Matthew 12
1 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.
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
2 Then the Pharisees, seeing this, said to him, “Behold, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbaths.”
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
3 But he said to them: “Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him:
Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
4 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?
He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.
5 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?
Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent?
6 But I say to you, that something greater than the temple is here.
But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.
7 And if you knew what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would never have condemned the innocent.
If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.
8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
9 And when he had passed from there, he went into their synagogues.
Moving on from there, Jesus entered their synagogue,
10 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?”
and a man with a withered hand was there. In order to accuse Jesus, they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
11 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?
He replied, “If one of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out?
12 How much better is a man than a sheep? And so, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbaths.”
How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13 Then he said to the man, “Extend your hand.” And he extended it, and it was restored to health, just like the other one.
Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored to full use, just like the other.
14 Then the Pharisees, departing, took council against him, as to how they might destroy him.
But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
15 But Jesus, knowing this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he cured them all.
Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all,
16 And he instructed them, lest they make him known.
warning them not to make Him known.
17 Then what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah was fulfilled, saying:
This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
18 “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.
“Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.
19 He shall not contend, nor cry out, neither shall anyone hear his voice in the streets.
He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets.
20 He shall not crush the bruised reed, and he shall not extinguish the smoking wick, until he sends forth judgment unto victory.
A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory.
21 And the Gentiles shall hope in his name.”
In His name the nations will put their hope.”
22 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.
Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed the man so that he could speak and see.
23 And all the crowds were stupefied, and they said, “Could this be the son of David?”
The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24 But the Pharisees, hearing it, said, “This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons.”
But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”
25 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.
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
26 So if Satan casts out Satan, then he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your own sons cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges.
And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has arrived among you.
But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 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.
Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
30 Whoever is not with me, is against me. And whoever does not gather with me, scatters.
He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
31 For this reason, I say to you: Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 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)
Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come. (aiōn g165)
33 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.
Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.
34 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.
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
35 A good man offers good things from a good storehouse. And an evil man offers evil things from an evil storehouse.
The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.
36 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.
But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
37 For by your words shall you be justified, and by your words shall you be condemned.”
For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
38 Then certain ones from the scribes and the Pharisees responded to him, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
39 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.
Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 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.
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 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.
The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.
42 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.
The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
43 Now when an unclean spirit departs from a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and he does not find it.
When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house, from which I departed’. And arriving, he finds it vacant, swept clean, and decorated.
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.
45 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.”
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 man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.”
46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak with him.
While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him.
47 And someone said to him: “Behold, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, seeking you.”
Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.”
48 But responding to the one speaking to him, he said, “Which one is my mother, and who are my brothers?”
But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?”
49 And extending his hand to his disciples, he said: “Behold: my mother and my brothers.
Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers.
50 For anyone who does the will of my Father, who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
