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¹ At that time as Jesus pass'd through the corn on the sabbath day, his disciples being hungry, pluck'd the ears of corn, and fell to eating. ² the Pharisees seeing that, said to him, see, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath-day. ³ he answer'd them, have ye not read what David and the rest of the company did when they were hungry, ⁴ how he entred into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which it was not lawful either for him or his company to eat, but only for the priests? ⁵ or have ye not observed in the law, what a work the priests made in the temple on the sabbath-day, without being blamed? ⁶ now I tell you, that the work now in hand, is of greater consequence than that of the temple. ⁷ if ye had known the meaning of that expression, "I will have mercy and not sacrifice," ye would not have condemned the guiltless. ⁸ for the sabbath is subservient to men. ⁹ At his departure thence, he went into their synagogue. ¹⁰ where they brought a man with a withered hand: and asked him this insnaring question, is it lawful to heal on the sabbath-day? ¹¹ and he answer'd, which of you all that should have one of his sheep fall into a pit on the sabbath-day, would not bestir himself, and lift it out? ¹² is not a man of much greater consequence than a sheep? how lawful then is it to do good offices on the sabbath-day? ¹³ then saith he to the man, stretch out thy hand: and be stretched it out; and it was made as sound as the other.

¹⁴ Upon this the Pharisees went out of the synagogue, and form'd a conspiracy against his life. ¹⁵ but Jesus perceiving their design, withdrew himself thence, accompany'd by great multitudes, and he healed all their sick, ¹⁶ charging them not to discover him. ¹⁷ so that what was said by Esaias the prophet, was fulfill'd; ¹⁸ "behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew justice to the nations. ¹⁹ he shall not strive, nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. ²⁰ a bruised reed shall he not break, and smoaking flax shall he not quench, till he hath made justice victorious. ²¹ and in his name shall the Gentiles trust."

²² Then they brought to him a demoniac, who was both blind and dumb: and he cured him so effectually, that he recovered both his speech and his sight; ²³ which made the people cry out with amazement, "Is not this the son of David?" ²⁴ but the Pharisees upon hearing this said, he exorcizes devils, by virtue only of Beelzebub the prince of the devils. ²⁵ Jesus perceiving what they surmized, said to them, any kingdom once divided against itself will soon be desolate: nor can any city or house divided against itself, long subsist. ²⁶ if satan expels satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom last? ²⁷ and if I by Beelzebub exorcize devils, by whom do your children exorcize them? wherefore even they shall be your judges. ²⁸ but if I exorcize devils by the spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is set up among you. ²⁹ besides, how could any one enter into the house of a man of might to rob him of his goods, except he first master the strong man? and then indeed he might plunder his house. ³⁰ "He that is not for me, is against me: and he that is not active for me, is a Deserter." ³¹ wherefore I declare to you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men; but blaspheming the holy Spirit ³² shall not be forgiven them. and if any one speaks against the son of man, it may be forgiven him: but if any one speaks against the holy spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that to come. ³³ Either allow the tree to be good, and its fruit good; or else say the tree is corrupt, and its fruit corrrupt: for a tree is distinguished by its fruit. ³⁴ O degenerate race, how can ye, wicked as ye are, utter any thing that is good? for "'tis the overflowing of the heart that the mouth dischargeth." ³⁵ a good man out of the good treasure produces good things: and an evil man, out of the evil treasure, produces evil things. ³⁶ but I declare unto you, that men shall give an account at the day of judgment, of every scandalous expression they utter. ³⁷ for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

³⁸ Then certain of the Scribes and of the Pharisees said, master, we should be glad you would shew us some miracle. ³⁹ but he answered them, this wicked degenerate race demand a miracle; but no other miracle shall they have, except that of the prophet Jonas. ⁴⁰ for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly: so shall the son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ⁴¹ the men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment against this generation, and shall condemn it, because they were converted at the preaching of Jonas, and now there is one superiour to Jonas here. ⁴² the queen of the south shall rise up at the day of judgement against this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the remote parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now a greater than Solomon is here. ⁴³ When an unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he roams about the deserts, seeking rest, and findeth none. ⁴⁴ I will return then, says he, into my house, which I have quitted; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. ⁴⁵ then he goes and takes seven other spirits besides himself, but more mischievous than himself, and they all enter in and lodge there: so that the last state of that man is worse than the first. just so shall it likewise fare with this wicked generation.

⁴⁶ Now while he was talking to the people, his mother and his brothers stood without, desiring to speak with him. ⁴⁷ then some body said to him, your mother and your brothers are without, and desire to speak with you. ⁴⁸ but Jesus answered the man that told him, who is my mother? and who are my brothers? ⁴⁹ and holding out his hand towards his disciples, see there, said he, my mother, and my brothers. ⁵⁰ for whosoever shall do the will of my father, who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.