The Skeptics Annotated Bible (746 page)

16 And charged them that they should not make him known:

17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

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 judgment to the Gentiles.

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 smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

(12.22) “Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him.” Jesus casts out a devil from a man who was blind and dumb. (Those who are unable to see or hear are possessed by devils.)

23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

(12.24)
“When the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.”
This would be a good strategy for Beelzebub. Help Jesus (a false prophet/Messiah) cast out devils, so that the people will (mistakenly) believe in him.

25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

(12.30) “He that is not with me is against me.”
357 Who is for or against Jesus?

(12.31-32) The unforgivable sin: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
358 Is there an unforgivable sin?

31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

(12.31)
“Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven.”

32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

(12.32)
“Whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him.”

33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

(12.34)
“O generation of vipers”
Jesus often called people names. One of his favorites was to call his adversaries a “generation of vipers.”

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

(12.36)
“Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

(12.37)
“By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
359 How are people judged by God?
304 Is salvation by faith alone?
307 Is anyone justified?