Study Desk

Then He went home, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat.^[g]

When His family^(ba) heard this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, "He's out of His mind."^(bb)

The scribes^(bc) who had come down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul^(bd) in Him!" and, "He drives out^(be) demons^(bf) by the ruler^(bg) of the demons!"^(bh)

So He summoned^(bi) them and spoke to them in parables: ^(bj) "How can Satan^(bk) drive out Satan?^(bl)

If a kingdom^(bm) is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

And if Satan rebels against himself and is divided, he cannot stand but is finished! ^[h]

"On the other hand, no one can enter a strong man's house and rob his possessions unless he first ties up^(bn) the strong man. Then he will rob his house.

I assure you: People will be forgiven for all sins^[i] and whatever blasphemies^(bo) they may blaspheme.

But whoever blasphemes^(bp) against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness,^(bq) but is guilty^(br) of an eternal sin" ^[j](bs)—

because they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit."^(bt)

Then^(bu) His mother^(bv) and His brothers^(bw) came, and standing outside, they sent word to Him and called Him.

A crowd was sitting around Him and told Him, "Look, Your mother, Your brothers,^(bx) and Your sisters^[k] are outside asking for You."

He replied to them, "Who are My mother and My brothers?"

And looking about at those who were sitting in a circle around Him, He said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!^(by)

Whoever does the will of God^(bz) is My brother and sister and mother."