安息日的问题

12 那时,耶稣在安息日经过一片麦田。祂的门徒饿了,便随手搓麦穗吃。 法利赛人看见后,对耶稣说:“你看,你的门徒做了在安息日不准做的事!”

耶稣回答说:“你们没有读过大卫的事迹吗?当时他和部下饿了, 进入上帝的殿,吃了献给上帝的供饼。这饼只有祭司才可以吃,大卫和部下是不准吃的。 此外律法书又记载,安息日,祭司在圣殿里触犯了守安息日的规条也不算有罪。你们没有读过吗? 我告诉你们,这里有一人比圣殿更伟大, 如果你们明白‘我喜爱怜悯之心,而非祭物’这句经文的意义,就不会冤枉无辜了。 因为人子是安息日的主。”

耶稣离开那里,走进会堂, 10 里面有个人,一只手是萎缩的。法利赛人企图找借口控告耶稣,就问祂:“安息日可不可以医病呢?”

11 耶稣回答说:“如果你们有一只羊在安息日掉进坑里,难道你们不把它拉上来吗? 12 人比羊要贵重多了!所以在安息日行善合情合理。”

13 于是,耶稣转过身来对那人说:“把手伸出来!”那人一伸手,手就复原了,跟另一只手一样健康。 14 法利赛人却走了出去,策划怎样除掉耶稣。

上帝的仆人

15 耶稣知道了,就离开那个地方。很多人跟随祂,耶稣医好了其中所有患病的人, 16 吩咐他们不要泄露祂的身份。 17 这是要应验以赛亚先知的话:

18 “看啊!我所拣选、
所眷爱、所喜悦的仆人,
我要将我的灵赐给祂,
祂要向万邦宣扬正义。
19 祂不争竞,不喧嚷,
街上也听不见祂的声音。
20 压伤的芦苇,祂不折断;
将残的灯火,祂不吹灭;
祂终必使正义得胜。
21 普世都要仰望祂的圣名。”

22 有人带一个被鬼附身、又瞎又哑的人来见耶稣,耶稣便医好他,使他能说能看。 23 众人都很惊奇,就说:“这人会不会是大卫的那个后裔?” 24 法利赛人听见后却说:“祂不过是靠鬼王别西卜赶鬼罢了。”

25 耶稣知道他们的心思,就说:“一个国内部自相纷争,必然灭亡;一座城、一个家内部自相纷争,必然崩溃。 26 若撒旦驱逐撒旦,就是自相纷争,它的国怎能维持呢? 27 若我是靠别西卜赶鬼,你们的子弟又是靠谁赶鬼呢?为此,他们要审判你们。 28 若我是靠上帝的灵赶鬼,就是上帝的国已降临在你们中间了。

29 “人如何进入壮汉家中抢夺他的财物呢?除非先把那壮汉捆绑起来,才有可能抢劫他的家。

30 “不与我为友就是与我为敌;不助我召集就是故意拆散。 31 所以我告诉你们,一切的罪和亵渎的话都可以得到赦免,但亵渎圣灵的罪必得不到赦免。 32 说话得罪人子的,还可以得到赦免;但那些说话冒犯圣灵的,今生永世都得不到赦免。

树与果

33 “好树结好果子,坏树结坏果子,看果子就能知道树的好坏。 34 你们这些毒蛇的后代!你们心里邪恶,又怎能讲出好话呢?因为心里充满的,口里自然会说出来。 35 善人心存良善,就从他里面发出良善;恶人心存邪恶,就从他里面发出邪恶。 36 我告诉你们,在审判之日,人将为自己所说的每一句闲话负责, 37 因为将来要凭你口中的话来判断你是否有罪。”

求神迹

38 当时,有几个律法教师和法利赛人对耶稣说:“老师,我们想要看你行个神迹。” 39 耶稣回答说:“一个邪恶淫乱的世代想看神迹,可是除了约拿先知的神迹以外,再没有神迹给他们看。 40 约拿在大鱼腹中三日三夜,人子也要在地里三日三夜。 41 在审判的日子,尼尼微人和这世代的人都要起来[a],尼尼微人要定这个世代的罪,因为他们听到约拿的宣告,就悔改了。看啊!这里有一人比约拿更伟大。 42 在审判的日子,南方的女王和这世代的人都要起来,她要定这个世代的罪,因为她曾不远千里来听所罗门王的智言慧语。看啊!这里有一人比所罗门王更伟大。

乘虚而入

43 “有一个污鬼离开了它以前所附的人,在干旱无水之地四处游荡,寻找安歇之处,却没有找到。 44 于是它说,‘我要回到老地方。’它回去后,看见里面空着,打扫得又干净又整齐, 45 就去带来了七个比自己更邪恶的鬼一起住在那里。那人的下场比从前更惨了。这个邪恶的世代也会这样。”

真正的亲属

46 耶稣还在和众人说话的时候,祂的母亲和兄弟站在外面,想要跟祂说话。 47 有人告诉祂:“你的母亲和兄弟在外面有话要跟你说。”

48 耶稣说:“谁是我的母亲?谁是我的兄弟?” 49 祂伸出手来指着门徒说:“你们看!这些人就是我的母亲和我的兄弟。 50 凡遵行我天父旨意的人都是我的弟兄、姊妹和母亲。”

Footnotes

  1. 12:41 起来”或作“复活”。

Lord of the Sabbath

12 At that time Jesus passed through the grainfields on the Sabbath.(A) His disciples(B) were hungry and began to pick and eat some heads of grain. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is not lawful(C) to do on the Sabbath.”

He said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry: how he entered the house of God, and they ate[a] the bread of the Presence—which is not lawful for him or for those with him to eat, but only for the priests?(D) Or haven’t you read in the law that on Sabbath days the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent?(E) I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.(F) If you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice,[b](G) you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”(H)

The Man with the Shriveled Hand

Moving on from there, he entered their synagogue.(I) 10 There he saw a man who had a shriveled hand, and in order to accuse him they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” (J)

11 He replied to them, “Who among you, if he had a sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath, wouldn’t take hold of it and lift it out?(K) 12 A person is worth far more than a sheep; (L) so it is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath.”

13 Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored,(M) as good as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, how they might kill him.(N)

The Servant of the Lord

15 Jesus was aware of this and withdrew. Large crowds[c] followed him, and he healed them all.(O) 16 He warned them not to make him known,(P) 17 so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

18 Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.(Q)
19 He will not argue or shout,
and no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 He will not break a bruised reed,
and he will not put out a smoldering wick,
until he has led justice to victory.[d]
21 The nations will put their hope in his name.[e](R)

A House Divided

22 Then a demon-possessed man(S) who was blind and unable to speak was brought to him. He healed him, so that the man[f] could both speak and see.(T) 23 All the crowds were astounded and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” (U)

24 When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”(V)

25 Knowing their thoughts,(W) he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 If Satan(X) drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges.(Y) 28 If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.(Z) 29 How can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up(AA) the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. 30 Anyone who is not with me is against me,(AB) and anyone who does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore,(AC) I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy,(AD) but the blasphemy against[g] the Spirit will not be forgiven.[h] 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man,(AE) 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 one to come.(AF)

A Tree and Its Fruit

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit will be good, or make the tree bad[i] and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.(AG) 34 Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow(AH) of the heart. 35 A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.(AI) 36 I tell you that on the day of judgment(AJ) people will have to account(AK) for every careless[j] word they speak.[k] 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

The Sign of Jonah

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”(AL)

39 He answered them,(AM) “An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.(AN) 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish[l](AO) three days and three nights,(AP) so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it,(AQ) because they repented at Jonah’s preaching; and look—something greater than Jonah is here.(AR) 42 The queen of the south(AS) 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 look—something greater than Solomon is here.

An Unclean Spirit’s Return

43 “When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places looking for rest but doesn’t find any.(AT) 44 Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ Returning, it finds the house vacant, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that person’s last condition is worse than the first.(AU) That’s how it will also be with this evil generation.”

True Relationships

46 While he(AV) was still speaking with the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside wanting to speak to him.(AW) 47 Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”[m]

48 He replied to the one who was speaking to him, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” 49 Stretching out his hand toward his disciples,(AX) 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.”(AY)

Footnotes

  1. 12:4 Other mss read he ate
  2. 12:7 Hs 6:6
  3. 12:15 Other mss read Many
  4. 12:20 Or until he has successfully put forth justice
  5. 12:18–21 Is 42:1–4
  6. 12:22 Lit mute
  7. 12:31 Or of
  8. 12:31 Other mss add people
  9. 12:33 Or decayed; lit rotten
  10. 12:36 Lit worthless
  11. 12:36 Lit will speak
  12. 12:40 Or sea creature; Jnh 1:17
  13. 12:47 Other mss omit this v.

Plucking Grain on the Sabbath

12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law how on the sabbath the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath.”

The Man with a Withered Hand

And he went on from there, and entered their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?” so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “What man of you, if he has one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, whole like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him, how to destroy him.

God’s Chosen Servant

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all, 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
    my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
    and he shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not wrangle or cry aloud,
    nor will any one hear his voice in the streets;
20 he will not break a bruised reed
    or quench a smoldering wick,
till he brings justice to victory;
21     and in his name will the Gentiles hope.”

Jesus and Beelzebul

22 Then a blind and dumb demoniac was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it they said, “It is only by Be-el′zebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand; 26 and if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Be-el′zebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may 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. 32 And whoever says 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 age to come.

A Tree and Its Fruit

33 “Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! how can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

The Sign of Jonah

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nin′eveh will arise 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. 42 The queen of the South will arise 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.

The Return of the Unclean Spirit

43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest, but he finds none. 44 Then 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. 45 Then he goes and brings with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. So shall it be also with this evil generation.”

The True Kindred of Jesus

46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.[a] 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward 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.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 12:46 Other ancient authorities insert verse 47, Some one told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak to you”