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Matthew 11-12
Christian Standard Bible
Matthew 11-12
Christian Standard Bible
John the Baptist Doubts
11 When Jesus had finished giving instructions to his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.(A) 2 Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples(B) 3 and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (C)
4 Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news,(D) 6 and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”(E)
7 As these men were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?(F) 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who wear soft clothes are in royal palaces. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.(G) 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
11 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared,[c] but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence,[d] and the violent have been seizing it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.(I) 15 Let anyone who has ears[e] listen.(J)
An Unresponsive Generation
16 “To what should I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to other children:
17 We played the flute for you,
but you didn’t dance;
we sang a lament,
but you didn’t mourn![f]
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’(K) 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard,(L) a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’(M) Yet wisdom is vindicated[g] by her deeds.”[h]
20 Then he proceeded to denounce the towns where most of his miracles were done, because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin!(N) Woe to you, Bethsaida!(O) For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon,(P) they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes long ago. 22 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment(Q) than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will go down to Hades.(R) For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today. 24 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
The Son Gives Knowledge and Rest
25 At that time Jesus said,(S) “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants.(T) 26 Yes, Father, because this was your good pleasure.[i] 27 All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires[j] to reveal him.(U)
28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.(V) 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,(W) because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.(X) 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Lord of the Sabbath
12 At that time Jesus passed through the grainfields on the Sabbath.(Y) His disciples(Z) were hungry and began to pick and eat some heads of grain. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is not lawful(AA) to do on the Sabbath.”
3 He said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry: 4 how he entered the house of God, and they ate[k] the bread of the Presence—which is not lawful for him or for those with him to eat, but only for the priests?(AB) 5 Or haven’t you read in the law that on Sabbath days the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent?(AC) 6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.(AD) 7 If you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice,[l](AE) you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”(AF)
The Man with the Shriveled Hand
9 Moving on from there, he entered their synagogue.(AG) 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?” (AH)
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?(AI) 12 A person is worth far more than a sheep; (AJ) 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,(AK) as good as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, how they might kill him.(AL)
The Servant of the Lord
15 Jesus was aware of this and withdrew. Large crowds[m] followed him, and he healed them all.(AM) 16 He warned them not to make him known,(AN) 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.(AO)
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.[n]
21 The nations will put their hope in his name.[o](AP)
A House Divided
22 Then a demon-possessed man(AQ) who was blind and unable to speak was brought to him. He healed him, so that the man[p] could both speak and see.(AR) 23 All the crowds were astounded and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” (AS)
24 When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”(AT)
25 Knowing their thoughts,(AU) 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(AV) 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.(AW) 28 If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.(AX) 29 How can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up(AY) the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. 30 Anyone who is not with me is against me,(AZ) and anyone who does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore,(BA) I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy,(BB) but the blasphemy against[q] the Spirit will not be forgiven.[r] 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man,(BC) 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.(BD)
A Tree and Its Fruit
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit will be good, or make the tree bad[s] and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.(BE) 34 Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow(BF) 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.(BG) 36 I tell you that on the day of judgment(BH) people will have to account(BI) for every careless[t] word they speak.[u] 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.”(BJ)
39 He answered them,(BK) “An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.(BL) 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish[v](BM) three days and three nights,(BN) 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,(BO) because they repented at Jonah’s preaching; and look—something greater than Jonah is here.(BP) 42 The queen of the south(BQ) 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.(BR) 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.(BS) That’s how it will also be with this evil generation.”
True Relationships
46 While he(BT) was still speaking with the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside wanting to speak to him.(BU) 47 Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”[w]
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,(BV) 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.”(BW)
Footnotes
- 11:5 Gk lepros; a term for various skin diseases; see Lv 13–14
- 11:10 Mal 3:1
- 11:11 Lit arisen
- 11:12 Or has been forcefully advancing
- 11:15 Other mss add to hear
- 11:17 Or beat your chests in grief
- 11:19 Or declared right
- 11:19 Other mss read children
- 11:26 Lit was well-pleasing in your sight
- 11:27 Or wills, or chooses
- 12:4 Other mss read he ate
- 12:7 Hs 6:6
- 12:15 Other mss read Many
- 12:20 Or until he has successfully put forth justice
- 12:18–21 Is 42:1–4
- 12:22 Lit mute
- 12:31 Or of
- 12:31 Other mss add people
- 12:33 Or decayed; lit rotten
- 12:36 Lit worthless
- 12:36 Lit will speak
- 12:40 Or sea creature; Jnh 1:17
- 12:47 Other mss omit this v.
Matthew 11-12
New International Version
Matthew 11-12
New International Version
Jesus and John the Baptist(A)
11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples,(B) he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]
2 When John,(C) who was in prison,(D) heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come,(E) or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.(F) 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”(G)
7 As John’s(H) disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness(I) to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet?(J) Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[d] and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.(M) 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.(N) 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.(O)
16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating(P) nor drinking,(Q) and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’(R) But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
Woe on Unrepentant Towns(S)
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!(T) For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon,(U) they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.(V) 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.(W) 23 And you, Capernaum,(X) will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[e](Y) For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”(Z)
The Father Revealed in the Son(AA)
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father,(AB) Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.(AC) 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
27 “All things have been committed to me(AD) by my Father.(AE) No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.(AF)
28 “Come to me,(AG) all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.(AH) 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,(AI) for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.(AJ) 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(AK)
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath(AL)(AM)
12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain(AN) and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”(AO)
3 He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?(AP) 4 He 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.(AQ) 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath(AR) and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.(AS) 7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’[f](AT) you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man(AU) is Lord of the Sabbath.”
9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus,(AV) they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”(AW)
11 He 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?(AX) 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep!(AY) Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13 Then 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. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.(AZ)
God’s Chosen Servant
15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.(BA) 16 He warned them not to tell others about him.(BB) 17 This was to fulfill(BC) what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, in whom I delight;(BD)
I will put my Spirit on him,(BE)
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19 He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory.
21 In his name the nations will put their hope.”[g](BF)
Jesus and Beelzebul(BG)
22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.(BH) 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”(BI)
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul,(BJ) the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”(BK)
25 Jesus knew their thoughts(BL) and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan(BM) drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul,(BN) by whom do your people(BO) drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God(BP) 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.(BQ) 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.(BR) 32 Anyone 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(BS) or in the age to come.(BT)
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.(BU) 34 You brood of vipers,(BV) how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks(BW) what the heart is full of. 35 A 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. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”(BX)
The Sign of Jonah(BY)(BZ)
38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign(CA) from you.”(CB)
39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.(CC) 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish,(CD) so the Son of Man(CE) will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.(CF) 41 The men of Nineveh(CG) will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah,(CH) and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came(CI) 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. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then 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.(CJ) That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers(CK)
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother(CL) and brothers(CM) stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven(CN) is my brother and sister and mother.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 11:1 Greek in their towns
- Matthew 11:5 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
- Matthew 11:10 Mal. 3:1
- Matthew 11:12 Or been forcefully advancing
- Matthew 11:23 That is, the realm of the dead
- Matthew 12:7 Hosea 6:6
- Matthew 12:21 Isaiah 42:1-4
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