Jesus and his disciples were criticized by the Pharisees for picking grain on the Sabbath, but Jesus defended their actions by referencing David's actions in the past and stating that he is the Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus then healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, further angering the Pharisees. He also healed a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, but the Pharisees accused him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub. Jesus responded by saying that a house divided against itself cannot stand and that he casts out demons by the Spirit of God. He also warned that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Jesus then taught that a tree is known by its fruit and that people will be judged by their words. The Pharisees asked for a sign, but Jesus said that the only sign they would receive is the sign of Jonah, referring to his future resurrection. Jesus also taught that an unclean spirit can return to a person if they are not filled with good, and he redefined his family as those who do the will of his Father in heaven.
1 At that time, Jesus went out through the ripe grain on the Sabbath. And his disciples, being hungry, began to separate the grain and to eat 2 Then the Pharisees, seeing this, said to him, "Behold, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbaths. 3 But he said to them: "Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests 5 Or have you not read in the law, that on the Sabbaths the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath, and they are without guilt 6 But I say to you, that something greater than the temple is here 7 And if you knew what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would never have condemned the innocent 8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath. 9 And when he had passed from there, he went into their synagogues 10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand, and they questioned him, so that they might accuse him, saying, "Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbaths? 11 But he said to them: "Who is there among you, having even one sheep, if it will have fallen into a pit on the Sabbath, would not take hold of it and lift it up 12 How much better is a man than a sheep? And so, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbaths. 13 Then he said to the man, "Extend your hand." And he extended it, and it was restored to health, just like the other one 14 Then the Pharisees, departing, took council against him, as to how they might destroy him 15 But Jesus, knowing this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he cured them all 16 And he instructed them, lest they make him known 17 Then what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah was fulfilled, saying 18 "Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased. I will place my Spirit over him, and he shall announce judgment to the nations 19 He shall not contend, nor cry out, neither shall anyone hear his voice in the streets 20 He shall not crush the bruised reed, and he shall not extinguish the smoking wick, until he sends forth judgment unto victory 21 And the Gentiles shall hope in his name. 22 Then one who had a demon, who was blind and mute, was brought to him. And he cured him, so that he spoke and saw 23 And all the crowds were stupefied, and they said, "Could this be the son of David? 24 But the Pharisees, hearing it, said, "This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons. 25 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself will become desolate. And every city or house divided against itself will not stand 26 So if Satan casts out Satan, then he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your own sons cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has arrived among you 29 Or how can anyone enter into the house of a strong man, and plunder his belongings, unless he first restrains the strong man? And then he will plunder his house 30 Whoever is not with me, is against me. And whoever does not gather with me, scatters 31 For this reason, I say to you: Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven 32 And anyone who will have spoken a word against the Son of man shall be forgiven. But whoever will have spoken against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven, neither in this age, nor in the future age 33 Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree evil and its fruit evil. For certainly a tree is known by its fruit 34 Progeny of vipers, how are you able to speak good things while you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks 35 A good man offers good things from a good storehouse. And an evil man offers evil things from an evil storehouse 36 But I say to you, that for every idle word which men will have spoken, they shall render an account in the day of judgment 37 For by your words shall you be justified, and by your words shall you be condemned. 38 Then certain ones from the scribes and the Pharisees responded to him, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you. 39 And answering, he said to them: "An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. But a sign will not be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah 40 For just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights 41 The men of Nineveh shall arise in judgment with this generation, and they shall condemn it. For, at the preaching of Jonah, they repented. And behold, there is a greater than Jonah here 42 The Queen of the South shall arise in judgment with this generation, and she shall condemn it. For she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And behold, there is a greater than Solomon here 43 Now when an unclean spirit departs from a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and he does not find it 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house, from which I departed’. And arriving, he finds it vacant, swept clean, and decorated 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and live there. And in the end, the man becomes worse than he was at first. So, too, shall it be with this most wicked generation. 46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak with him 47 And someone said to him: "Behold, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, seeking you. 48 But responding to the one speaking to him, he said, "Which one is my mother, and who are my brothers? 49 And extending his hand to his disciples, he said: "Behold: my mother and my brothers 50 For anyone who does the will of my Father, who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.