Matthew 12

1 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 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”

3 Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

4 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 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 tell you that One greater than the temple is here.

7 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.”

9 Moving on from there, Jesus entered their synagogue,

10 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 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 more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

13 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 went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all,

16 warning them not to make Him known.

17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

18 “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 will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets.

20 A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory.

21 In His name the nations will put their hope.”

22 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed the man so that the blind and mute man could both speak and see.

23 The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?”

24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”

25 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 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?

27 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 drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

29 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 who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.

32 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 the present age or in the one to come.

33 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 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 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 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 you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

39 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 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 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 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 When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.

44 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 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 Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him.

47 Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.”

48 But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?”

49 Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers.

50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

1 ¶ At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

2 But when the Pharisees saw [it], they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

3 But he said unto them, ‹Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;›

4 ‹How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?›

5 ‹Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?›

6 ‹But I say unto you, That in this place is› [one] ‹greater than the temple.›

7 ‹But if ye had known what› [this] ‹meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.›

8 ‹For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.›

9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:

10 And, behold, there was a man which had [his] hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

11 And he said unto them, ‹What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift› [it] ‹out?›

12 ‹How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.›

13 Then saith he to the man, ‹Stretch forth thine hand.› And he stretched [it] forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

14 ¶ Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

15 But when Jesus knew [it], he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

16 And charged them that they should not make him known:

17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

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 shew judgment to the Gentiles.

19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

22 ¶ Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

24 But when the Pharisees heard [it], they said, This [fellow] doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, ‹Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:›

26 ‹And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?›

27 ‹And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast› [them] ‹out? therefore they shall be your judges.›

28 ‹But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.›

29 ‹Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.›

30 ‹He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.›

31 ‹Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy› [against] ‹the› [Holy] ‹Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.›

32 ‹And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the› [world] ‹to come.›

33 ‹Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by› [his] ‹fruit.›

34 ‹O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.›

35 ‹A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.›

36 ‹But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.›

37 ‹For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.›

38 ¶ Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

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 the prophet Jonas:›

40 ‹For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.›

41 ‹The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas› [is] ‹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 uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon› [is] ‹here.›

43 ‹When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.›

44 ‹Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth› [it] ‹empty, swept, and garnished.›

45 ‹Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last› [state] ‹of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.›

46 ¶ While he yet talked to the people, behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, ‹Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?›

49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, ‹Behold my mother and my brethren!›

50 ‹For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.›

1 At that time JEsus went through the seed on the sabbath day: and his disciples being hungry began to pluck up ears of corn, and to eat.

2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not fitting to be done on the sabbath day.

3 And he said unto them: Have ye not read what David did, when he and they that were with him hungered?

4 As he went into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but for the priests only?

5 Or have ye not read in the law, how the priests break the sabbath in the temple on the sabbath day, and yet are guiltless?

6 But I say unto you, that here is he which is greater than the temple.

7 But if ye knew what' this is, I delight in mercy, and not in sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the innocent.

8 The Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

9 And he departed thence, and came into their synagogue.

10 And, behold, there was a man which had a withered hand. And they asked him, saying: Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? that they might have a cause against him.

11 And he said unto them: What man is there among you, if he have a sheep which shall fall into a pit on the sabbath day, that shall not take hold of it, and lift it up?

12 How much better therefore is a man than a sheep! Therefore do good on the sabbath day.

13 And he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it out, and it was restored unto him like unto the other.

14 Then the Pharisees went out, and took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.

15 But when JEsus knew it, he departed thence. And much people followed him, and he healed them all.

16 And afflicted them, because they reported him not,

17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

18 Behold, this is my servant, whom I have chosen, and my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall declare judgment unto the heathen.

19 He shall not wrangle, nor cry out, neither shall his cry be heard in the streets.

20 He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoldering wick, until he execute judgment unto victory.

21 And the heathen shall hope in his name.

22 And there was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind and dumb: and he healed him so that the blind and dumb man both spake and saw.

23 And all the people were amazed, and said: Is not this David's son?

24 But the Pharisees, when they heard it, said, He casteth out devils no other way than by Beelzebub, the chief of the devils.

25 And Jesus heard their thoughts, and said unto them: Every kingdom divided against itself shall be desolate; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.

26 If then one Satan cast out another, he must be at variance with himself: how then can his kingdom stand?

27 But if I cast out devils by Beelzebub, by whom do they cast out your children? Therefore they shall be your judges.

28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or how can a man enter into a strong man's house, and rob him of his goods, except he first bind the strong man, and then rob him of his house?

30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

31 Therefore I say unto you: All sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven men.

32 And whosoever shall speak against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in the next.

33 Either plant a good tree, and the fruit shall be good; or plant a corrupt tree, and the fruit shall be corrupt: for by the fruit shall the tree be known.

34 Ye vipers, how can ye speak good, being evil? Whose heart is full, his mouth overflows.

35 A good man bringeth forth good things out of the good treasure of his heart; and an evil man bringeth forth evil things out of his evil treasure.

36 But I say unto you, That men shall give account at the last judgment of every vain word that they have spoken.

37 By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

38 Then answered some of the scribes and Pharisees, and said: Master, we would gladly see a sign from thee.

39 And he answered and said unto them: The wicked and adulterous kind seeketh a sign, and there shall no sign be given unto it, save the sign of Jonas the prophet.

40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the midst of the earth.

41 The people of Nineveh shall stand with this generation at the judgment, and shall condemn them: for they repented after the preaching of Jonah. And, behold, here is more than Jonah.

42 The queen of the south shall appear at the last judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the end of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And, behold, here is more than Solomon.

43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh in dry places, seeking rest, and findeth it not.

44 Then saith he: I will return to my house from whence I came. And when he cometh, he findeth it idle, and clean, and adorned.

45 And he goeth, and taketh unto him seven other spirits worse than himself: and when they are come in, they dwell there; and the same man is worse afterward than he was before. So it will be with this evil generation.

46 While he yet spake thus unto the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

47 And one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

48 And he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother, and who are my brethren?

49 And stretching forth his hand over his disciples, he said, Behold my mother and my brethren.

50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.