CHAPTER XVI.
CHRIST DEFENDS THE DIVINE CHARACTER OF HIS MIRACLES, AND DENOUNCES THE PHARISEES.
1 11:14AND he cast out a demon, and it was dumb. And when the demon had gone out, the dumb spoke; and the multitudes wondered. 11:15But some of them said, He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of demons; 11:16and others, trying him, asked of him a sign from heaven. 11:17But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is desolated, and house falls upon house. 11:18And if Satan is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 11:19But if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? they, therefore, shall be your judges. 11:20But if by a finger of God I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 11:21When a strong man armed keeps his court, his goods are in peace; 11:22but when a stronger man than he comes upon him, and overcomes him, he takes away all his arms in which he trusted, and distributes his spoils. 11:23He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters.
2 11:24When an impure spirit has gone out of a man, it passes through places destitute of water, seeking a rest; and not finding one, says, I will return to my house from which I came out. 11:25And coming, it finds it swept and adorned. 11:26Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more evil than itself; and they come and dwell there; and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.
3 11:27And when he was saying these things, a certain woman from the multitude lifted up her voice, and said to him, Blessed is the mother that bore you, and the breasts which you nursed! 11:28And he said, Yes indeed, blessed are those that hear the word of God and keep it.
4 11:29And multitudes being assembled, he said, This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, and no sign shall be given it but the sign of Jonah. 11:30For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also shall the Son of man be to this generation. 11:31The queen of the south shall rise in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, a greater than Solomon is here. 11:32The men of Nineveh shall arise in the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they changed their minds at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.
5 11:33No one lights a candle and puts it in a secret place, or under a modius [1.916 gallon measure], but on a candlestick, that all who go in may see the light. 11:34The light of the body is the eye; when, therefore, your eye is sound, your whole body is light; but when your eye is evil, your whole body is dark. 11:35See, therefore, that the light which is in you be not darkness. 11:36If, therefore, your whole body is light, not having any part dark, the whole will be light, as when a candle lights you clearly.
6 11:37And when he was speaking, a certain Pharisee asked him to breakfast with him; and he went in and immediately sat down. 11:38And the Pharisee seeing him, wondered that he was not first baptized before breakfast. 11:39And the Lord said to him, Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and plate, but your inside is full of plunder and wickedness. 11:40Senseless men! did not he that made the outside make also the inside? 11:41But give the things within in charity, and behold, all things are pure to you.
7 11:42But woe to you, Pharisees! for you tithe mint, and rue, and every kind of plant, and omit justice and the love of God. These things you ought to do, and not to omit those. 11:43Woe to you, Pharisees! for you love the first seat in the synagogues, and salutations in the markets. 11:44Woe to you! for you are like concealed tombs; and men walk over them and know it not.
8 11:45And one of the lawyers answered and said to him, Teacher, in saying these things you reproach us also. 11:46And he said, Woe to you, lawyers! for you load men with burdens difficult to be borne, and you yourselves will not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 11:47Woe to you! for you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them; 11:48therefore you are witnesses, and approve the deed of your fathers; for they killed them, and you build. 11:49Therefore also the wisdom of God said, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall kill and persecute, 11:50that the blood of all the prophets which has been poured out since the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 11:51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the house. Yes, I tell you, it shall be required of this generation. 11:52Woe to you, lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge; you do not enter in yourselves, and you forbid those entering.
9 11:53And when he had gone out thence the scribes and Pharisees were extremely angry, and questioned him on many subjects, 11:54watching him, to catch something from his mouth.