Matthew 12
1 At that season Jesus went on the sabbath day through the cornfields; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck ears of corn, and to eat.
About that time Jesus passed on the Sabbath through the wheatfields; and His disciples became hungry, and began to gather ears of wheat and eat them.
2 But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do upon the sabbath.
But the Pharisees saw it and said to Him, "Look! your disciples are doing what the Law forbids them to do on the Sabbath."
3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
"Have you never read," He replied, "what David did when he and his men were hungry?
4 how be entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests?
how he entered the House of God and ate the Presented Loaves, which it was not lawful for him or his men to eat, nor for any except the priests?
5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless?
And have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the Temple break the Sabbath without incurring guilt?
6 But I say unto you, that one greater than the temple is here.
But I tell you that there is here that which is greater than the Temple.
7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
And if you knew what this means, 'It is mercy I desire, not sacrifice', you would not have condemned those who are without guilt.
8 For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath.
For the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath."
9 And he departed thence, and went into their synagogue:
Departing thence He went to their synagogue,
10 and behold, a man having a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? that they might accuse him.
where there was a man with a shrivelled arm. And they questioned Him, "Is it right to cure people on the Sabbath?" Their intention was to bring a charge against Him.
11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be of you, that shall have one sheep, and if this fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
"Which of you is there," He replied, "who, if he has but a single sheep and it falls into a hole on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?
12 How much then is a man of more value than a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day.
Is not a man, however, far superior to a sheep? Therefore it is right to do good on the Sabbath."
13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, as the other.
Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your arm." And he stretched it out, and it was restored quite sound like the other.
14 But the Pharisees went out, and took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.
But the Pharisees after leaving the synagogue consulted together against Him, how they might destroy Him.
15 And Jesus perceiving [it] withdrew from thence: and many followed him; and he healed them all,
Aware of this, Jesus departed elsewhere; and a great number of people followed Him, all of whom He cured.
16 and charged them that they should not make him known:
But He gave them strict injunctions not to blaze abroad His doings,
17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying,
that those words of the Prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled,
18 Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, And he shall declare judgment to the Gentiles.
"This is My servant whom I have chosen, My dearly loved One in whom My soul takes pleasure. I will put My spirit upon Him, and He will announce justice to the nations.
19 He shall not strive, nor cry aloud; Neither shall any one hear his voice in the streets.
He will not wrangle or raise His voice, nor will His voice be heard in the broadways.
20 A bruised reed shall he not break, And smoking flax shall he not quench, Till he send forth judgment unto victory.
A crushed reed He will not utterly break, nor will He quench the still smouldering wick, until He has led on Justice to victory.
21 And in his name shall the Gentiles hope.
And on His name shall the nations rest their hopes."
22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the dumb man spake and saw.
At that time a demoniac was brought to Him, blind and dumb; and He cured him, so that the dumb man could speak and see.
23 And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Is this the son of David?
And the crowds of people were all filled with amazement and said, "Can this be the Son of David?"
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
The Pharisees heard it and said, "This man only expels demons by the power of Baal-zebul, the Prince of demons."
25 And knowing their thoughts he said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
Knowing their thoughts He said to them, "Every kingdom in which civil war has raged suffers desolation; and every city or house in which there is internal strife will be brought low.
26 and if Satan casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?
And if Satan is expelling Satan, he has begun to make war on himself: how therefore shall his kingdom last?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
And if it is by Baal-zebul's power that I expel the demons, by whose power do your disciples expel them? They therefore shall be your judges.
28 But if I by the Spirit of God cast out devils, then is the kingdom of God come upon you.
But if it is by the power of the Spirit of God that I expel the demons, it is evident that the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 Or how can one enter into the house of the strong [man], and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong [man]? and then he will spoil his house.
Again, how can any one enter the house of a strong man and carry off his goods, unless first of all he masters and secures the strong man: then he will ransack his house.
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
"The man who is not with me is against me, and he who is not gathering with me is scattering abroad.
31 Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
This is why I tell you that men may find forgiveness for every other sin and impious word, but that for impious speaking against the Holy Spirit they shall find no forgiveness.
32 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come. (aiōn g165)
And whoever shall speak against the Son of Man may obtain forgiveness; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, neither in this nor in the coming age shall he obtain forgiveness." (aiōn g165)
33 Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit.
"Either grant the tree to be wholesome and its fruit wholesome, or the tree poisonous and its fruit poisonous; for the tree is known by its fruit.
34 Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
O vipers' brood, how can you speak what is good when you are evil? For it is from the overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks.
35 The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
A good man from his good store produces good things, and a bad man from his bad store produces bad things.
36 And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
But I tell you that for every careless word that men shall speak they will be held accountable on the day of Judgement.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
For each of you by his words shall be justified, or by his words shall be condemned."
38 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
Then He was accosted by some of the Scribes and of the Pharisees who said, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign given by you."
39 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 Jonah the prophet:
"Wicked and faithless generation!" He replied, "they clamour for a sign, but none shall be given to them except the sign of the Prophet Jonah.
40 for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
For just as Jonah was three days in the sea-monster's belly, so will the Son of Man be three days in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.
There will stand up men of Nineveh at the Judgement together with the present generation, and will condemn it; because they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and mark! there is One greater than Jonah here.
42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
The Queen of the south will awake at the Judgement together with the present generation, and will condemn it; because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and mark! there is One greater than Solomon here.
43 But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not.
"No sooner however has the foul spirit gone out of the man, then he roams about in places where there is no water, seeking rest but finding none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
Then he says, 'I will return to my house that I left;' and he comes and finds it unoccupied, swept clean, and in good order.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation.
Then he goes and brings back with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they come in and dwell there; and in the end that man's condition becomes worse than it was at first. So will it be also with the present wicked generation."
46 While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him.
While He was still addressing the people His mother and His brothers were standing on the edge of the crowd desiring to speak to Him.
47 And one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, seeking to speak to thee.
So some one told Him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and desire to speak to you."
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
"Who is my mother?" He said to the man; "and who are my brothers?"
49 And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, and said, Behold, my mother and my brethren!
And pointing to His disciples He added, "See here are my mother and my brothers.
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.
To obey my Father who is in Heaven--that is to be my brother and my sister and my mother."
