Matthew 11:20-12:21

New International Version

Woe on Unrepentant Towns^(A)

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!^(B) For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon,^(C) they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.^{(D) 22} But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.^{(E) 23} And you, Capernaum,^(F) will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.^[a](G) 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.”^(H)

The Father Revealed in the Son^(I)

²⁵ At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father,^(J) Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.^{(K) 26} Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

²⁷ “All things have been committed to me^(L) by my Father.^(M) 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.^(N)

²⁸ “Come to me,^(O) all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.^{(P) 29} Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,^(Q) for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.^{(R) 30} For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”^(S)

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath^(T)(U)

12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain^(V) and eat them. ² When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”^(W)

³ He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?^{(X) 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.^{(Y) 5} Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath^(Z) and yet are innocent? ⁶ I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.^{(AA) 7} If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’^[b](AB) you would not have condemned the innocent. ⁸ For the Son of Man^(AC) 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,^(AD) they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”^(AE)

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?^{(AF) 12} How much more valuable is a person than a sheep!^(AG) 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.^(AH)

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.^{(AI) 16} He warned them not to tell others about him.^{(AJ) 17} This was to fulfill^(AK) what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: