matt.12.42

The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

Matt.12.42

The queen of Sheba will also rise up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, because she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And now someone greater than Solomon is here--and you refuse to listen to him.

Matt.12.43

"When a defiling evil spirit is expelled from someone, it drifts along through the desert looking for an oasis, some unsuspecting soul it can bedevil. When it doesn't find anyone,

Matt.12.43

"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.

Matt.12.43

"When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.

Matt.12.43

"When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.

Matt.12.44

it says, "I'll go back to my old haunt.' On return it finds the person spotlessly clean, but vacant.

Matt.12.44

Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.

Matt.12.44

Then he says, "I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.

Matt.12.44

Then it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and clean.

Matt.12.45

It then runs out and rounds up seven other spirits more evil than itself and they all move in, whooping it up. That person ends up far worse off than if he'd never gotten cleaned up in the first place. "That's what this generation is like: You may think you have cleaned out the junk from your lives and gotten ready for God, but you weren't hospitable to my kingdom message, and now all the devils are moving back in."

Matt.12.45

Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."

Matt.12.45

Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation."

Matt.12.45

Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation."