Study Desk

Now^(a) He entered the synagogue^(b) again, and a man was there who had a paralyzed^(c) hand.

In order to accuse^(d) Him, they were watching Him closely^(e) to see whether He would heal^(f) him on the Sabbath.^(g)

He told the man with the paralyzed hand, "Stand before us." ^[a]

Then He said to them, "Is it lawful^(h) on the Sabbath to do what is good⁽ⁱ⁾ or to do what is evil,^(j) to save life^(k) or to kill?" ^(l) But they were silent.^(m)

After looking around at them with anger⁽ⁿ⁾ and sorrow at the hardness^(o) of their hearts, He told the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.^(p)

Immediately the Pharisees^(q) went out and started plotting^(r) with the Herodians^(s) against Him, how they might destroy^(t) Him.

Jesus^(u) departed with His disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee,^(v) Judea,^(w)

Jerusalem,^(x) Idumea, beyond the Jordan,^(y) and around Tyre^(z) and Sidon.^(aa) The large crowd came to Him because they heard about everything He was doing.

Then He told His disciples to have a small boat^(ab) ready for Him, so the crowd would not crush Him.

Since He had healed^(ac) many, all who had diseases were pressing toward Him to touch^(ad) Him.

Whenever the unclean^(ae) spirits^(af) saw Him, those possessed fell down^(ag) before Him and cried out, "You are the Son of God!"^(ah)

And He would strongly warn^(ai) them not to make Him known.^(aj)

Then^(ak) He went up the mountain^(al) and summoned those He wanted, and they came to Him.

He also appointed 12—He also named them apostles^[b](am)—to be with Him, to send them out to preach,^(an)

and to have authority to^[c] drive out demons.

He appointed the Twelve:^[d](ao) To Simon,^(ap) He gave the name Peter;^(aq)

and to James^(ar) the son of Zebedee,^(as) and to his brother John,^(at) He gave the name "Boanerges" (that is, "Sons of Thunder"^(au));

Andrew;^(av) Philip^(aw) and Bartholomew; Matthew^(ax) and Thomas;^(ay) James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot,^[e]

and Judas Iscariot,^[f](az) who also betrayed Him.

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."