And he went into the house, again a crowd came together, so that they were not able to eat bread.
And his family hearing this, came [from Nazareth] to seize him. For some said ‘He is out of his mind.’
And the scholars, from the Pharisees, having come down [from Jerusalem] , said ‘Beelzebul has him’, and ‘By the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.’
And he called them, and spoke to them in parables:
‘How can Satan cast out Satan?’
And if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom will not st and.
And if a house is divided against itself that house will not stand.’
‘And if Satan rises against himself and is divided he cannot stand but is at an end.
‘But no-one can enter the strong man’s house to steal his things, unless first he binds the strong man, and then he plunders his house.
Truly, truly I tell you people will be forgiven all sins and the things they say as blasphemies.
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, will not have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.’
…because they said ‘He has an unclean spirit.’
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy,
For your mercy and for your truth’s sake. Amen