Luke 11:14-36

English Standard Version

Jesus and Beelzebul

¹⁴^(A)Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. ¹⁵But some of them said, “He casts out demons ^(B)by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” ¹⁶while others, ^(C)to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. ¹⁷^(D)But he, ^(E)knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. ¹⁸And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, ^(F)by whom do ^(G)your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁰But if it is by ^(H)the finger of God that I cast out demons, then ^(I)the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²¹When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; ²²^(J)but when one stronger than he attacks him and ^(K)overcomes him, he takes away his ^(L)armor in which he trusted and ^(M)divides his spoil. ²³^(N)Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Return of an Unclean Spirit

²⁴^(O)“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through ^(P)waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ ²⁵And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. ²⁶Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And ^(Q)the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

True Blessedness

²⁷As he said these things, ^(R)a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ^(S)“Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” ²⁸But he said, ^(T)“Blessed rather are those ^(U)who hear the word of God and ^(V)keep it!”

The Sign of Jonah

²⁹^(W)When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ^(X)“This generation is an evil generation. ^(Y)It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. ³⁰For as ^(Z)Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. ³¹^(AA)The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and ^(AB)condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, ^(AC)something greater than Solomon is here. ³²^(AD)The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and ^(AE)condemn it, for ^(AF)they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, ^(AG)something greater than Jonah is here.

The Light in You

³³^(AH)“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. ³⁴Your eye is ^(AI)the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is ^(AJ)bad, your body is full of darkness. ³⁵^(AK)Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. ³⁶If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, ^(AL)as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”