Matthew 12
12
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
1At that time #Mark 2:23; Luke 6:1–5Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to #Deut. 23:25pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”
3But He said to them, “Have you not read #Ex. 31:15; 35:2; 1 Sam. 21:6what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4how he entered the house of God and ate #Ex. 25:30; Lev. 24:5the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, #Ex. 29:32; Lev. 8:31; 24:9but only for the priests? 5Or have you not read in the #Num. 28:9; (John 7:22)law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6Yet I say to you that in this place there is #(2 Chr. 6:18; Is. 66:1, 2; Mal. 3:1); Matt. 12:41, 42One greater than the temple. 7But if you had known what this means, #(1 Sam. 15:22; Hos. 6:6; Mic. 6:6–8); Matt. 9:13‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Healing on the Sabbath
9#Mark 3:1–6; Luke 6:6–11Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 10And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, #Luke 13:14; 14:3; John 9:16“Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.
11Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. 14Then #Ps. 2:2; Matt. 27:1; Mark 3:6; (Luke 6:11); John 5:18; 10:39; 11:53the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.
Behold, My Servant
15But when Jesus knew it, #Matt. 10:23; Mark 3:7He withdrew from there. #Matt. 19:2And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. 16Yet He #Matt. 8:4; 9:30; 17:9warned them not to make Him known, 17that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
18“Behold! #Is. 42:1–4; 49:3My Servant whom I have chosen,
My Beloved #Matt. 3:17; 17:5in whom My soul is well pleased!
I will put My Spirit upon Him,
And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.
19He will not quarrel nor cry out,
Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
20A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench,
Till He sends forth justice to victory;
21And in His name Gentiles will trust.”
A House Divided Cannot Stand
22#Matt. 9:32; (Mark 3:11); Luke 11:14, 15Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 23And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the #Matt. 9:27; 21:9Son of David?”
24#Matt. 9:34; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”
25But Jesus #Matt. 9:4; John 2:25; Rev. 2:23knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, #(Dan. 2:44; 7:14; Luke 1:33); 11:20; (17:20, 21; 1 John 3:8)surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29#Is. 49:24; (Luke 11:21–23)Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
The Unpardonable Sin
31“Therefore I say to you, #Mark 3:28–30; Luke 12:10; (Heb. 6:4–6; 10:26, 29; 1 John 5:16)every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, #Acts 7:51but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32Anyone who #Matt. 11:19; 13:55; John 7:12, 52speaks a word against the Son of Man, #1 Tim. 1:13it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
A Tree Known by Its Fruit
33“Either make the tree good and #Matt. 7:16–18; Luke 6:43, 44; (John 15:4–7)its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34#Matt. 3:7; 23:33; Luke 3:7Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? #1 Sam. 24:13; Is. 32:6; (Matt. 15:18); Luke 6:45; Eph. 4:29; (James 3:2–12)For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
The Scribes and Pharisees Ask for a Sign
38#Matt. 16:1; Mark 8:11; Luke 11:16; John 2:18; 1 Cor. 1:22Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
39But He answered and said to them, “An evil and #Is. 57:3; Matt. 16:4; Mark 8:38; (Luke 11:29–32); John 4:48adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40#Jon. 1:17; Luke 24:46; Acts 10:40; 1 Cor. 15:4For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41#Jon. 3:5; Luke 11:32The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and #Jer. 3:11; Ezek. 16:51; (Rom. 2:27)condemn it, #Jon. 3:5because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42#1 Kin. 10:1–13; 2 Chr. 9:1; Luke 11:31The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.
An Unclean Spirit Returns
43#Luke 11:24–26“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, #(Job 1:7; 1 Pet. 5:8)he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; #Mark 5:9; Luke 11:26; (Heb. 6:4–8; 10:26; 2 Pet. 2:20–22)and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Send for Him
46While He was still talking to the multitudes, #Mark 3:31–35; Luke 8:19–21behold, His mother and #Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3; John 2:12; 7:3, 5; Acts 1:14; 1 Cor. 9:5; Gal. 1:19brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. 47Then one said to Him, “Look, #Matt. 13:55, 56; John 2:12; Acts 1:14Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”
48But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My #John 20:17; (Rom. 8:29)brothers! 50For #John 15:14; (Gal. 5:6; 6:15; Col. 3:11; Heb. 2:11)whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
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Matthew 12: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Matthew 12
12
Jesus Challenged
1At 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. 2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. 3But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4how 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? 5Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 6But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. 7But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
9And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: 10and, 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. 11And 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? 12How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. 13Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
A Council of Pharisees
14Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. 15But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; 16and charged them that they should not make him known: 17that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
18Behold 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.
19He shall not strive, nor cry;
Neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
20A bruised reed shall he not break,
And smoking flax shall he not quench,
Till he send forth judgment unto victory.
21And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
False Charges
22Then 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. 23And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? 24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 25And 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: 26and if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 29Or 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. 30He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
Blasphemy
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. 32And 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. 33Either 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. 34O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35A 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. 36But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Demand for a Sign
38Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39But 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: 40for 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. 41The 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. 42The 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. 43When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44Then 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. 45Then 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.
46While he yet talked to the people, behold,
His Mother and Brethren
his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
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