As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.” Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, …
[Jesus continued his response to the Jewish leaders who asked for a sign:] “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. …
[Jesus continued his response to the Jewish leaders who asked for a sign:] “The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here — but you refuse to repent. The queen …
One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.” But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet …
[Jesus continued:] “And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” —Matthew 12:36-37 NLT Key Thought “Oh no! Not this judgment stuff again.” Yep! To a culture which wants no consequences, only blessings, this …
[Jesus continued his reply to the Pharisees:] “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your …
[Jesus continued:] “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven — except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the …
[Jesus continued:] “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” —Matthew 12:30 NLT Key Thought So often as human beings, we want to do what I call “play in the gray.” Rather than seeing issues as black or white, right or wrong, good or …
[Jesus continued his reply to the Pharisees who said his power came from Satan:] “And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the …
But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder [Jesus] can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is …