36 But I tell you that every [a]careless word that people [b]speak, they shall give an accounting for it in (A)the day of judgment. 37 For [c]by your words you will be justified, and [d]by your words you will be condemned.”

The Desire for Signs

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, (B)we want to see a [e]sign from You.” 39 But He answered and said to them, (C)An evil and adulterous generation craves for a [f]sign; and yet no [g]sign will be given to it but the [h]sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as (D)Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will (E)the Son of Man be (F)three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 (G)The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because (H)they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, (I)something greater than Jonah is here. 42 (J)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, (K)something greater than Solomon is here.

43 (L)Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, 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 takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and (M)the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”

Changed Relationships

46 (N)While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His (O)mother and (P)brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.”[i] 48 But [j]Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And stretching out 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.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 12:36 Or useless
  2. Matthew 12:36 Lit will speak
  3. Matthew 12:37 Or in accordance with
  4. Matthew 12:37 Or in accordance with
  5. Matthew 12:38 I.e. attesting miracle
  6. Matthew 12:39 I.e. attesting miracle
  7. Matthew 12:39 I.e. attesting miracle
  8. Matthew 12:39 I.e. attesting miracle
  9. Matthew 12:47 This verse is not found in early mss
  10. Matthew 12:48 Lit He

11 (A)It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”

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18 But (A)the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. 19 (B)For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, [a]fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. 20 These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.”

The Syrophoenician Woman

21 (C)Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the district of (D)Tyre and (E)Sidon. 22 And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, (F)Son of David; my daughter is cruelly (G)demon-possessed.” 23 But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting [b]at us.” 24 But He answered and said, “I was sent only to (H)the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and (I)began [c]to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 And He answered and said, “It is not [d]good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 But she said, “Yes, Lord; [e]but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, (J)your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed [f]at once.

Healing Crowds

29 (K)Departing from there, Jesus went along by (L)the Sea of Galilee, and having gone up on the mountain, He was sitting there. 30 And [g]large crowds came to Him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and (M)He healed them. 31 So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled [h]restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they (N)glorified the God of Israel.

Four Thousand Fed

32 (O)And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, (P)I feel compassion for the [i]people, because they [j]have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” 33 The disciples *said to Him, “Where would we get so many loaves in this desolate place to satisfy such a large crowd?” 34 And Jesus *said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35 And He directed the [k]people to [l]sit down on the ground; 36 and He took the seven loaves and the fish; and (Q)giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 37 And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven large (R)baskets full. 38 And those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

39 And sending away the crowds, Jesus got into (S)the boat and came to the region of (T)Magadan.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 15:19 I.e. sexual immorality
  2. Matthew 15:23 Lit behind us
  3. Matthew 15:25 Or worshiped
  4. Matthew 15:26 Or proper
  5. Matthew 15:27 Lit for
  6. Matthew 15:28 Lit from that hour
  7. Matthew 15:30 Lit many
  8. Matthew 15:31 Or healthy
  9. Matthew 15:32 Lit crowd
  10. Matthew 15:32 Lit are remaining
  11. Matthew 15:35 Lit crowd
  12. Matthew 15:35 Lit recline