John’s Questions

11 (A)When Jesus had finished [a]giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there (B)to teach and [b]preach in their cities.

(C)Now while in prison, (D)John heard about the works of Christ, and he sent word by his disciples, and said to Him, “Are You (E)the Coming One, or are we to [c]look for someone else?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: (F)those who are blind receive sight and those who limp walk, those with leprosy are cleansed and those who are deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the (G)poor have the [d]gospel preached to them. And blessed is [e]any person who (H)does not [f]take offense at Me.”

Jesus’ Tribute to John

As these disciples of John were going away, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into (I)the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? [g]But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ [h]palaces! [i]But what did you go out to see? (J)A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it [j]is written:

(K)Behold, I am sending My messenger [k]ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’

11 Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And (L)from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been treated violently, and violent men take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is (M)Elijah who [l]was to come. 15 (N)The one who has ears to hear, [m]let him hear.

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call out to the other children, 17 and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a song of mourning, and you did not [n]mourn.’ 18 For John came neither (O)eating nor (P)drinking, and they say, ‘(Q)He has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a [o]heavy drinker, (R)a friend of tax collectors and [p]sinners!’ And yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

The Unrepenting Cities

20 Then He began to reprimand the cities in which most of His [q](S)miracles were done, because they did not repent. 21 (T)Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, (U)Bethsaida! For if the [r]miracles that occurred in you had occurred in (V)Tyre and (W)Sidon, they would have repented long ago in [s](X)sackcloth and ashes. 22 Nevertheless I say to you, (Y)it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on (Z)the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, (AA)Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be (AB)brought down to (AC)Hades! For if the [t]miracles that occurred in you had occurred in (AD)Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 Nevertheless I say to you that (AE)it will be more tolerable for the land of (AF)Sodom on the day of judgment, than for you.”

Come to Me

25 [u](AG)At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, (AH)Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that (AI)You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, (AJ)Father, for this way was well pleasing in Your sight. 27 (AK)All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father (AL)except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son determines to reveal Him.

28 (AM)Come to Me, all [v]who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and (AN)learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and (AO)you will find [w]rest for your souls. 30 For (AP)My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”

Sabbath Questions

12 [x](AQ)At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to (AR)pick the heads of grain and eat. Now when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what (AS)is not lawful to do on a Sabbath!” But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions— how he entered the house of God, and (AT)they ate the [y]consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? Or have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple [z]violate the Sabbath, and yet are innocent? But I say to you that something (AU)greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this [aa]means: ‘(AV)I desire [ab]compassion, [ac]rather than sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned [ad]the innocent.

Lord of the Sabbath

For (AW)the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

(AX)Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. 10 And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned [ae]Jesus, asking, “(AY)Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might bring charges against Him. 11 But He said to them, (AZ)What man [af]is there among you who [ag]has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 (BA)How much more valuable then is a person than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do [ah]good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then He *said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” (BB)He stretched it out, and it was restored to [ai]normal, like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and [aj](BC)conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

15 But Jesus, [ak]aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and (BD)He healed them all, 16 and (BE)warned them not to [al]tell who He was. 17 This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled:

18 (BF)Behold, My [am]Servant whom I [an]have chosen;
(BG)My Beloved in whom My soul [ao]delights;
(BH)I will put My Spirit upon Him,
(BI)And He will proclaim [ap]justice to the [aq]Gentiles.
19 (BJ)He will not quarrel, nor cry out;
Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
20 (BK)A bent reed He will not break off,
And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish,
Until He [ar]leads [as]justice to victory.
21 (BL)And in His name the [at]Gentiles will hope.”

The Pharisees Rebuked

22 (BM)Then a (BN)demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to [au]Jesus, and He healed him so that the man who was unable to speak talked and [av]could see. 23 And all the crowds were amazed and were saying, “This man cannot be the (BO)Son of David, can he?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man (BP)casts out demons only by [aw]Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”

25 (BQ)And (BR)knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if (BS)Satan is casting out Satan, he [ax]has become divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if (BT)by [ay]Beelzebul I cast out the demons, (BU)by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. 28 But (BV)if I cast out the demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or, how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

The Unpardonable Sin

30 (BW)The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters.

31 (BX)Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 (BY)And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in (BZ)this age or in the age to come.

Words Reveal Character

33 “Either [az]assume the tree to be good as well as its fruit good, or [ba]assume the tree to be bad as well as its fruit bad; for (CA)the tree is known by its fruit. 34 (CB)You [bb]offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, express any good things? (CC)For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. 35 (CD)The good person brings out of his good treasure good things; and the evil person brings out of his evil treasure evil things. 36 But I tell you that for every [bc]careless word that people [bd]speak, they will give an account of it on the (CE)day of judgment. 37 For [be]by your words you will be justified, and [bf]by your words you will be condemned.”

The Desire for Signs

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, (CF)we want to see a [bg]sign from You.” 39 But He answered and said to them, (CG)An evil and adulterous generation craves a [bh]sign; and so no [bi]sign will be given to it except the [bj]sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as (CH)Jonah was in the stomach of the sea monster for three days and three nights, so will (CI)the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for (CJ)three days and three nights. 41 (CK)The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because (CL)they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something (CM)greater than Jonah is here. 42 (CN)The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something (CO)greater than Solomon is here.

43 (CP)Now when the unclean spirit comes out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they come in and live there; and (CQ)the last condition of that person becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”

Changed Relationships

46 (CR)While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His (CS)mother and (CT)brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 [[bk]Someone said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to You.”] 48 But [bl]Jesus replied to the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” 49 And extending His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold: My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister, and mother.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:1 Or commanding
  2. Matthew 11:1 Or proclaim
  3. Matthew 11:3 Or wait for
  4. Matthew 11:5 Or good news
  5. Matthew 11:6 Lit whoever
  6. Matthew 11:6 Or stumble over Me
  7. Matthew 11:8 Or Well then,
  8. Matthew 11:8 Lit houses
  9. Matthew 11:9 Or Well then,
  10. Matthew 11:10 Lit has been written
  11. Matthew 11:10 Lit before Your face
  12. Matthew 11:14 Or is going to come
  13. Matthew 11:15 Or hear! Or listen!
  14. Matthew 11:17 Lit beat the breast
  15. Matthew 11:19 Or wine drinker
  16. Matthew 11:19 I.e., irreligious Jews
  17. Matthew 11:20 Or works of power
  18. Matthew 11:21 Or works of power
  19. Matthew 11:21 I.e., symbols of mourning
  20. Matthew 11:23 Or works of power
  21. Matthew 11:25 Or On that occasion
  22. Matthew 11:28 Or who work to exhaustion
  23. Matthew 11:29 Or a resting place
  24. Matthew 12:1 Or On that occasion
  25. Matthew 12:4 Lit loaves of presentation
  26. Matthew 12:5 Or profane
  27. Matthew 12:7 Lit is
  28. Matthew 12:7 Or mercy
  29. Matthew 12:7 Lit and not
  30. Matthew 12:7 Plural in the Gr
  31. Matthew 12:10 Lit Him
  32. Matthew 12:11 Lit will be from you
  33. Matthew 12:11 Lit will have
  34. Matthew 12:12 Lit well
  35. Matthew 12:13 Lit health
  36. Matthew 12:14 Lit took counsel
  37. Matthew 12:15 Lit knowing
  38. Matthew 12:16 Lit make Him known
  39. Matthew 12:18 Lit Child
  40. Matthew 12:18 Lit chose
  41. Matthew 12:18 Or took pleasure
  42. Matthew 12:18 Or judgment
  43. Matthew 12:18 Or nations
  44. Matthew 12:20 Or brings forth
  45. Matthew 12:20 Or judgment
  46. Matthew 12:21 Or nations
  47. Matthew 12:22 Lit Him
  48. Matthew 12:22 Lit saw
  49. Matthew 12:24 Or Beezebul; meaning uncertain, perhaps lord prince, referring to Satan
  50. Matthew 12:26 Lit was
  51. Matthew 12:27 See note v 24
  52. Matthew 12:33 Lit make
  53. Matthew 12:33 Lit make
  54. Matthew 12:34 Or brood
  55. Matthew 12:36 Or useless
  56. Matthew 12:36 Lit will speak
  57. Matthew 12:37 Or in accordance with
  58. Matthew 12:37 Or in accordance with
  59. Matthew 12:38 I.e., confirming miracle
  60. Matthew 12:39 I.e., confirming miracle
  61. Matthew 12:39 I.e., confirming miracle
  62. Matthew 12:39 I.e., confirming miracle
  63. Matthew 12:47 This verse is not found in early mss
  64. Matthew 12:48 Lit He

יא כשישוע סיים לתת הוראות לתלמידיו, הלך בעצמו להטיף בערים שלהם.

יוחנן המטביל, שהיה אז בכלא, שמע על הנסים שחולל המשיח, ולכן שלח שניים מתלמידיו לשאול את ישוע: "האם אתה האיש שלו אנו מחכים? או האם עלינו להמשיך לחכות למישהו אחר?"

השיב להם ישוע: "לכו וספרו ליוחנן את כל מה שראיתם ושמעתם כאן היום. ספרו לו שהעיוורים רואים, הפיסחים מהלכים, המצורעים מטוהרים, החרשים שומעים, המתים קמים לתחייה והעניים שומעים את בשורת מלכות האלוהים. מלבד זאת אמרו לו: "אשרי האיש שעבורו אינני מהווה מכשול!" לאחר שהלכו התלמידים החל ישוע לדבר אל הקהל על יוחנן: "למה ציפיתם כשהלכתם אל המדבר השומם לראות את יוחנן? עשב הנע ברוח? או אולי ציפיתם לפגוש אדם לבוש פאר, כמו נסיך בארמון? או האם ציפיתם לראות נביא אלוהים? אז נכון, והוא אף גדול מנביא! 10 יוחנן הוא השליח שנועד ללכת לפני ולבשר את בואי, כפי שכתוב בתנ"ך[a]: 'הנני שולח מלאכי ופינה דרך לפני'.

11 "אומר לכם את האמת: מבין כל האנשים שנולדו אי-פעם, לא היה איש גדול כיוחנן המטביל. ובכל זאת, הוא נחשב לקטן לעומת כל אחד במלכות השמים. 12 מאז יוחנן ועד היום, חייבים להיאבק למען מלכות השמיים! 13 כל התורה והנביאים סיפרו על המשיח עד בואו של יוחנן. 14 אם אתם מוכנים להאמין לדברי, יוחנן הוא שאליו כולם מחכים ומייחלים. 15 הקשיבו למה שאני אומר לכם!

16 "מה אני יכול להגיד על הדור הזה? האנשים כאן דומים לילדים המשחקים עם חבריהם ואומרים: 17 'שיחקנו אתכם ב"חתן וכלה", אבל לא שמחתם. שיחקנו אתכם ב"לוויה", אבל לא התאבלתם.' 18 יוחנן המטביל התנזר מיין וצם לעיתים קרובות, ואתם אומרים עליו 'שד בו'. 19 בן-האדם אוכל ושותה ואתם מתלוננים שהוא זולל וסובא ומתחבר עם אנשים מפוקפקים. האמת של אלוהים נגלית דרך חייהם וחוכמתם של צדיקים."[b]

20 לאחר מכן החל ישוע להוכיח את הערים שבהן חולל נסים רבים, כי התושבים לא חזרו בתשובה.

21 "אוי לכן, כורזין ובית-צידה! אילו חוללתי בערים המושחתות צור וצידון את הנסים שחוללתי בקרבכן, אנשיהן מזמן היו חוזרים בתשובה ולובשים שק ואפר לאות חרטה. 22 ובאמת, ביום-הדין תקבלנה צור וצידון עונש קל משלכן! 23 ואת כפר-נחום, החושבת את שישבחו וירוממו אותך עד השמים? לגיהינום תורדי! אילו נעשו בסדום הנפלאות שחוללתי בך, הייתה סדום קיימת עד היום! 24 ובאמת, ביום-הדין תקבל סדום עונש קל משלך!"

25 לאחר מכן התפלל ישוע את התפילה הבאה: "אבי, אדון השמים והארץ, אני מודה לך על שהסתרת את האמת מפני אלה החושבים את עצמם לחכמים, ועל שגילית אותה לילדים קטנים. 26 תודה לך אבי, על שבחרת לפעול דווקא כך.

27 "הכול נמסר לי מאת אבי. איש אינו מכיר ממש את הבן – מלבד האב. ואיש אינו מכיר ממש את האב – מלבד הבן, והאנשים שהוא בוחר לגלות להם את האב."

28 "אתם, העייפים והנושאים עול כבד: בואו אלי ואתן לכם מנוחה. שאו את העול שלי ולימדו ממני, כי אני עניו וצנוע, ואצלי תמצאו מנוחה לנפשותיכם. כי עולי נעים ומשאי קל."

יב לאחר מכן, בשבת אחת, עברו ישוע ותלמידיו דרך שדה תבואה. מאחר שהתלמידים היו רעבים הם קטפו שיבולים ואכלו את הגרעינים. פרושים אחדים ראו את הדבר ומחו לפני ישוע: "תלמידיך עוברים על התורה! הם מחללים את השבת!"

אולם ישוע השיב להם: "האם מעולם לא קראתם מה עשה דוד המלך כשהוא ואנשיו היו רעבים? דוד נכנס לבית האלוהים, ויחד עם אנשיו אכל את לחם הפנים שהיה מיועד לכוהנים בלבד. גם מעשה זה היה עבירה על התורה! והאם מעולם לא קראתם בתורה שמותר לכוהנים התורנים לעבוד בשבת בבית-המקדש? אני אומר לכם: יש כאן אחד שהוא גדול מן המקדש! אילו הבינותם את הפסוק[c]: 'חסד חפצתי ולא זבח', לא הייתם מרשיעים חפים מפשע! כי בן האדם הוא אדון השבת!"

ישוע המשיך בדרכו ונכנס אל בית-הכנסת המקומי. 10 באותה שעה היה בבית-הכנסת איש שידו משותקת. שאלו הפרושים את ישוע: "האם מותר לרפא בשבת?" (הם קיוו שישוע יאמר "כן", כדי שיוכלו להרשיע ולאסור אותו).

11 אולם ישוע השיב להם: "אילו הייתה לכם כבשה אחת בלבד, והיא הייתה נופלת בשבת לתוך הבאר, האם לא הייתם עובדים באותו יום וטורחים להציל אותה? 12 וכמה יקר האדם מן הכבשה! כן, מותר לעשות טוב בשבת." 13 ישוע פנה אל האיש ואמר: "הושט את ידך." וכאשר זה הושיט את ידו היא נרפאה כליל ונראתה כמו היד השנייה.

14 כשראו הפרושים את המעשה של ישוע, כינסו אספה כדי לתכנן את מאסרו והוצאתו להורג.

15 אולם ישוע ידע את מזימתם, ולכן הלך משם. אנשים רבים הלכו בעקבותיו, וישוע ריפא את החולים שביניהם, 16 אך הזהיר אותם שלא לפרסם את דברי הנסים שחולל. 17 כך התקיימה נבואת ישעיהו[d]:

18 "הן עבדי, אתמך בו, בחירי רצתה נפשי.

נתתי רוחי עליו, משפט לגויים יוציא.

19 לא יצעק ולא יישא ולא ישמיע בחוץ קולו;

20 קנה רצוץ לא ישבור ופשתה כהה לא יכבנה;

לאמת יוציא משפט. 21 לא יכהה ולא ירוץ

עד ישים בארץ משפט, ולתורתו איים (גויים) ייחלו".

22 לאחר מכן הובא אל ישוע אדם אחוז שד, שהיה עיוור ואילם. ישוע ריפא את האיש והשיב לו את ראייתו ואת כושר הדיבור. 23 הקהל, שהופתע מאוד, קרא: "אולי ישוע הוא המשיח בן-דוד!"

24 אולם כששמעו זאת הפרושים, אמרו: "אין פלא שהוא יכול לגרש שדים; הרי הוא מקבל את כוחו מבעל-זבוב שר השדים!"

25 ישוע ידע את מחשבותיהם, ולכן ענה: "ממלכה מפולגת בתוך עצמה תתפרק. בית מפולג או עיר מפולגת לא יחזיקו מעמד ויקרסו גם הם. 26 אם השטן מגרש את השטן, הרי שהוא נלחם בעצמו והורס את ממלכתו. 27 ואם, לפי טענתכם, אני מגרש את השדים בכוחו של בעל-זבוב – אז בכוחו של מי מגרשים בניכם את השדים? לכן הם יהיו לאמות מידה. 28 אולם אם אני מגרש את השדים בכוחו של אלוהים וברוחו, אז עובדה שמלכות האלוהים הגיעה אליכם. 29 איש אינו יכול לשדוד את מלכות השטן לפני שיכבול אותו תחילה. לאחר שיכבול את השטן, יוכל לגרש את השדים שלו. 30 מי שאינו אתי נגדי הוא, ומי שאינו אוסף אתי – מפזר.

"כל חטאיכם יכולים להיסלח, גם אם אתם מקללים אותי, רק חטא אחד לא ייסלח לכם לעולם: גידוף רוח הקודש."

33 "את העץ מכירים על-פי הפרי שהוא נותן. עץ משובח נותן פרי טוב, ועץ רקוב נותן פרי רקוב. 34 ילדי נחשים שכמוכם! כיצד יכולים אנשים רשעים כמוכם לומר דבר טוב? הרי אדם מדבר מתוך הממלא את לבו! 35 אדם טוב מפיק מעשים טובים מהטוב שבלבו, בעוד שאדם רע מפיק מעשים רעים מהרוע שבלבו. 36 ואני אומר לכם: ביום-הדין יהיה עליכם לתת דין וחשבון על כל מילה בטלה שיצאה מפיכם! 37 הדברים שאתם אומרים כאן עכשיו יקבעו את גורלכם: או שהם יזכו אתכם, או שהם יחייבו אתכם בדין."

38 יום אחד באו אל ישוע סופרים ופרושים אחדים וביקשו שיחולל לפניהם נס (כדי להוכיח שהוא המשיח). אולם ישוע השיב: "רק דור רע וכופר יכול לדרוש נסים נוספים! אבל האות היחיד שתקבלו יהיה אות יונה הנביא. כשם שיונה הנביא היה בבטנו של הדג שלושה ימים ושלושה לילות, כך גם בן-האדם יהיה בבטן האדמה שלושה ימים ושלושה לילות. 41 ביום-הדין יקומו אנשי נינווה וירשיעו אתכם. כי לאחר שיונה דיבר אליהם, הם חזרו בתשובה, חדלו ממעשיהם הרעים ופנו לה', ואילו לפניכם עומד אדם גדול מיונה, ואתם מסרבים לשמוע לו. 42 גם מלכת שבא תרשיע את העם הזה ביום-הדין. שהרי היא באה מארץ רחוקה כדי להקשיב לחכמת שלמה, ואילו לפניכם עומד אדם גדול משלמה."

"דור רשע זה דומה לאדם אחוז שד. כאשר יוצא השד מן האדם, הוא הולך למדבר לזמן מה ומחפש לו מנוחה. משאינו מוצא את המנוחה שחיפש, הוא אומר לעצמו: 'אשוב לאדם שמתוכו יצאתי.' בשובו מוצא השד את לבו של אותו אדם מטואטא, מסודר ומטופח, ואז מוצא השד שבעה שדים אחרים ורעים ממנו, וכולם יחד נכנסים לתוך אותו אדם וחיים בו. וכך מצבו של אדם זה גרוע משהיה."

46 בשעה שישוע דיבר בתוך בית מלא אנשים, עמדו אמו ואחיו בחוץ וביקשו לראות אותו. 47 מישהו בא אל ישוע והודיע לו שאמו ואחיו עומדים בחוץ ורוצים לדבר אתו.

48 "מי היא אמי?" קרא ישוע. "מי הם אחי?" 49 הוא הצביע על תלמידיו והכריז: "אלה הם אמי ואחי! 50 כל מי שמציית לאבי שבשמים הוא אמי, אחי ואחותי!"

Footnotes

  1. הבשורה על-פי מתי 11:10 מלאכי ג 1
  2. הבשורה על-פי מתי 11:19 כלשונו: "ונצדקה החכמה בבניה"
  3. הבשורה על-פי מתי 12:7 הושע ו 6
  4. הבשורה על-פי מתי 12:17 ישעיהו מב 1- 4

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]

When John,(C) who was in prison,(D) heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come,(E) or should we expect someone else?”

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 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) Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”(G)

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? 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. 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:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,(K)
    who will prepare your way before you.’[c](L)

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. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”(AO)

He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?(AP) 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) 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? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.(AS) If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’[f](AT) you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man(AU) is Lord of the Sabbath.”

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

  1. Matthew 11:1 Greek in their towns
  2. Matthew 11:5 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  3. Matthew 11:10 Mal. 3:1
  4. Matthew 11:12 Or been forcefully advancing
  5. Matthew 11:23 That is, the realm of the dead
  6. Matthew 12:7 Hosea 6:6
  7. Matthew 12:21 Isaiah 42:1-4