Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible




It is enough for a scholar to be treated like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Baal-zebub, how much more the members of his household!

But, when the Pharisees saw this, they said: "Look! your disciples are doing what it is not allowable to do on a Sabbath!" "Have not you read," replied Jesus, "what David did, when he and his companions were hungry-- How he went into the House of God, and how they ate the consecrated bread, through it was not allowable for him or his companions to eat it, but only for the priests? read more.
And have not you read in the law that, on the Sabbath, the priest in the Temple break the Sabbath and yet are not guilty? Here, however, I tell you, there is something greater than the Temple! And had you learned the meaning of the words--'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned those who are not guilty. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath." Passing on, Jesus went into their Synagogue, And there he saw a man with a withered hand. Some people asked Jesus whether it was allowable to work a cure on the Sabbath- -so that they might have a charge to bring against him. But Jesus said to them: "Which of you, if he had only one sheep, and that sheep fell into a pit on the Sabbath, would not lay hold of it and pull it out? And how much more precious a man is than a sheep! Therefore it is allowable to do good on the Sabbath." Then he said to the man. "Stretch out your hand." The man stretched it out; and it had become as sound as the other. On coming out, the Pharisees plotted against Jesus, to put him to death.

Meanwhile the Chief Priests and the whole of the High Council were trying to get such false evidence against Jesus, as would warrant putting him to death, But they did not find any, although many came forward with false evidence. Later on, however, two men came forward and said: "This man said 'I am able to destroy the Temple of God, and to build it in three days.'"


Then they took Jesus to the High Priest; and all the Chief Priests, the Councillors, and the Teachers of the Law assembled. Peter, who had followed Jesus at a distance into the court- yard of the High Priest, was sitting there among the police- officers, warming himself at the blaze of the fire. Meanwhile the Chief Priest and the whole of the High Council were trying to get such evidence against Jesus as would warrant his being put to death, but they could not find any; read more.
For, though there were many who gave false evidence against him, yet their evidence did not agree. Presently some men stood up, and gave this false evidence against him-- "We ourselves heard him say 'I will destroy this Temple made with hands, and in three days build another made without hands.'" Yet not even on that point did their evidence agree. Then the High Priest stood forward, and questioned Jesus. "Have you no answer to make?" he asked. "What is this evidence which these men are giving against you?" But Jesus remained silent, and made no answer. A second time the High Priest questioned him. "Are you," he asked, "the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am," replied Jesus, "and you shall all see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Almighty; and 'coming in the clouds of heaven'." At this the High Priest tore his vestments. "Why do we want any more witnesses?" he exclaimed. "You heard his blasphemy? What is your verdict?" They all condemned him, declaring that he deserved death. Some of those present began to spit at him, and to blindfold his eyes, and strike him, saying, as they did so, "Now play the Prophet!" and even the police-officers received him with blows.

And they began to accuse him: "This is a man whom we found misleading our people, preventing them from paying taxes to the Emperor, and giving out that he himself is 'Christ, a King.'"

"If he had not been a criminal, we should not have given him up to you," they answered.


It is enough for a scholar to be treated like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Baal-zebub, how much more the members of his household!



And, if it is by Baal-zebub's help that I drive out demons, by whose help is it that your own sons drive them out? Therefore they shall themselves be your judges.


So, too, if Satan is wholly divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? Yet you say that I drive out demons by the help of Baal-zebub. But, if it is by Baal-zebub's help that I drive out demons, by whose help is it that your own sons drive them out? Therefore they shall themselves be your judges.


Many of them said: "He is possessed by a demon and is mad; why do you listen to him?"

"You must be possessed by a demon!" the people exclaimed. "Who is seeking to put you to death?"

And the Teachers of the Law, who had come down from Jerusalem, said: "He has Baal-zebub in him, and he drives the demons out by the help of Baal-zebub, their chief." So Jesus called them to him, and answered them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan? When a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot last; read more.
And when a household is divided against itself, it will not be able to last. So, if Satan is in revolt against himself and is divided, he cannot last--his end has come! No man who has got into a strong man's house can carry off his goods, without first securing him; and not till then will he plunder his house. I tell you that men will be forgiven everything--their sins, and all the slanders that they utter; but whoever slanders the Holy Spirit remains unforgiven to the end; he has to answer for an enduring sin." This was said in reply to the charge that he had a foul spirit in him.

"Are not we right, after all," replied the Jews, "in saying that you are a Samaritan, and are possessed by a demon?"



And his fame spread all through Syria. They brought to him all who were ill with any form of disease, or who were suffering pain--any who were either possessed by demons, or were lunatic, or paralyzed; and he cured them.

In the evening the people brought to Jesus many who were possessed by demons; and he drove out the spirits with a word, And cured all who were ill,

And even demons came out from many people, screaming 'You are the Son of God.' Jesus rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.


Then some people brought to Jesus a possessed man, who was blind and dumb; and he cured him, so that the man who had been dumb both talked and saw. At this all the people were astounded. "Is it possible that this is the son of David?" they exclaimed. But the Pharisees heard of it and said: "He drives out demons only by the help of Baal-zebub the chief of the demons." read more.
Jesus, however, was aware of what was passing in their minds, and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself becomes a desolation, and any town or household divided against itself will not last. So, if Satan drives Satan out, he must be divided against himself; and how, then, can his kingdom last? And, if it is by Baal-zebub's help that I drive out demons, by whose help is it that your own sons drive them out? Therefore they shall themselves be your judges. But, if it is by the help of the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God must already be upon you. How, again, can any one get into a strong man's house and carry off his goods, without first securing him? And not till then will he plunder his house. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not help me to gather is scattering. Therefore, I tell you, men will be forgiven every sin and slander; but slander against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in the present age, or in the age to come. You must assume either that both tree and fruit are good, or that both tree and fruit are worthless; since it is by it's fruits that a tree is known. You brood of vipers! how can you, evil as you are, say anything good? For what fills the heart will rise to the lips. A good man, from his good stores, produces good things; while an evil man, from his evil stores, produces evil things. I tell you that for every careless thing that men say, they must answer on the 'Day of Judgment.' For it is by your words that you will be acquitted, and by your words that you will be condemned."

And Judas Iscariot, the man that betrayed him. Jesus went into a house; and again a crowd collected, so that they were not able even to eat their food. When his relations heard of it, they went to take charge of him, for they said that he was out of his mind. read more.
And the Teachers of the Law, who had come down from Jerusalem, said: "He has Baal-zebub in him, and he drives the demons out by the help of Baal-zebub, their chief." So Jesus called them to him, and answered them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan? When a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot last; And when a household is divided against itself, it will not be able to last. So, if Satan is in revolt against himself and is divided, he cannot last--his end has come! No man who has got into a strong man's house can carry off his goods, without first securing him; and not till then will he plunder his house. I tell you that men will be forgiven everything--their sins, and all the slanders that they utter; but whoever slanders the Holy Spirit remains unforgiven to the end; he has to answer for an enduring sin." This was said in reply to the charge that he had a foul spirit in him.

Once Jesus was driving out a dumb demon, and, when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke. The people were amazed at this; But some of them said: "He drives out demons by the help of Baal-zebub, the chief of the demons";

Jesus himself, however, was aware of what they were thinking, and said to them: "Any kingdom wholly divided against itself becomes a desolation; and a divided house falls. So, too, if Satan is wholly divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? Yet you say that I drive out demons by the help of Baal-zebub. But, if it is by Baal-zebub's help that I drive out demons, by whose help is it that your own sons drive them out? Therefore they shall themselves be your judges. read more.
But, if it is by the hand of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God must already be upon you. When a strong man is keeping guard, fully armed, over his own mansion, his property is in safety; But, when one still stronger has attacked and overpowered him, he takes away all the weapons on which the other had relied, and divides his spoil. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not help me to gather is scattering.


Then some people brought to Jesus a possessed man, who was blind and dumb; and he cured him, so that the man who had been dumb both talked and saw. At this all the people were astounded. "Is it possible that this is the son of David?" they exclaimed. But the Pharisees heard of it and said: "He drives out demons only by the help of Baal-zebub the chief of the demons." read more.
Jesus, however, was aware of what was passing in their minds, and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself becomes a desolation, and any town or household divided against itself will not last. So, if Satan drives Satan out, he must be divided against himself; and how, then, can his kingdom last? And, if it is by Baal-zebub's help that I drive out demons, by whose help is it that your own sons drive them out? Therefore they shall themselves be your judges. But, if it is by the help of the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God must already be upon you. How, again, can any one get into a strong man's house and carry off his goods, without first securing him? And not till then will he plunder his house. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not help me to gather is scattering. Therefore, I tell you, men will be forgiven every sin and slander; but slander against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in the present age, or in the age to come. You must assume either that both tree and fruit are good, or that both tree and fruit are worthless; since it is by it's fruits that a tree is known. You brood of vipers! how can you, evil as you are, say anything good? For what fills the heart will rise to the lips. A good man, from his good stores, produces good things; while an evil man, from his evil stores, produces evil things. I tell you that for every careless thing that men say, they must answer on the 'Day of Judgment.' For it is by your words that you will be acquitted, and by your words that you will be condemned."

And Judas Iscariot, the man that betrayed him. Jesus went into a house; and again a crowd collected, so that they were not able even to eat their food. When his relations heard of it, they went to take charge of him, for they said that he was out of his mind. read more.
And the Teachers of the Law, who had come down from Jerusalem, said: "He has Baal-zebub in him, and he drives the demons out by the help of Baal-zebub, their chief." So Jesus called them to him, and answered them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan? When a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot last; And when a household is divided against itself, it will not be able to last. So, if Satan is in revolt against himself and is divided, he cannot last--his end has come! No man who has got into a strong man's house can carry off his goods, without first securing him; and not till then will he plunder his house. I tell you that men will be forgiven everything--their sins, and all the slanders that they utter; but whoever slanders the Holy Spirit remains unforgiven to the end; he has to answer for an enduring sin." This was said in reply to the charge that he had a foul spirit in him.

Once Jesus was driving out a dumb demon, and, when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke. The people were amazed at this; But some of them said: "He drives out demons by the help of Baal-zebub, the chief of the demons"; While others, to test him, asked him for some sign from the heavens. read more.
Jesus himself, however, was aware of what they were thinking, and said to them: "Any kingdom wholly divided against itself becomes a desolation; and a divided house falls. So, too, if Satan is wholly divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? Yet you say that I drive out demons by the help of Baal-zebub. But, if it is by Baal-zebub's help that I drive out demons, by whose help is it that your own sons drive them out? Therefore they shall themselves be your judges. But, if it is by the hand of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God must already be upon you. When a strong man is keeping guard, fully armed, over his own mansion, his property is in safety; But, when one still stronger has attacked and overpowered him, he takes away all the weapons on which the other had relied, and divides his spoil. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not help me to gather is scattering. No sooner does a foul spirit leave a man, than it passes through places where there is no water, in search of rest; and finding none, it says 'I will go back to the home which I left'; But, on coming there, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in, and make their home there; and the last state of that man proves to be worse than the first."







But, when the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law saw the wonderful things that Jesus did, and the boys who were calling out in the Temple Courts "God save the Son of David!", they were indignant,

But some of the Teachers of the Law who were sitting there were debating in their minds: "Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God?"