Matthew 12
International Standard Version
Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath(A)
12 At that time, Jesus walked through the grain fields on a Sabbath.[a] His disciples became hungry and began picking heads of grain to eat. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they told him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”
3 But he told them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 How is it that he went into the house of God and ate the Bread of the Presence, which was not lawful for him and his companions to eat but was reserved[b] for the priests? 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that on every Sabbath[c] the priests in the Temple violate the Sabbath[d] and yet are innocent?[e] 6 But I tell you, something greater than the Temple is here! 7 If you had known what ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice’[f] means, you would not have condemned the innocent, 8 for the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Jesus Heals a Man with a Paralyzed Hand(B)
9 Moving on from there, Jesus[g] went into their synagogue. 10 Suddenly, a man with a paralyzed hand appeared. The people[h] asked Jesus[i] if it was lawful to heal on Sabbath days,[j] intending to accuse him of doing something wrong.
11 But he asked them, “Is there a man among you who, if he had one sheep and it fell into a ditch on the Sabbath, wouldn’t take hold of it and pull it out? 12 How much more is a human being worth than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on Sabbath days.”[k]
13 Then he told the man, “Hold out your hand.” He held it out and it became normal, as healthy as his other hand. 14 The Pharisees, however, went out and plotted against Jesus[l] to kill him.
Jesus, God’s Chosen Servant
15 When Jesus became aware of this, he left that place. Many crowds[m] followed him, and he healed all of them, 16 ordering them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was declared by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
18 “Here is my Servant whom I have chosen,
whom I love, and with whom I am pleased!
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice[n] to unbelievers.[o]
19 He will not quarrel or shout,
and no one will hear him shouting[p] in the streets.
20 He will not snap off a broken reed
or snuff out a smoldering wick
until he has brought justice[q] through to victory.
21 And in his name unbelievers[r] will hope.”[s]
Jesus is Accused of Working with Beelzebul(C)
22 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to talk was brought to him. Jesus[t] healed him so that the man[u] could speak and see. 23 All the crowds were amazed and kept saying, “This man isn’t the Son of David, is he?”
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”
25 He knew what they were thinking and told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 So if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How, then, can his kingdom stand? 27 If I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own followers[v] drive them out? That is why they will be your judges! 28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29 How can someone go into a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions without first tying up the strong man? Then he can ransack his house. 30 The person who isn’t with me is against me, and the person who isn’t gathering with me is scattering. 31 So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven,[w] but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks 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 one to come.”
A Tree is Known by Its Fruit(D)
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten, because a tree is known by its fruit. 34 You children of serpents! How can you say anything good when you are evil? The mouth speaks about what overflows from the heart. 35 A good person brings good things out of a good treasure house, and an evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure house. 36 I tell you, on Judgment Day people will give an account for every thoughtless[x] word they have uttered, 37 because by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
The Sign of Jonah(E)
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees told Jesus,[y] “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
39 But he replied to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign. Yet no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah, 40 because just as Jonah was in the stomach of the sea creature for three days and three nights,[z] so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment and condemn the people living today,[aa] because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. But look—something greater than Jonah is here! 42 The queen of the south will stand up and condemn the people living today,[ab] because she came from so far away[ac] to hear the wisdom of Solomon. But look! Something greater than Solomon is here!”
The Return of the Unclean Spirit(F)
43 “Whenever an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through waterless places looking for a place to rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will go back to my home that I left.’ When it arrives, it finds it empty, swept clean, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and settle there. And so the final condition of that person becomes worse than the first. That’s just what will happen to this evil generation!”
The True Family of Jesus(G)
46 While Jesus[ad] was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Look! Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak to you.”[ae]
48 He asked the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Then pointing with his hand at his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers, 50 because whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 12:1 Lit. on the Sabbaths
- Matthew 12:4 Lit. but only
- Matthew 12:5 Lit. on the Sabbaths
- Matthew 12:5 I.e. by carrying out priestly duties
- Matthew 12:5 Cf. Exod 25:30; 29:32-33; Lev 8:31
- Matthew 12:7 Cf. Hos 6:6
- Matthew 12:9 Lit. he
- Matthew 12:10 Lit. They
- Matthew 12:10 Lit. him
- Matthew 12:10 Lit. on the Sabbaths
- Matthew 12:12 Lit. on the Sabbaths
- Matthew 12:14 Lit. him
- Matthew 12:15 Other mss. lack crowds
- Matthew 12:18 Or judgment
- Matthew 12:18 Lit. gentiles; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews
- Matthew 12:19 Lit. hear his voice
- Matthew 12:20 Or judgment
- Matthew 12:21 Lit. gentiles; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews
- Matthew 12:21 Cf. Isa 42:1-4
- Matthew 12:22 Lit. He
- Matthew 12:22 Lit. the man who was unable to talk
- Matthew 12:27 Lit. sons
- Matthew 12:31 Lit. will be forgiven to people
- Matthew 12:36 Or worthless
- Matthew 12:38 Lit. him
- Matthew 12:40 Cf. Jonah 1:17
- Matthew 12:41 Lit. judgment with this generation and condemn it
- Matthew 12:42 Lit. judgment with this generation and condemn it
- Matthew 12:42 Lit. from the ends of the earth
- Matthew 12:46 Lit. he
- Matthew 12:47 Other mss. lack this verse
Matthew 12
1599 Geneva Bible
12 1 The disciples pluck the ears of corn. 6 Mercy, sacrifice. 10 The withered hand is healed. 12 We must do good on the Sabbath. 22 The possessed is holpen. 25 A kingdom divided. 31 Sin, blasphemy. 33 The good or evil tree. 34 Vipers. 38 The Ninevites. 42 The Queen of Sheba. 48 The true mother and brethren of Christ.
1 At (A)[a]that time Jesus went on a Sabbath day through the corn, and his disciples were an hungered, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.
2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do (B)that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath.
3 But he said unto them, (C)Have ye not read what David did when he was an hungered, and they that were with him?
4 How he went into the house of God, and did eat the [b]showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the (D)Priests?
5 Or have ye not read in the Law, how that on the Sabbath days the Priests in the Temple (E)[c]break the Sabbath, and are blameless?
6 But I say unto you, that here is one greater than the Temple.
7 Wherefore if ye knew what this is, (F)I will have mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the innocents.
8 For the son of man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.
9 (G)[d]And he departed thence, and went into their Synagogue:
10 And behold, there was a man which had his hand dried up. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal upon a Sabbath day? that they might accuse him.
11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that hath a sheep, and if it fall on the Sabbath day into a pit, doth not take it and lift it out?
12 How much more then is a man better than a sheep? therefore, it is lawful to do well on a Sabbath day.
13 Then said he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth, and it was made whole as the other.
14 [e]Then the Pharisees went out, and consulted against him, how they might destroy him.
15 But when Jesus knew it, he departed thence, and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all,
16 And charged them in threatening wise, that they should not make him known,
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the Prophet, saying,
18 (H)Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul delighteth: I will put my Spirit on him, and he shall show [f]judgment to the Gentiles.
19 He shall not strive, nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he [g]bring forth judgment unto victory.
21 And in his Name shall the Gentiles trust.
22 ¶ (I)[h]Then was brought to him one possessed with a devil, both blind and dumb, and he healed him, so that he which was blind and dumb, both spake and saw,
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this that son of David?
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, (J)This man casteth the devils no otherwise out but through Beelzebub the prince of devils.
25 [i]But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself, is brought to naught, and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.
26 So if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself: how shall then his kingdom endure?
27 Also if I through Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then is the kingdom of God come unto you.
29 Else how can a man enter into a strong man’s house and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man, and then spoil his house?
30 He that is not with me, is against me: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth.
31 (K)Wherefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And whosoever shall speak a word against the son of man, it shall be forgiven him: [j]but whosoever shall speak against the holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in the world to come.
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good: or else make the tree evil, and his fruit evil: for the tree is known by the fruit.
34 [k]O generations of vipers, how can you speak good things, when ye are evil? For of the (L)abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of an evil treasure, bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, that of every [l]idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof at the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
38 ¶ (M)[m]Then answered certain of the Scribes and of the Pharisees, saying, Master, we would see a sign of thee.
39 But he answered and said to them, An evil and [n]adulterous generation seeketh a sign, but no sign shall be given unto it, save that sign of the Prophet Jonah.
40 (N)For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly: so shall the son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 [o]The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and condemn it: for they (O)repented at the preaching of Jonah: and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.
42 (P)The Queen of the [p]South shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the [q]utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon: and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
43 ¶ (Q)Now when the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh throughout dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into mine house from whence I came: and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept and garnished.
45 ¶ Then he goeth, and taketh unto him seven other spirits worse than himself, and they enter in, and dwell there: (R)and the end of that man is worse than the beginning. Even so shall it be with this wicked generation.
46 ¶ [r](S)While he yet spake to the multitude, behold, his mother, and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48 But he answered, and said to him that told him, Who is my mother, and who are my brethren?
49 [s]And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples and said, Behold my mother, and my brethren.
50 For whosoever shall do my Father’s will which is in heaven, the same is my brother and sister and mother.
Footnotes
- Matthew 12:1 Of the true sanctifying of the Sabbath, and the abrogating of it.
- Matthew 12:4 The Hebrews call it bread of faces, because it stood before the Lord all the weeks upon the golden table appointed to that service, Lev. 24:6.
- Matthew 12:5 When the Priests do God’s service upon the Sabbath day, yet they break not the Law: much less doth the Lord of the Sabbath break the Sabbath.
- Matthew 12:9 The ceremonies of the Law are not against the love of our neighbor.
- Matthew 12:14 How far and in what respect we may give place to the unbridled rage of the wicked.
- Matthew 12:18 By judgment is meant a settled state because Christ was to publish true religion among the Gentiles, and to cast out superstition, which thing wheresoever it is done, the Lord is said to reign and judge there, that is to say, to govern and rule matters.
- Matthew 12:20 He shall pronounce sentence and judgment, maugre the world and Satan, and show himself conqueror over all his enemies.
- Matthew 12:22 A truth be it never so manifest, is subject to the slander of the wicked: yet notwithstanding it ought to be avouched stoutly.
- Matthew 12:25 The kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of the devil cannot consist together.
- Matthew 12:32 Of blasphemy against the holy Ghost.
- Matthew 12:34 Hypocrites at the length betray themselves even by their own mouth.
- Matthew 12:36 Vain and unprofitable trifles which the most part of men spend their lives in.
- Matthew 12:38 Against froward desires of miracles.
- Matthew 12:39 Bastard, which fell from Abraham’s faith, or forsook the true worship of God.
- Matthew 12:41 Christ teacheth by the sorrowful example of the Jews, that there are none more miserable than they which put out the light of the Gospel which was kindled in them.
- Matthew 12:42 He meaneth the Queen of Sheba: whose country is South in respect of the land of Israel, 1 Kings 10.
- Matthew 12:42 For Sheba is situated in the utmost coast of . . . Arabia at the mouth of the Arabian Sea.
- Matthew 12:46 Christ teacheth by his own example, how that all things ought to be set apart in respect of God’s glory.
- Matthew 12:49 None are more near unto us, than they that are of the household of faith.
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