Gift from Creator Tells the Good Story 12
12
CHIEF OF THE DAY OF RESTING
1During that time on a Day of Resting, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) and his followers were walking through a field of grain. The men were hungry, so they plucked some grain, rubbed the husks off in their hands, and began to eat.
2When the Separated Ones (Pharisees) saw what they were doing, they said to him, “Why do your followers do what is not permitted on the Day of Resting?”
3He answered them, “Have you not heard about the time long ago when the great chief Much Loved One (David) was hungry? 4How he and his followers went into the sacred lodge and ate the ceremonial bread? Tribal law says that only the holy men are permitted to eat this bread.
5“Have you not read in tribal law that the holy men who perform the ceremonies in the sacred lodge are permitted to ignore the sacredness of the Day of Resting—without blame?
6“Listen to me! The one standing before you is greater than the sacred lodge! 7If you understood this saying, ‘I want kindness and compassion, not ceremonial sacrifices,’#12:7 Hosea 6:6 you would not have blamed the innocent ones. 8For the True Human Being is Chief over the Day of Resting!”
HEALING ON THE DAY OF RESTING
9Creator Sets Free (Jesus) left there and went to their gathering house. 10There he saw a man with a shriveled and useless hand.
The Separated Ones (Pharisees) had been keeping a close eye on him. Then they saw him looking at the man with the useless hand.
Trying to find a reason to accuse him, they asked, “Is it permitted to heal on the Day of Resting?”
Creator Sets Free (Jesus) knew what they were scheming.
11“Is there anyone here who would not help his sheep out of a ditch it fell into, even on the Day of Resting?” he challenged them. 12“A human being has more value than a sheep! That is why it is permitted to do good on the Day of Resting!”
13Then he turned to the man and said, “Stretch out your hand.”
He stretched it out, and it was the same as his good hand!
14The Separated Ones (Pharisees) stormed out of there and began to scheme together about how to have Creator Sets Free (Jesus) killed. 15But he knew what they were doing, so he left that place. A large number of people went with him, and he healed all who were sick, 16but he warned them not to tell others who or where he was.
AN ANCIENT PROPHECY FULFILLED
17Another ancient prophecy of Creator Will Help Us (Isaiah) had now found its full meaning:
18“Here is the one I have chosen, who does all I ask and makes my heart glad. I have made my stand with him and love him as a father loves a son. My Sacred Spirit will rest on him and give him a message that will right the wrongs done to all people. 19He will not make loud arguments on the village pathways but will speak with humble dignity. 20He will not break a bruised reed. He will not snuff out a smoldering fire. He will never give up until all wrongs have been made right again! 21All nations will hear of his reputation and put their trust and hope in him.”#12:21 Isaiah 42:1-4
THE SEPARATED ONES ACCUSE HIM
22They brought a man to Creator Sets Free (Jesus) who, tormented by an evil spirit, could not see or speak. He healed the man, who could then see and speak again. 23The large crowd was amazed and said, “Could this be the promised descendant of chief Much Loved One (David)?”
24When the Separated Ones (Pharisees) heard what the people were saying, they said, “No! His power over evil spirits comes from the Worthless Ruler (Beelzebul), the one who rules over all evil spirits.”
25Creator Sets Free (Jesus) knew what they were thinking and said to them, “A nation warring against itself comes to a bad end. Villages or clans warring against each other will not survive. 26If Accuser (Satan) is warring against himself, how will he continue to rule?
27“If it is by his power that I force out evil spirits, by what power do your children do these things? So then, they are the ones who will decide against you. 28But if I force out evil spirits by Creator’s Spirit, then the good road of the Great Spirit has come close to you.
DEFEATING THE STRONGMAN
29“Who can enter the strongman’s house and take away his goods, unless he first defeats him? He will then tie him up and take what is in his house.
30“The one who is not fighting with me fights against me. The one who does not help me gather scatters and makes things worse.”
In this spiritual war there is no unclaimed territory.
31“That is why I say to you, the wrongdoings and evil speaking that human-kind has done will be forgiven them. 32Anyone who speaks against the True Human Being will be forgiven. But speaking evil of the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven in this present world or in the one that is coming.
GOOD AND BAD FRUIT
33“You must grow a good tree to get good fruit. If you grow a bad tree, you get bad fruit. For a tree is known by its fruit.”
Then with fire in his eyes Creator Sets Free (Jesus) turned to the Separated Ones (Pharisees) and spoke with a voice like thunder.
34“You nest of poisonous snakes! How can you who are evil speak any good things? What is in your hearts will come out of your mouths. 35Good people speak from the good medicine stored in their hearts. Evil people speak from the bad medicine stored in their hearts. 36But I tell you, when the day comes for the final decision, human beings will have to give an answer for every worthless word spoken. 37The words that come out from your hearts will decide for or against you when you stand before the Great Spirit.”
AN UNUSUAL SIGN
38Then some of the scroll keepers and Separated Ones (Pharisees) spoke back to him.
“Wisdomkeeper,” they demanded, “show us a powerful sign to prove who you are.”
But Creator Sets Free (Jesus) turned their words back on them, for they had just seen him do a powerful sign.
39“Only a bad-hearted and unfaithful generation would keep demanding signs,” he answered. “The only sign that you will be given is the sign of the prophet Wings of Dove (Jonah). 40Just as he was in the belly of a great fish for three days and nights, the True Human Being will be in the womb of the earth for three days and nights.
41“When the time comes for the final decision to be made about the people living today, the people of Village of Changed Minds (Nineveh) will stand in agreement against them. What they did will show your guilt, because they changed their hearts and minds when they heard the message of Wings of Dove (Jonah). Look! One who is greater than he stands before you now.
42“The female chief of the South will also be there as a witness against the people of this generation. Her reputation will show your guilt, for she journeyed from a land far away to listen to the wisdom of the great chief Stands in Peace (Solomon). Look! One greater than Stands in Peace (Solomon) is standing right in front of you.
43“When an evil spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through dry and desolate lands, looking for a place to rest. When it finds none, 44it says, ‘I will go back to the house I left.’ It returns to find the house empty, swept clean, and put in order. 45The spirit then finds seven other spirits, more evil than itself, who all go in and live there, making the person worse than before. This is how it will be for the generation of people living today.”
ALL MY RELATIVES
46While Creator Sets Free (Jesus) was speaking to the people, his mother and brothers were outside wanting to talk with him. 47Someone noticed and told him, “Your relatives are here, waiting outside to see you.”
48“Who are my relatives?” he asked the person who told him.
49Then he looked around the circle of people, lifted his hands toward his followers, and said, “Here they are! 50The ones who walk in the ways of my Father from the spirit-world above are my relatives—my mother, brothers and sisters.”
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Gift from Creator Tells the Good Story 12: FNVNT
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Copyright ©2023 InterVarsity Press
Matthew 12
12
The Lord of the Sabbath
(1 Samuel 21:1–7; Mark 2:23–28; Luke 6:1–5)
1At 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. 2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
3Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread,#12:4 Or the Bread of the Presence which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.
5Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.
7If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’#12:7 Hosea 6:6 you would not have condemned the innocent. 8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
(Mark 3:1–6; Luke 6:6–11)
9Moving on from there, Jesus entered their synagogue, 10and a man with a withered hand was there. In order to accuse Jesus, they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
11He 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? 12How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13Then 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. 14But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
God’s Chosen Servant
(Isaiah 42:1–9)
15Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all, 16warning them not to make Him known. 17This 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.
19He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear His voice in the streets.
20A bruised reed He will not break,
and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish,
till He leads justice to victory.
21In His name the nations will put their hope.”#12:21 Isaiah 42:1–4 (see also LXX)
A House Divided
(Mark 3:20–27; Luke 11:14–23)
22Then 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. 23The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul,#12:24 WH Beezeboul; Vulgate Beelzebub; also in verse 27 the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”
25Knowing 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. 26If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29Or 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.
30He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
The Unpardonable Sin
(Mark 3:28–30)
31Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Whoever 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.
Good and Bad Fruit
(Luke 6:43–45)
33Make 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. 34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. 35The 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. 36But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
The Sign of Jonah
(Jonah 3:1–10; Luke 11:29–32)
38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
39Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For 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.
41The 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. 42The 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.
An Unclean Spirit Returns
(Luke 11:24–26)
43When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ On its return, it finds the house vacant, swept clean, and put in order. 45Then 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.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
(Mark 3:31–35; Luke 8:19–21)
46While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. 47Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.”#12:47 WH does not include verse 47.
48But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” 49Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers. 50For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
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The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.