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- And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute; when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed.
- But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons."
- Others, to test Him, were demanding of Him a sign from heaven.
- But He knew their thoughts and said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls.
- "If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.
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- Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.
- But some of them said, "By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons."
- Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.
- Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.
- If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub.
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- "And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? So they will be your judges.
- "But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
- "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed.
- "But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder.
- "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.
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- Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
- But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
- "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.
- But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.
- "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.
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- "When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'
- "And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order.
- "Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first."
- While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed."
- But He said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it."
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- "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.'
- When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.
- Then it goes and takes 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."
- As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."
- He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
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- As the crowds were increasing, He began to say, "This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah.
- "For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
- "The Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
- "The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
- "No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light.
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- As the crowds increased, Jesus said, "This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.
- For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.
- The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.
- 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.
- "No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.
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- "The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness.
- "Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness.
- "If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays."
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- Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness.
- See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
- Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you."
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