Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Christ » Touched by others » Tried by his enemies
Some Pharisees came to him and tried to trap him. Does our Law allow a man to divorce his wife? They asked.
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A lawyer stood up to test him. He asked: Teacher what shall I do to inherit everlasting life?
Others tested him demanding a sign from heaven.
He perceived their craftiness, and replied:
Curiosity » The levite looked with indifferent curiosity upon the man who was » Leads to the desire for signs
The Pharisees and Sadducees tested Jesus by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
The Pharisees came to question him. They were testing him and seeking a sign from heaven.
Others tested him demanding a sign from heaven.
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying: Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.
He sat on the Mount of Olives. The disciples came to him privately, saying: Tell us when these things will be? What will be the sign of your presence and of the end of the age?
The Jews asked him: What sign would you show us seeing that you do these things?
Until you see signs and wonders you will not believe, Jesus said.
They asked: What do you offer for a sign (miracle) that we may see and believe you? What work will you do?
Indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom.
Jesus Christ » History of » Heals a demoniac, and denounces the scribes and pharisees (in galilee)
Someone possessed with a demon, blind and dumb was brought to him. He healed him and the dumb man spoke and could see. The crowds were amazed, and said: Can this be the son of David? When the Pharisees heard it, they said: This man casts out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons. read more.
Knowing their thoughts, he said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed. Every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How will his kingdom stand? If I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Let them be your judges. But if I cast out demons by God's Spirit, then the kingdom of God has come to you. How can one enter into the house of a strong man and steal his things, except he first tie up the strong man? Then he can rob his house. He that is not with me is against me. And he that does not gather with me, scatters. Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men. But the blasphemy against God's Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come. Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt. The fruit a tree produces provides its reputation. You offspring of vipers. How can you who are evil speak good things? Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man performs good things out of his good treasure. The evil man performs evil things out of his evil treasure. I tell you there will be an account in the Judgment Day for every careless word that men say. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
Knowing their thoughts, he said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed. Every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How will his kingdom stand? If I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Let them be your judges. But if I cast out demons by God's Spirit, then the kingdom of God has come to you. How can one enter into the house of a strong man and steal his things, except he first tie up the strong man? Then he can rob his house. He that is not with me is against me. And he that does not gather with me, scatters. Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men. But the blasphemy against God's Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come. Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt. The fruit a tree produces provides its reputation. You offspring of vipers. How can you who are evil speak good things? Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man performs good things out of his good treasure. The evil man performs evil things out of his evil treasure. I tell you there will be an account in the Judgment Day for every careless word that men say. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
Also present was Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. Then he went into a house. The crowd gathered so close that they did not have time for bread. When his own people heard of this they went to apprehend him. They said: He has lost his senses. read more.
Scribes that came down from Jerusalem said: He has Beelzebub. He casts out demons by the prince of the demons. Jesus called them to him and spoke to them in illustrations. He asked: How could Satan cast out Satan? When a kingdom is divided against itself that kingdom cannot stand. When a house is divided against itself it will not be able to stand. If Satan has risen up against himself, he is divided, cannot stand and will come to an end. No one can enter into the house of the strong man and steal his property unless he first captures the strong man. Then he will steal his property. I tell you sins will be forgiven of the sons of men, and their evil talk will be forgiven. But whoever speaks evil and defames Holy Spirit will not be forgiven but is guilty of an eternal sin. They exclaimed: He has an unclean spirit!
Scribes that came down from Jerusalem said: He has Beelzebub. He casts out demons by the prince of the demons. Jesus called them to him and spoke to them in illustrations. He asked: How could Satan cast out Satan? When a kingdom is divided against itself that kingdom cannot stand. When a house is divided against itself it will not be able to stand. If Satan has risen up against himself, he is divided, cannot stand and will come to an end. No one can enter into the house of the strong man and steal his property unless he first captures the strong man. Then he will steal his property. I tell you sins will be forgiven of the sons of men, and their evil talk will be forgiven. But whoever speaks evil and defames Holy Spirit will not be forgiven but is guilty of an eternal sin. They exclaimed: He has an unclean spirit!
He cast out a demon from a dumb man. When the demon left the man he spoke and the crowds were astonished. Some of them said: Beelzebub the prince of the demons casts out demons. Others tested him demanding a sign from heaven. read more.
He knew their thoughts. So he told them: Every kingdom that is divided is destroyed. A house divided against itself falls. If Satan is divided against himself how will his kingdom stand? You say I cast out demons with the help of Beelzebub. If Beelzebub helps me cast out demons, who helps your sons cast them out? They will be your judges. If I use the finger (power) (Spirit) (Exodus 31:18) (2 Corinthians 3:3) of God to cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you? When the fully armed strong man guards his own palace, his goods are safe. When some one stronger comes to him and overpowers him he takes away his armor and steels his possessions. He who is not with me is against me. He who does not help me gather actually scatters. When an unclean spirit leaves a man it passes through desolate places. It seeks rest and finds none. It says, 'I will return from where I came.' When he returns he finds the place swept and adorned. He then takes seven other spirits more evil than himself and they enter in and dwell. The last condition of that man becomes worse than the first.
He knew their thoughts. So he told them: Every kingdom that is divided is destroyed. A house divided against itself falls. If Satan is divided against himself how will his kingdom stand? You say I cast out demons with the help of Beelzebub. If Beelzebub helps me cast out demons, who helps your sons cast them out? They will be your judges. If I use the finger (power) (Spirit) (Exodus 31:18) (2 Corinthians 3:3) of God to cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you? When the fully armed strong man guards his own palace, his goods are safe. When some one stronger comes to him and overpowers him he takes away his armor and steels his possessions. He who is not with me is against me. He who does not help me gather actually scatters. When an unclean spirit leaves a man it passes through desolate places. It seeks rest and finds none. It says, 'I will return from where I came.' When he returns he finds the place swept and adorned. He then takes seven other spirits more evil than himself and they enter in and dwell. The last condition of that man becomes worse than the first.
Jesus Christ » History of » Replies to the scribes and pharisees who seek a sign from him (in galilee)
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying: Teacher, we want to see a sign from you. He answered them: An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. No sign will be given but the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish, so the Son of man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth [the grave]. read more.
The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it. After all, they repented at the preaching of Jonah. Yet someone greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and condemn it. She came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon. Someone greater than Solomon is here! When an unclean spirit goes out of a man it passes through the desert seeking rest. It does not find it. It tries to return to the place from where it came. It finds it empty, swept, and fixed up. Then it takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself. They enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. It will also be like this with this evil generation.
The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it. After all, they repented at the preaching of Jonah. Yet someone greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and condemn it. She came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon. Someone greater than Solomon is here! When an unclean spirit goes out of a man it passes through the desert seeking rest. It does not find it. It tries to return to the place from where it came. It finds it empty, swept, and fixed up. Then it takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself. They enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. It will also be like this with this evil generation.
Others tested him demanding a sign from heaven. He knew their thoughts. So he told them: Every kingdom that is divided is destroyed. A house divided against itself falls. If Satan is divided against himself how will his kingdom stand? You say I cast out demons with the help of Beelzebub. read more.
If Beelzebub helps me cast out demons, who helps your sons cast them out? They will be your judges. If I use the finger (power) (Spirit) (Exodus 31:18) (2 Corinthians 3:3) of God to cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you? When the fully armed strong man guards his own palace, his goods are safe. When some one stronger comes to him and overpowers him he takes away his armor and steels his possessions. He who is not with me is against me. He who does not help me gather actually scatters. When an unclean spirit leaves a man it passes through desolate places. It seeks rest and finds none. It says, 'I will return from where I came.' When he returns he finds the place swept and adorned. He then takes seven other spirits more evil than himself and they enter in and dwell. The last condition of that man becomes worse than the first. As he was talking a woman out of the crowd shouted: Blessed is the woman who bore you and nursed you. He replied: More blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it. When the crowd gathered to him, he said: This generation is evil. It seeks a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites; the Son of man will be a sign to this generation. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation. She will condemn them for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon and one greater than Solomon is here now. The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation. They will condemn it for they repented at the preaching of Jonah and someone greater than Jonah is here now. No man lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a bushel. He puts it on a table so those who enter may see the light. The lamp of your body is your eye. When your eye is clear your entire body is full of light. When it is evil your body is full of darkness. Make sure the light that is in you is not darkness. If your entire body is full of light and has no darkness you will have no part of the dark. Just as a lamp when shinning brightly gives plenty of light.
If Beelzebub helps me cast out demons, who helps your sons cast them out? They will be your judges. If I use the finger (power) (Spirit) (Exodus 31:18) (2 Corinthians 3:3) of God to cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you? When the fully armed strong man guards his own palace, his goods are safe. When some one stronger comes to him and overpowers him he takes away his armor and steels his possessions. He who is not with me is against me. He who does not help me gather actually scatters. When an unclean spirit leaves a man it passes through desolate places. It seeks rest and finds none. It says, 'I will return from where I came.' When he returns he finds the place swept and adorned. He then takes seven other spirits more evil than himself and they enter in and dwell. The last condition of that man becomes worse than the first. As he was talking a woman out of the crowd shouted: Blessed is the woman who bore you and nursed you. He replied: More blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it. When the crowd gathered to him, he said: This generation is evil. It seeks a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites; the Son of man will be a sign to this generation. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation. She will condemn them for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon and one greater than Solomon is here now. The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation. They will condemn it for they repented at the preaching of Jonah and someone greater than Jonah is here now. No man lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a bushel. He puts it on a table so those who enter may see the light. The lamp of your body is your eye. When your eye is clear your entire body is full of light. When it is evil your body is full of darkness. Make sure the light that is in you is not darkness. If your entire body is full of light and has no darkness you will have no part of the dark. Just as a lamp when shinning brightly gives plenty of light.
Miracles » Demanded by unbelievers
The Pharisees and Sadducees tested Jesus by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
Others tested him demanding a sign from heaven.
Herod was very happy to see Jesus. He had wanted to see him for a long time. He hoped to see him perform a miracle.
When the crowd gathered to him, he said: This generation is evil. It seeks a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah.
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying: Teacher, we want to see a sign from you. He answered them: An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. No sign will be given but the sign of Jonah the prophet.
Pharisees » Hypocrisy of, reproved » By jesus
Thousands of people in the crowd were gathered together so much that they bumped into one another. He said to his disciples: First of all, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
When you abstain from food, do not be like the hypocrites, with sad faces to be seen by men. They have received their reward. Anoint your head and wash your face. That way, men may not see that you are fasting. Your Father knows in secret and will reward you.
Listen to another illustration. A master of a house made a vineyard, and put a wall around it. He made a wine press and built a tower. Then he rented it to workers and traveled to another country. When the time for the fruit came near, he sent his servants to the workmen, to get the fruit. The workmen attacked his servants, striking one with a stone and killing the other. read more.
He sent other servants more in number than the first. They did the same to them. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'Certainly they will respect my son.' When the workmen saw the son, they said, 'Let us put him to death and take his heritage, for someday he will own this property.' They took him out of the vineyard and killed him. When the lord of the vineyard returns, what will he do to the workmen? They all said: He will put those cruel men to death. Then he will find other workmen who are worthy and who will give him fruit when it is ready. Jesus said to them: Have you read the Scriptures, 'The stone the builders rejected has been made the chief cornerstone of the building. This was Jehovah's doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes.' (Isaiah 28:16) For this reason I tell you, The kingdom of God will be taken away from you. It will be given to a nation producing fruit. Any man falling on this stone will be broken. Any man having this stone fall on him will be crushed to dust. When the chief priests and Pharisees heard his illustrations they realized he was talking about them. They wanted to seize him, but feared the people, because the people saw Jesus as a prophet.
He sent other servants more in number than the first. They did the same to them. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'Certainly they will respect my son.' When the workmen saw the son, they said, 'Let us put him to death and take his heritage, for someday he will own this property.' They took him out of the vineyard and killed him. When the lord of the vineyard returns, what will he do to the workmen? They all said: He will put those cruel men to death. Then he will find other workmen who are worthy and who will give him fruit when it is ready. Jesus said to them: Have you read the Scriptures, 'The stone the builders rejected has been made the chief cornerstone of the building. This was Jehovah's doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes.' (Isaiah 28:16) For this reason I tell you, The kingdom of God will be taken away from you. It will be given to a nation producing fruit. Any man falling on this stone will be broken. Any man having this stone fall on him will be crushed to dust. When the chief priests and Pharisees heard his illustrations they realized he was talking about them. They wanted to seize him, but feared the people, because the people saw Jesus as a prophet.
Do not loudly announce it when you give to the poor. The hypocrites do this in the houses of worship and on the streets. They do this to be praised by men. Believe me, they have already been paid in full. When you give gifts, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Your giving will be in secret and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. read more.
Do not pray like the hypocrites! They want everyone to see them in the houses of worship and on the street corners. I assure you they have been paid in full. Go to your room and close the door. Privately pray to your Father. When your Father sees you he will reward you. Large quantities of meaningless words and repetition are not acceptable in prayer. The pagans think their gods will hear long and repetitious prayers. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Do not pray like the hypocrites! They want everyone to see them in the houses of worship and on the street corners. I assure you they have been paid in full. Go to your room and close the door. Privately pray to your Father. When your Father sees you he will reward you. Large quantities of meaningless words and repetition are not acceptable in prayer. The pagans think their gods will hear long and repetitious prayers. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem came to Jesus. They questioned him: Why do your disciples go against the teaching of the fathers? They eat food with unwashed hands. His answer to them was in the form of a question: Why do you go against the word of God in favor of your tradition? read more.
God said, 'Honor your father and mother.' 'He who says evil of father or mother will be put to death.' You teach that a man should tell his father or mother that what he has that could help them, is given to God. You say there is no need for him to give honor to his father. You have invalidated the word of God because of your tradition! You hypocrites (liars)! Isaiah's prophecy was right about you. These people honor me with their lips, but their heart (innermost thoughts) is far from me. But their worship is to no purpose, while they give as their teaching the rules (commands) of men.'
God said, 'Honor your father and mother.' 'He who says evil of father or mother will be put to death.' You teach that a man should tell his father or mother that what he has that could help them, is given to God. You say there is no need for him to give honor to his father. You have invalidated the word of God because of your tradition! You hypocrites (liars)! Isaiah's prophecy was right about you. These people honor me with their lips, but their heart (innermost thoughts) is far from me. But their worship is to no purpose, while they give as their teaching the rules (commands) of men.'
The Pharisees and Sadducees tested Jesus by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He said to them, At nightfall you say the weather will be good, for the sky is red. And in the morning, the weather will be bad today for the sky is red and angry. You are able to see the face of heaven, but not the signs of the time. read more.
An evil and false generation is searching after a sign. However, no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. Then he left them. The disciples came from the other side of the sea. They did not think to obtain bread. Jesus said: Take care to have nothing to do with the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They reasoned among themselves, saying: We took no bread. Hearing this, Jesus said: You of little faith, why are you reasoning among yourselves about not having bread? Do you still not see or remember the five cakes of bread of the five thousand, and the number of baskets you took up? Or the seven cakes of bread of the four thousand, and the number of baskets you took up? Why do you not understand I was not talking about bread? Instead, about keeping away from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees? Then they realized it was not the leaven of bread he had in mind. It was the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
An evil and false generation is searching after a sign. However, no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. Then he left them. The disciples came from the other side of the sea. They did not think to obtain bread. Jesus said: Take care to have nothing to do with the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They reasoned among themselves, saying: We took no bread. Hearing this, Jesus said: You of little faith, why are you reasoning among yourselves about not having bread? Do you still not see or remember the five cakes of bread of the five thousand, and the number of baskets you took up? Or the seven cakes of bread of the four thousand, and the number of baskets you took up? Why do you not understand I was not talking about bread? Instead, about keeping away from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees? Then they realized it was not the leaven of bread he had in mind. It was the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, he said. Obey everything they teach you, but do not follow their example. They say one thing and do something else. They chain heavy burdens on your shoulders. Yet they are unwilling to lift even a finger to carry these same burdens. read more.
They do everything to be seen by men. For example: they enlarge their scripture cases for their foreheads and lengthen the tassels on their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the prominent seats in the synagogues. They require recognition in public places and insist on being called Rabbi by men. Do not be called Rabbi (master) (teacher) (leader), for only one is your teacher. You are all brothers. Call no man your father on the earth, for only one is your Father in heaven. Do not be called master (teacher) (leader), for only one is your master, and he is Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. He who exalts himself will be humbled. He who humbles himself will be exalted. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You close the kingdom of heaven to people. You do not invite others to enter nor do you enter. [Verse not found in oldest manuscripts.] Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel on both sea and land to make one convert. When this happens, you make him twice as deserving of destruction in the trash fires of the valley of Hinnom (Greek: Gehenna). Woe to you, you blind guides! You say, 'When you swear by the temple, it is nothing.' Then you say, 'When you swear by the gold of the temple, you are obligated.' You fools! You blind men! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? When you swear by an altar, you owe nothing. When you swear by the gift left on the altar, you are obligated. You blind men! What is more important, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? He who swears by the altar, swears by it and everything on it. He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by him that dwells within it. Thus, he who swears by heaven also swears by the throne of God and him who sits on it. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith. You should do both and leave nothing undone. You blind guides! You strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, yet the inside is full of extortion and excess. You are blind. Clean the inside of the cup and platter first. Then clean the outside. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that appear beautiful on the outside. They are full of dead men's bones and uncleanness on the inside. You appear righteous to men. However, inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs for the prophets and decorate the tombs of the righteous. You claim that you would not have been involved with your fathers when they spilled the blood of the prophets. You witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up the (guilt) measure of your fathers. You serpents! You offspring of vipers! How will you escape from being destroyed in the ever-burning fires of the Valley of Hinnom? (Greek: Gehenna, the trash fires in the valley just outside of Jerusalem)
They do everything to be seen by men. For example: they enlarge their scripture cases for their foreheads and lengthen the tassels on their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the prominent seats in the synagogues. They require recognition in public places and insist on being called Rabbi by men. Do not be called Rabbi (master) (teacher) (leader), for only one is your teacher. You are all brothers. Call no man your father on the earth, for only one is your Father in heaven. Do not be called master (teacher) (leader), for only one is your master, and he is Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. He who exalts himself will be humbled. He who humbles himself will be exalted. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You close the kingdom of heaven to people. You do not invite others to enter nor do you enter. [Verse not found in oldest manuscripts.] Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel on both sea and land to make one convert. When this happens, you make him twice as deserving of destruction in the trash fires of the valley of Hinnom (Greek: Gehenna). Woe to you, you blind guides! You say, 'When you swear by the temple, it is nothing.' Then you say, 'When you swear by the gold of the temple, you are obligated.' You fools! You blind men! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? When you swear by an altar, you owe nothing. When you swear by the gift left on the altar, you are obligated. You blind men! What is more important, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? He who swears by the altar, swears by it and everything on it. He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by him that dwells within it. Thus, he who swears by heaven also swears by the throne of God and him who sits on it. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith. You should do both and leave nothing undone. You blind guides! You strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, yet the inside is full of extortion and excess. You are blind. Clean the inside of the cup and platter first. Then clean the outside. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that appear beautiful on the outside. They are full of dead men's bones and uncleanness on the inside. You appear righteous to men. However, inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs for the prophets and decorate the tombs of the righteous. You claim that you would not have been involved with your fathers when they spilled the blood of the prophets. You witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up the (guilt) measure of your fathers. You serpents! You offspring of vipers! How will you escape from being destroyed in the ever-burning fires of the Valley of Hinnom? (Greek: Gehenna, the trash fires in the valley just outside of Jerusalem)
He cast out a demon from a dumb man. When the demon left the man he spoke and the crowds were astonished. Some of them said: Beelzebub the prince of the demons casts out demons. Others tested him demanding a sign from heaven. read more.
He knew their thoughts. So he told them: Every kingdom that is divided is destroyed. A house divided against itself falls. If Satan is divided against himself how will his kingdom stand? You say I cast out demons with the help of Beelzebub. If Beelzebub helps me cast out demons, who helps your sons cast them out? They will be your judges. If I use the finger (power) (Spirit) (Exodus 31:18) (2 Corinthians 3:3) of God to cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you? When the fully armed strong man guards his own palace, his goods are safe. When some one stronger comes to him and overpowers him he takes away his armor and steels his possessions. He who is not with me is against me. He who does not help me gather actually scatters. When an unclean spirit leaves a man it passes through desolate places. It seeks rest and finds none. It says, 'I will return from where I came.' When he returns he finds the place swept and adorned. He then takes seven other spirits more evil than himself and they enter in and dwell. The last condition of that man becomes worse than the first. As he was talking a woman out of the crowd shouted: Blessed is the woman who bore you and nursed you. He replied: More blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it. When the crowd gathered to him, he said: This generation is evil. It seeks a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites; the Son of man will be a sign to this generation. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation. She will condemn them for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon and one greater than Solomon is here now. The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation. They will condemn it for they repented at the preaching of Jonah and someone greater than Jonah is here now. No man lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a bushel. He puts it on a table so those who enter may see the light. The lamp of your body is your eye. When your eye is clear your entire body is full of light. When it is evil your body is full of darkness. Make sure the light that is in you is not darkness. If your entire body is full of light and has no darkness you will have no part of the dark. Just as a lamp when shinning brightly gives plenty of light. As he spoke a Pharisee invited him to dine with him. He accepted the invitation and went to eat. The Pharisee wondered about Jesus not bathing before dinner. The Lord said: You Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter. Yet your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness. You foolish ones. Did he that made the outside also make the inside? Give that which is within as charity. Then all things are clean for you. Woe to you Pharisees! You tithe mint and rue and every herb, and pass over justice and the love of God. You should have done these but you leave them undone. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the prominent seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you! You are as the tombs that do not appear and men walk over them and do not know it. One of the lawyers said to him: Teacher, you also insult us by saying this. Jesus said: Woe to you lawyers also! For you load men with burdens that are difficult to bear. And you will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Therefore you are witnesses and consent to the works of your fathers. They killed them and you build their tombs. It is for this reason the wisdom of God said, 'I send to them prophets and apostles and they will persecute and kill some of them.' The blood of all the prophets shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation. This includes the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. I tell you it will be required of this generation. Woe to you lawyers, for you took away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves and you hindered those entering. When he left there the scribes and the Pharisees became hostile with him. They tried to quarrel with him about many things. They plotted against him and tried to catch him in something he might say.
He knew their thoughts. So he told them: Every kingdom that is divided is destroyed. A house divided against itself falls. If Satan is divided against himself how will his kingdom stand? You say I cast out demons with the help of Beelzebub. If Beelzebub helps me cast out demons, who helps your sons cast them out? They will be your judges. If I use the finger (power) (Spirit) (Exodus 31:18) (2 Corinthians 3:3) of God to cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you? When the fully armed strong man guards his own palace, his goods are safe. When some one stronger comes to him and overpowers him he takes away his armor and steels his possessions. He who is not with me is against me. He who does not help me gather actually scatters. When an unclean spirit leaves a man it passes through desolate places. It seeks rest and finds none. It says, 'I will return from where I came.' When he returns he finds the place swept and adorned. He then takes seven other spirits more evil than himself and they enter in and dwell. The last condition of that man becomes worse than the first. As he was talking a woman out of the crowd shouted: Blessed is the woman who bore you and nursed you. He replied: More blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it. When the crowd gathered to him, he said: This generation is evil. It seeks a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites; the Son of man will be a sign to this generation. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation. She will condemn them for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon and one greater than Solomon is here now. The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation. They will condemn it for they repented at the preaching of Jonah and someone greater than Jonah is here now. No man lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a bushel. He puts it on a table so those who enter may see the light. The lamp of your body is your eye. When your eye is clear your entire body is full of light. When it is evil your body is full of darkness. Make sure the light that is in you is not darkness. If your entire body is full of light and has no darkness you will have no part of the dark. Just as a lamp when shinning brightly gives plenty of light. As he spoke a Pharisee invited him to dine with him. He accepted the invitation and went to eat. The Pharisee wondered about Jesus not bathing before dinner. The Lord said: You Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter. Yet your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness. You foolish ones. Did he that made the outside also make the inside? Give that which is within as charity. Then all things are clean for you. Woe to you Pharisees! You tithe mint and rue and every herb, and pass over justice and the love of God. You should have done these but you leave them undone. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the prominent seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you! You are as the tombs that do not appear and men walk over them and do not know it. One of the lawyers said to him: Teacher, you also insult us by saying this. Jesus said: Woe to you lawyers also! For you load men with burdens that are difficult to bear. And you will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Therefore you are witnesses and consent to the works of your fathers. They killed them and you build their tombs. It is for this reason the wisdom of God said, 'I send to them prophets and apostles and they will persecute and kill some of them.' The blood of all the prophets shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation. This includes the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. I tell you it will be required of this generation. Woe to you lawyers, for you took away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves and you hindered those entering. When he left there the scribes and the Pharisees became hostile with him. They tried to quarrel with him about many things. They plotted against him and tried to catch him in something he might say.
One day a large number of tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus. Pharisees and teachers of the Law complained: This man welcomes sinners and even eats with them! Then Jesus told them an illustration: read more.
If you have a hundred sheep and lose one of them, what do you do? You leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one you lost until you find it. When you find it you are happy. You carry it on your shoulders. You bring it back home. You invite your friends and neighbors together to celebrate. You say, 'I am so happy I found my lost sheep.' It is the same. I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine good people who do not need to repent. Suppose a woman with ten silver coins loses one of them. What does she do? She lights a lamp and sweeps her house. She looks carefully everywhere until she finds it. When she finds it she calls her friends and says let us celebrate. I am happy I found the lost coin.
If you have a hundred sheep and lose one of them, what do you do? You leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one you lost until you find it. When you find it you are happy. You carry it on your shoulders. You bring it back home. You invite your friends and neighbors together to celebrate. You say, 'I am so happy I found my lost sheep.' It is the same. I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine good people who do not need to repent. Suppose a woman with ten silver coins loses one of them. What does she do? She lights a lamp and sweeps her house. She looks carefully everywhere until she finds it. When she finds it she calls her friends and says let us celebrate. I am happy I found the lost coin.