1 THEN certain of the Scribes and of the Pharisees answered saying , Master we would see a sign from thee . But he answered and said unto them , An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign and there shall no sign be given to it , but the sign of the prophet Jonas .
2 Yea , as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale ’ s belly , so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth , and after he shall rise again .
3 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation and shall condemn it , because they repented at the preaching of Jonas , and behold a greater than Jonas is here .
4 The Queen of the South shall rise up in the judgment with this generation , and shall condemn it ; for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon , and behold , a greater than Solomon is here .
5 AGAIN he said : When the unclean spirit is gone out of any , he walketh through dry places seeking rest , and finding none it saith , I will return into my house from whence I came out . And when he is come he findeth it empty , swept and garnished , for they asked not the Good Spirit to dwell within them , and be their eternal Guest .
6 Then he goeth and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself , and they enter in and dwell there , and the last state of all such is worse than the first . Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation , which refuseth entrance to the Spirit of God .
7 For I say unto you , whosoever blasphemeth the Son of Man , it shall be forgiven them ; but whoso blasphemeth the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven them either in this age , or in the next , for they resist the Light of God , by the false traditions of men .
8 WHILE , he yet talked to the people , behold his parents and his brethren and his sisters stood without , desiring to speak with him . Then one said unto him , Behold thy father and thy mother , and thy brethren and thy sisters stand without , desiring to speak with thee .
9 But he answered and said unto him that told him ; Who is my father and who is my mother ? and who are my brethren and my sisters ?
10 And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples and said , Behold my father and my mother , my brethren and sisters , and my children ! For whosoever shall do the will Of my Parent Who is in Heaven the same is my father and my mother , my brother and my sister , my son and my daughter .
11 AND there were some Pharisees , who were covetous and proud of their riches , and he said unto them , Take heed unto yourselves , and beware of covetousness , for a man ’ s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth .
12 And he spake a parable unto them , saying , The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully ; and he thought within himself , saying , What shall I do , because I have no room where to bestow my fruits ?
13 And he said , This will I do ; I will pull down my barns , and build greater ; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods .
14 And I will say to my soul , thou hast much goods laid up for many years , take thine ease , drink and be merry .
15 But God said unto him , Thou fool , this night thy life shall be required of thee ; then whose shall those things be , which thou hast provided ?
16 So are they that lay up treasures for themselves , and are not rich in good works to them that need , and are in want . LECTION 45. 7. - The word " Blasphemy " is derived from the Greek , " blapto " to hinder , retard , obstruct ( progress ) and " pheme " to speak , thus signifying what is usually known as that conservatism which injures progress and obstructs it . Such a mind is held in bonds by too great deference to authority , or customs , or fashions , or traditions , and closes itself against fresh truths , or the restatement or development of old truths , and thus resists the light which may come through a divine messenger , and commits the " sin against the Holy Spirit " by closing eyes and ears against the higher teaching of God's truth . Such cannot be forgiven i . e . obtain release in this age ( incarnation } or the succeeding . For the effects of persistent resistance are age enduring , like a prison house of the mind , and it cannot break the strong walls of prejudice and come forth , being fast bound , and needing , it may be ages , for its emancipation from error long cherished . LECTION 45. 1 O . - Without slighting any believer's love to the B . V . M ., these words clearly shew how Iesus regarded Righteousness as relating all true believers to him more than any blood relationship could possibly do .