Matthew 12
1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath through the cornfields; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears 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 But the Pharisees, seeing [it], said to him, Behold, thy disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on sabbath.
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 ye not read what David did when he was hungry, and they that were with him?
Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
4 How he entered into the house of God, and ate the shewbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those with him, but for the priests only?
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 ye not read in the law that on the sabbaths the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
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 unto you, that there is here what is greater than the temple.
But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.
7 But if ye had known what is: I will have mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
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 of the sabbath.
For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
9 And, going away from thence, he came into their synagogue.
Moving on from there, Jesus entered their synagogue,
10 And behold, there was a man having his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath? that they might accuse him.
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, What man shall there be of you who has one sheep, and if this fall into a pit on the sabbath, will not lay hold of it and raise [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 then is a man than a sheep! So that it is lawful to do well on the sabbath.
How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13 Then he says to the man, Stretch out thy hand. And he stretched [it] out, and it was restored sound as the other.
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 But the Pharisees, having gone out, took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.
But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
15 But Jesus knowing [it], withdrew thence, and great crowds followed him; and he healed them all:
Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all,
16 and charged them strictly that they should not make him publicly known:
warning them not to make Him known.
17 that that might be fulfilled which was spoken through Esaias the prophet, 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 has found its delight. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall shew forth 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 strive or cry out, nor shall any one hear his voice in the streets;
He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets.
20 a bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, until he bring 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 on his name shall [the] nations hope.
In His name the nations will put their hope.”
22 Then was brought to him one possessed by a demon, blind and dumb, and he healed him, so that the dumb [man] spake 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 amazed and said, Is this [man] the Son of David?
The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24 But the Pharisees, having heard [it], said, This [man] does not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub, prince of demons.
But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”
25 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not subsist.
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 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom subsist?
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, your sons, by whom do they cast [them] out? For this reason 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 by [the] Spirit of God cast out demons, then indeed the kingdom of God is come upon 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 any one enter into the house of the strong [man] and plunder his goods, unless first he bind 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 He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathers not 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 unto you, Every sin and injurious speaking shall be forgiven to men, but speaking injuriously of the Spirit shall not be forgiven to men.
Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 And whosoever shall have spoken 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 age nor in the coming [one]. (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 corrupt, and its fruit corrupt. For from the fruit the tree is known.
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 Offspring of vipers! how can ye speak good things, being wicked? For 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 The good man out of the good treasure brings forth good things; and the wicked man out of the wicked treasure brings forth wicked things.
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 unto you, that every idle word which men shall say, they shall render an account of it in judgment-day:
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 thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
38 Then answered him some of the scribes and Pharisees, saying, Teacher, we desire to see a sign from thee.
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
39 But he, answering, said to them, A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and a sign shall not be given to it save the sign of Jonas the prophet.
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 even as Jonas was in the belly of the great fish three days and three nights, thus shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth 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 Ninevites shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and behold, more than Jonas [is] 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 A 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, more than Solomon [is] 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 But when the unclean spirit has gone out of the man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and 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 whence I came out; and having come, he finds [it] unoccupied, swept, and adorned.
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 himself seven other spirits worse than himself, and entering in, they dwell there; and the last condition of that man becomes worse than the first. Thus shall it be to this wicked generation also.
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 But while he was yet speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him.
While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him.
47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren are standing without, seeking to speak to thee.
Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.”
48 But he answering said to him that spoke to him, Who is my mother, and who are my brethren?
But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?”
49 And, stretching out his hand to his disciples, he said, Behold my mother and my brethren;
Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers.
50 for whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in [the] heavens, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.
For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
