Hear and Obey

After speaking on the sign of Jonah, Jesus continued: “When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ On its return, it finds the house vacant, swept clean, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that person is worse than the first. So will it be with the people of this wicked generation.”

As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You!” 

But Jesus replied, summarizing the teaching He had just given, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” 

(See Matthew 12:43-45; Luke 11:24-28)

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