Matthew 12:33-50 ▼

33 “Either declare the tree good and its fruit is good, or declare the tree rotten and its fruit is rotten, for a tree is known by its fruit.

34 You brood of vipers, how can you say good things when you are evil? For from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.

35 A good person brings forth good out of a store of goodness, but an evil person brings forth evil out of a store of evil.

36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak.

37 By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”

39 He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.

40 Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

41 At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here.

42 At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.

43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a person it roams through arid regions searching for rest but finds none.

44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it empty, swept clean, and put in order.

45 Then it goes and brings back with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they move in and dwell there; and the last condition of that person is worse than the first. Thus it will be with this evil generation.”

46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him.

47 [Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.”]

48 But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”

49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.

50 For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”