The Life of Jesus

But some of them said, “It is by Ba‘al-Zibbul” — the ruler of the demons — “that he expels the demons.”

And others, trying to trap him, demanded from him a sign from Heaven.

But he, knowing what they were thinking, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, with one house collapsing on another.

So if the Adversary too is divided against himself, how can his kingdom survive? I’m asking because you claim it is by Ba‘al-Zibbul that I drive out the demons.

If I drive out demons by Ba‘al-Zibbul, by whom do your people drive them out? So, they will be your judges!

But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you!

“When a strong man who is fully equipped for battle guards his own house, his possessions are secure.

But when someone stronger attacks and defeats him, he carries off all the armor and weaponry on which the man was depending, and divides up the spoils.

Those who are not with me are against me, and those who do not gather with me are scattering.

“When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it travels through dry country seeking rest. On finding none, 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 evil than itself, and they come and live there — so that in the end the person is worse off than he was before.”

As Yeshua was saying these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice to call out, “How blessed is the mother that gave birth to you and nursed you from her breast!”

But he said, “Far more blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”

As the people crowded around him, Yeshua went on to say, “This generation is a wicked generation! It asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it — except the sign of Yonah.

For just as Yonah became a sign to the people of Ninveh, so will the Son of Man be for this generation.

The Queen of the South will appear at the Judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Shlomo, and what is here now is greater than Shlomo.

The people of Ninveh will stand up at the Judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they turned to God from their sins when Yonah preached, and what is here now is greater than Yonah.

“No one who has kindled a lamp hides it or places it under a bowl; rather, he puts it on a stand, so that those coming in may see its light.

The lamp of your body is the eye. When you have a ‘good eye,’ [that is, when you are generous,] your whole body is full of light; but when you have an ‘evil eye,’ [when you are stingy,] your body is full of darkness.

So take care that the light in you is not darkness!

If, then, your whole body is filled with light, with no part dark, it will be wholly lighted, as when a brightly lit lamp shines on you.”

As Yeshua spoke, a Parush asked him to eat dinner with him; so he went in and took his place at the table;

and the Parush was surprised that he didn’t begin by doing n’tilat yadayim before the meal.

However, the Lord said to him, “Now then, you P’rushim, you clean the outside of the cup and plate; but inside, you are full of robbery and wickedness.