Matthew 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 pluck heads of grain and eat them. 2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Behold, yoʋr disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, 1and those who were with him, 4how he entered the house of God and 2ate the bread of the Presence, which was not lawful for him or those who were 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 profane the Sabbath and yet are guiltless? 6But I tell you that 3something greater than the temple is here. 7But if you had known what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8For the Son of Man is Lord 4of the Sabbath.”

Jesus Heals a Man with a Withered Hand

9Then he departed from there and went into their synagogue. 10And behold, there was a 5man who had a withered hand. In order to accuse Jesus, the Pharisees asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” 11He said to them, “What man among you who has a sheep that falls into a pit on the Sabbath will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12Of how much more value is a person than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13Then he said to the man, “Stretch out yoʋr hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored, becoming as sound as the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus as to how they might destroy him.

God's Chosen Servant

15Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from there. 6Large crowds followed him, and he healed them all 16and warned them not to make him known. 17This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

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 will declare justice to the Gentiles.

19He will not quarrel or cry out,

nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.

20A bruised 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 will hope.”

Jesus and Beelzebul

22Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and Jesus healed him, so that the 7man who was blind and mute could speak and see. 23All the crowds were amazed and said, “Can this be the 8Son of David?” 24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26So if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom 9do your followers cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29Or how can anyone enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man? Then he 10can plunder his house. 30Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but 11they will not be forgiven for blasphemy against the Spirit. 32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, neither in 12the present age nor in the age to come.

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

33“A tree is known by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will also be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will also be bad. 34You brood of vipers, how can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good person brings good things out of 13his good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of his evil treasure. 36But I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give an account for every idle word they speak. 37For by yoʋr words yoʋ will be justified, and by yoʋr words yoʋ will be condemned.”

The Sign of Jonah

38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees 14responded, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from yoʋ.” 39But Jesus answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For just as 15Jonah was in the belly of the great sea creature for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42The queen of the South will rise up 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 behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

An Unclean Spirit Returns

43“When an unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it goes through waterless places seeking rest, but does not find any. 44Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and dwell there, and the last state of that person becomes worse than the first. So will it be with this evil generation also.”

Jesus' Mother and Brothers

46While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 4716Then someone said to him, “Behold, yoʋr mother and yoʋr brothers are standing outside, asking to speak to yoʋ.” 48But he replied to the one who spoke to 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 in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”