< Matthew 12 >
1 At that time, as Jesus was walking through the corn on Sabbath, his disciples being hungry, began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat them.
2 The Pharisees observing this, said to him, Lo! your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.
3 He answered, Have you not read what David did, and his attendants, when they were hungry;
4 how he entered the tabernacle of God, and eat the loaves of the presence, which was not lawful for him, or his attendants, to eat but solely for the priests?
5 Or have you not learnt from the law, that the priests in the temple violate the rest to be observed on Sabbaths, and are blameless?
6 Now I affirm, that something greater than the temple is here.
7 But had you know what this means, "I desire humanity and not sacrifice," you would not have condemned the guiltless;
8 for the Son of Man is master of the Sabbath.
9 Leaving that place, he went into their synagogue,
10 and found a man there whose hand was blasted. They asked Jesus, with a design to accuse him, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?
11 He answered, What man is there amongst you, who having one sheep, if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12 And does not a mean greatly excel a sheep? It is lawful, therefore, to do good on the Sabbath.
13 Then he said to the man, Stretch out your hand. And as he stretched it out, it became sound like the other.
14 But the Pharisees went out, and concerted against Jesus to destroy him.
15 Jesus knowing this, departed; and being followed by a vast multitude, healed all their sick,
16 enjoining them not to make him known.
17 Thus the word of the Prophet Isaiah was verified,
18 "Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul delights; I will cause my Spirit to abide upon him, and he shall give laws to the nations;
19 he will not contend, nor clamor, nor cause his voice to be heard in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break; and a dimly burning taper he will not quench, till he render his laws victorious.
21 Nations also shall trust in his name."
22 Then was brought to him a demoniac, dumb, and blind, and he cured him, so that he both spoke and saw.
23 And all the people said with amazement, Is this the son of David?
24 But the Pharisees hearing them, said, This man expels demons only by Beelzebub, prince of the demons.
25 But Jesus, knowing their surmises, said to them, By intestine dissensions any kingdom may be desolated; and no city or family, where such dissensions are, can subsist.
26 Now if Satan expel Satan, his kingdom is torn by intestine dissensions; how can it then subsist?
27 Besides, if I expel demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons expel them? Wherefore they shall be your judges.
28 But if I expel demons by the Spirit of God, the Reign of God has overtaken you.
29 For how can one enter the strong one's house, and plunder his goods, unless he first overpower the strong one? Then indeed he may plunder his house.
30 He who is not for me, is against me; and he who gathers not with me, scatters.
31 Wherefore I say to you, though every other sin and detraction in men is pardonable, their detraction from the Spirit is unpardonable:
32 for whosoever shall inveigh against the Son of Man may obtain pardon; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, shall never be pardoned, either in the present state or the future. (aiōn )
33 Either call the tree good, and its fruit good; or call the tree bad, and its fruit bad: for we distinguish the tree by its fruit.
34 Offspring of vipers! how can you that are evil speak good things, since it is out of the fullness of the heart that the mouth speaks.
35 The good man, out of his good treasure, produces good things; the bad man, out of his bad treasure, produces bad things.
36 Be assured, however, that of every pernicious word which men shall utter, they shall give an account on the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you shall be acquitted, and by your words you shall be condemned.
38 Then some of the Scribes and Pharisees interposed, saying, Rabbi, we desire to see a sign for you.
39 He answering, said to them, An evil and adulterous race demands a sign; but no sign shall be given it, but the sign of the Prophet Jonah.
40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the stomach of the great fish, the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the bosom of the earth.
41 The Ninevites will stand up in the judgment against this race, and cause it to be condemned, because they reformed when they were warned by Jonah; and behold here something greater than Jonah.
42 The Queen of the South country will arise in the judgment against this race, and cause it to be condemned; because she came from the extremities of the earth to hear the wise discourses of Solomon; and behold here something greater than Solomon.
43 An unclean spirit, when he is gone out of a man, wanders over the parched deserts in search of a resting-place. And not finding any,
44 he says, I will return to my house whence I came; and being come, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then he goes, and brings with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and having entered, they dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first: thus will it fare with this evil race.
46 While he discoursed to the people, his mother and brothers were without, desiring to speak with him.
47 And one said to him, Your mother and your brothers are without, desiring to speak with you.
48 He answering, said to him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brothers?
49 The stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, Behold my mother and my brothers.
50 For whosoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, is my brother, and sister, and mother.
