Matthew 12
12
Plucking Grain on the Sabbath
1 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. And his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck off heads of grain and eat them.#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation 2But when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal the Pharisees saw it,#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation they said to him, “Behold, your disciples are doing what it is not permitted to do on the Sabbath!” 3So he said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those with him, 4how he entered into the house of God and ate the bread of the presentation, which it was not permitted for him or for those with him to eat, but only for the priests? 5Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple violate the sanctity of the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here! 7And if you had known what it means,#Literally “it is” ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
A Man with a Withered Hand Healed
9And going on from there he came into their synagogue. 10And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand, and they asked him, saying, “Is it permitted to heal on the Sabbath?” in order that they could accuse him. 11But he said to them, “What man will there be among you who will have one sheep and if this one fell into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation out? 12Then to what degree is a man worth more than a sheep? So then, it is permitted to do good on the Sabbath.”
13Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand,” and he stretched it#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation out, and it was restored as healthy as the other one. 14But the Pharisees went out and plotted#Literally “taking counsel” against him in order that they could destroy him.
God’s Chosen Servant
15Now Jesus, when he#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“learned”) which is understood as temporal learned of it,#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation withdrew from there, and many#Some manuscripts have “many crowds” followed him, and he healed them all. 16And he warned them that they should not reveal his identity,#Literally “make him known” 17in order that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled, who said,
18“Behold my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19He will not quarrel or cry out,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
20A crushed reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not extinguish,
until he brings justice to victory.
21And in his name the Gentiles#Or “the nations”; the same Greek word (in the plural) can be translated as “nations,” “Gentiles,” or “pagans” will hope.#Verses 18–21 are a quotation from Isa 42:1–4
A House Divided Cannot Stand
22Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to him. And he healed him so that the man who was mute could speak and see. 23And all the crowds were amazed and began saying, “Perhaps this one is the Son of David!” 24But the Pharisees, when they#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal heard it,#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation said, “This man does not expel demons except by Beelzebul the ruler of demons!” 25But knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26And if Satan expels Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27And if I expel demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons expel them?#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation For this reason they will be your judges! 28But if I expel demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you! 29Or how can someone enter into the house of a strong man and steal his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? And then he can thoroughly plunder his house. 30The one who is not with me is against me, and the one who does not gather with me scatters. 31For this reason I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven! 32And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him either in this age or in the coming one!
Good Trees and Good Fruit or Bad Trees and Bad Fruit
33“Either make the tree good and its fruit is good, or make the tree bad and its fruit is bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say good things when you#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are”) which is understood as temporal are evil? For from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good person from his#Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun good treasury brings out good things, and the evil person from his#Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun evil treasury brings out evil things. 36But I tell you that every worthless word that they speak, people will give an account for it on the day of judgment! 37For by your words you will be vindicated, and by your words you will be condemned.”
The Sign of Jonah
38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you!” 39But he answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation desires a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah! 40For just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. 41The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and behold, something#*Here “something” is supplied in the translation because the adjective is neuter gender greater than Jonah is here! 42The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something#*Here “something” is supplied in the translation because the adjective is neuter gender greater than Solomon is here!
An Unclean Spirit Returns
43“Now whenever an unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it travels through waterless places searching for rest, and does not find it.#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation 44Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came out.’ And when it#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“arrives”) which is understood as temporal arrives it finds the house#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation unoccupied and swept and put in order. 45Then it goes and brings along with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“go in”) has been translated as a finite verb live there. And the last state of that person becomes worse than the first. So it will be for this evil generation also!”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
46And#Some manuscripts omit “And” while#*Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“speaking”) he was still speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and brothers were standing there outside, desiring to speak to him. 47And someone told him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers are standing there outside desiring to speak to you.” 48But he answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said to the one who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Behold my mother and my brothers! 50For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
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Matthew 12
12
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some 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.”
3He answered, “Haven’t you 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—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7If you had known what these words mean, ‘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.”
9Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
11He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
God’s Chosen Servant
15Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. 16He warned them not to tell others about him. 17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
18“Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, in whom I delight;
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 snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory.
21In his name the nations will put their hope.”#12:21 Isaiah 42:1-4
Jesus and Beelzebul
22Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
25Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, 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 people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age 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 recognized by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
The Sign of Jonah
38Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
39He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for 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 a huge 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 up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something 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 listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.
43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
46While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
48He replied to him, “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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