Matthew 12
1 At that time Jesus went through the fields on the Sabbath day; and his disciples, being in need of food, were taking the heads of grain.
At that time, Jesus went out through the ripe grain on the Sabbath. And his disciples, being hungry, began to separate the grain and to eat.
2 But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, See, your disciples do that which it is not right to do on the Sabbath.
Then the Pharisees, seeing this, said to him, “Behold, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbaths.”
3 But he said to them, Have you no knowledge of what David did when he had need of food, and those who were with him?
But he said to them: “Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him:
4 How he went into the house of God and took for food the holy bread which it was not right for him or for those who were with him to take, but only for the priests?
how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
5 Or is it not said in the law, how the Sabbath is broken by the priests in the Temple and they do no wrong?
Or have you not read in the law, that on the Sabbaths the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath, and they are without guilt?
6 But I say to you that a greater thing than the Temple is here.
But I say to you, that something greater than the temple is here.
7 But if these words had been in your minds, My desire is for mercy and not for offerings, you would not have been judging those who have done no wrong.
And if you knew what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would never have condemned the innocent.
8 For the Son of man is lord of the Sabbath.
For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
9 And he went from there into their Synagogue:
And when he had passed from there, he went into their synagogues.
10 And there was a man with a dead hand. And they put a question to him, saying, Is it right to make a man well on the Sabbath day? so that they might have something against him.
And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand, and they questioned him, so that they might accuse him, saying, “Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbaths?”
11 And he said to them, Which of you, having a sheep, if it gets into a hole on the Sabbath day, will not put out a helping hand and get it back?
But he said to them: “Who is there among you, having even one sheep, if it will have fallen into a pit on the Sabbath, would not take hold of it and lift it up?
12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! For this reason it is right to do good on the Sabbath day.
How much better is a man than a sheep? And so, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbaths.”
13 Then said he to the man, Put out your hand. And he put it out, and it was made as well as the other.
Then he said to the man, “Extend your hand.” And he extended it, and it was restored to health, just like the other one.
14 But the Pharisees went out and made designs against him, how they might put him to death.
Then the Pharisees, departing, took council against him, as to how they might destroy him.
15 And Jesus, having knowledge of this, went away from there, and a great number went after him; and he made them all well,
But Jesus, knowing this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he cured them all.
16 Ordering them not to give people word of him:
And he instructed them, lest they make him known.
17 So that what was said by Isaiah the prophet might come true,
Then what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah was fulfilled, saying:
18 See my servant, the man of my selection, my loved one in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit on him, and he will make my decision clear to the Gentiles.
“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased. I will place my Spirit over him, and he shall announce judgment to the nations.
19 His coming will not be with fighting or loud cries; and his voice will not be lifted up in the streets.
He shall not contend, nor cry out, neither shall anyone hear his voice in the streets.
20 The crushed stem will not be broken by him; and the feebly burning light will he not put out, till he has made righteousness overcome all.
He shall not crush the bruised reed, and he shall not extinguish the smoking wick, until he sends forth judgment unto victory.
21 And in his name will the Gentiles put their hope.
And the Gentiles shall hope in his name.”
22 Then they took to him one with an evil spirit, who was blind and had no power of talking: and he made him well so that he had the power of talking and seeing.
Then one who had a demon, who was blind and mute, was brought to him. And he cured him, so that he spoke and saw.
23 And all the people were surprised and said, Is not this the Son of David?
And all the crowds were stupefied, and they said, “Could this be the son of David?”
24 But the Pharisees, hearing of it, said, This man only sends evil spirits out of men by Beelzebub, the ruler of evil spirits.
But the Pharisees, hearing it, said, “This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons.”
25 And having knowledge of their thoughts he said to them, Every kingdom having division in itself is made waste, and every town or house having division in itself will come to destruction.
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself will become desolate. And every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
26 And if Satan sends out Satan, he makes war against himself; how then will he keep his kingdom?
So if Satan casts out Satan, then he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub send evil spirits out of men, by whom do your sons send them out? So let them be your judges.
And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your own sons cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges.
28 But if I by the Spirit of God send out evil spirits, then is the kingdom of God come on you.
But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has arrived among you.
29 Or how may one go into a strong man's house and take his goods, if he does not first put cords round the strong man? and then he may take his goods.
Or how can anyone enter into the house of a strong man, and plunder his belongings, unless he first restrains the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
30 Whoever is not with me is against me; and he who does not take part with me in getting people together, is driving them away.
Whoever is not with me, is against me. And whoever does not gather with me, scatters.
31 So I say to you, Every sin and every evil word against God will have forgiveness; but for evil words against the Spirit there will be no forgiveness.
For this reason, I say to you: Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
32 And whoever says a word against the Son of man, will have forgiveness; but whoever says a word against the Holy Spirit, will not have forgiveness in this life or in that which is to come. (aiōn g165)
And anyone who will have spoken a word against the Son of man shall be forgiven. But whoever will have spoken against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven, neither in this age, nor in the future age. (aiōn g165)
33 Make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for by its fruit you will get knowledge of the tree.
Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree evil and its fruit evil. For certainly a tree is known by its fruit.
34 You offspring of snakes, how are you, being evil, able to say good things? because out of the heart's store come the words of the mouth.
Progeny of vipers, how are you able to speak good things while you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
35 The good man out of his good store gives good things; and the evil man out of his evil store gives evil things.
A good man offers good things from a good storehouse. And an evil man offers evil things from an evil storehouse.
36 And I say to you that in the day when they are judged, men will have to give an account of every foolish word they have said.
But I say to you, that for every idle word which men will have spoken, they shall render an account in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words will your righteousness be seen, and by your words you will be judged.
For by your words shall you be justified, and by your words shall you be condemned.”
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees, hearing this, said to him, Master, we are looking for a sign from you.
Then certain ones from the scribes and the Pharisees responded to him, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
39 But he, answering, said to them, An evil and false generation is looking for a sign; and no sign will be given to it but the sign of the prophet Jonah:
And answering, he said to them: “An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. But a sign will not be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the stomach of the great fish, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
For just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
41 The men of Nineveh will come up in the day of judging and give their decision against this generation: because they were turned from their sins at the preaching of Jonah; and now a greater than Jonah is here.
The men of Nineveh shall arise in judgment with this generation, and they shall condemn it. For, at the preaching of Jonah, they repented. And behold, there is a greater than Jonah here.
42 The queen of the South will come up in the day of judging and give her decision against this generation: for she came from the ends of the earth to give ear to the wisdom of Solomon; and now a greater than Solomon is here.
The Queen of the South shall arise in judgment with this generation, and she shall condemn it. For she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And behold, there is a greater than Solomon here.
43 But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of a man, goes through dry places looking for rest, and getting it not.
Now when an unclean spirit departs from a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and he does not find it.
44 Then he says, I will go back into my house from which I came out; and when he comes, he sees that there is no one in it, but that it has been made fair and clean.
Then he says, ‘I will return to my house, from which I departed’. And arriving, he finds it vacant, swept clean, and decorated.
45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits worse than himself, and they go in and make it their living-place: and the last condition of that man is worse than the first. Even so will it be with this evil generation.
Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and live there. And in the end, the man becomes worse than he was at first. So, too, shall it be with this most wicked generation.”
46 While he was still talking to the people, his mother and his brothers came, desiring to have talk with him.
While he was still speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak with him.
47 And one said to him, See, your mother and your brothers are outside, desiring to have talk with you.
And someone said to him: “Behold, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, seeking you.”
48 But he in answer said to him who gave the news, Who is my mother and who are my brothers?
But responding to the one speaking to him, he said, “Which one is my mother, and who are my brothers?”
49 And he put out his hand to his disciples and said, See, my mother and my brothers!
And extending his hand to his disciples, he said: “Behold: my mother and my brothers.
50 For whoever does the pleasure of my Father in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.
For anyone who does the will of my Father, who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
