Part 20

011:016 Others, to put Him to the test, asked Him for a sign in the sky.

011:017 And, knowing their thoughts, He said to them, "Every kingdom in which civil war rages goes to ruin: family attacks family and is overthrown.

011:018 And if Satan really has engaged in fierce conflict with himself, how shall his kingdom stand?--because you say that I expel demons by the power of Baal-zebul.

011:019 And if it is by the power of Baal-zebul that I expel the demons, by whom do your disciples expel them? They therefore shall be your judges.

011:020 But if it is by the power of God that I drive out the demons, it is evident that the Kingdom of God has come upon you.

011:021 "Whenever a strong man, fully armed and equipped, is guarding his own castle, he enjoys peaceful possession of his property;

011:022 but as soon as another stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away that complete armour of his in which he trusted, and distributes the plunder he has collected.

011:023 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever is not gathering with me is scattering abroad.

011:024 "When a foul spirit has left a man, it roams about in the Desert, seeking a resting-place; but, unable to find any, it says, `I will return to the house I have left;"

011:025 and when it comes, it finds the house swept clean and in good order.

011:026 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more malignant than itself, and they enter and dwell there; and in the end that man's condition becomes worse than it was at first.

011:027 As He thus spoke a woman in the crowd called out in a loud voice, "Blessed is the mother who carried you, and the breasts that you have sucked."

011:028 "Nay rather," He replied, "they are blessed who hear God's Message and carefully keep it."

011:029 Now when the crowds came thronging upon Him, He proceeded to say, "The present generation is a wicked generation: it requires some sign, but no sign shall be given to it except that of Jonah.

011:030 For just as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be a token to the present generation.

011:031 The Queen of the South will awake at the Judgement together with the men of the present generation, and will condemn them; because she came from the extremity of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; but mark! One greater than Solomon is here.

011:032 There will stand up men of Nineveh at the Judgement together with the present generation, and will condemn it; because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and mark! One greater than Jonah is here.

011:033 "When any one lights a lamp, he never puts it in the cellar or under the bushel, but on the lampstand, that people who come in may see the light.

011:034 The lamp of the body is the eye. When your eyesight is good, your whole body also is lighted up; but when it is defective, your body is darkened.

011:035 Consider therefore whether the light that is in you is anything but mere darkness.

011:036 If, however, your whole body is penetrated with light, and has no part dark, it will be so lighted, all of it, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light."

011:037 When He had thus spoken, a Pharisee invited Him to breakfast at his house; so He entered and took His place at table.

011:038 Now the Pharisee saw to his surprise that He did not wash His hands before breakfasting.

011:039 The Master however said to him, "Here we see how you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup or plate, while your secret hearts are full of greed and selfishness.

011:040 Foolish men! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also?

011:041 But as to what is within, give alms, and instantly all is clean in you.

011:042 "But alas for you Pharisees! for you pay tithes on your mint and rue and every kind of garden vegetable, and are indifferent to justice and the love of God. These are the things you ought to have attended to, while not neglecting the others.

011:043 Alas for you Pharisees! for you love the best seats in the synagogues, and you like to be bowed to in places of public resort.