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29 For how can anyone go into a strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless they first tie up the man? Only then can they plunder the house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 For this reason I say to you: Every sin and blasphemy of humanity will be forgiven, except for blasphemy against the Spirit. 32 If anyone speaks against the Son of Man, they will be forgiven. If anyone speaks against the Holy Spirit, they will not be forgiven, either in this age or the age to come.

33 Either declare that the tree is good and its fruit is good, or declare that the tree is rotten and its fruit is rotten, for a tree is know by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you say good things if you are wicked? For the mouth speaks what flows over from the heart. 35 A good person brings good things out of their store of goodness, and a wicked person brings wicked things out of their store of wickedness. 36 I tell you that on the Day of Judgment people will give account for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. 

  38 Then some of the Scribes and Pharisees responded to him, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” 39 He answered them and said, “A wicked and faithless generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given to you except the sign of Jonah the Prophet. 40 For just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.

Comments

Jesus rebukes the Pharisees, arguing that they are internally rotten. If they see a blind and deaf man gain the ability to see and hear, and their first thought is of the Devil, that says more about them than Jesus. They are speaking what “flows over from the heart.” He warns them that this warped perception is dangerous because it prevents them from seeing God active in the world. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable, not because God will not forgive it, but because it prevents the blasphemer from coming to God for forgiveness.

The Pharisees ask Jesus for proof that he is who he say he is. Jesus, who has just healed a blind and deaf man in front of them, declines. No further sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah: resurrection after three days.