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Chapter 12

Picking Grain on the Sabbath. [a]At that time Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath.(A) His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads[b] of grain and eat them.(B) When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” He said to them,[c] “Have you not read what David(C) did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering,(D) which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? [d]Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent?(E) I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. [e]If you knew what this meant, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’(F) you would not have condemned these innocent men. [f](G)For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

The Man with a Withered Hand. (H)Moving on from there, he went into their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man there who had a withered hand. They questioned him, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?”[g] so that they might accuse him. 11 [h]He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep that falls into a pit on the sabbath will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable a person is than a sheep. So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and it was restored as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees[i] went out and took counsel against him to put him to death.(I)

The Chosen Servant.[j] 15 When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many [people] followed him, and he cured them all,[k] 16 but he warned them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet:

18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,(J)
    my beloved in whom I delight;
I shall place my spirit upon him,
    and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not contend[l] or cry out,
    nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break,
    a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory.
21     And in his name the Gentiles will hope.”[m]

Jesus and Beelzebul.[n] 22 (K)Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute. He cured the mute person so that he could speak and see. 23 [o](L)All the crowd was astounded, and said, “Could this perhaps be the Son of David?” 24 [p](M)But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons.” 25 (N)But he knew what they were thinking and said to them,[q] “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and no town or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan 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 own people[r] drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 [s](O)But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 [t]How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. 30 [u](P)Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 (Q)Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit[v] will not be forgiven. 32 And 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 age to come.

A Tree and Its Fruits. 33 (R)“Either declare[w] the tree good and its fruit is good, or declare the tree rotten and its fruit is rotten, for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 [x](S)You brood of vipers, how can you say good things when you are evil? For from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good person brings forth good out of a store of goodness, but an evil person brings forth evil out of a store of evil. 36 [y](T)I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak. 37 By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

The Demand for a Sign.[z] 38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher,[aa] we wish to see a sign from you.”(U) 39 He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful[ab] generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 40 Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights,[ac] so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. 41 [ad]At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. 42 At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.(V)

The Return of the Unclean Spirit.[ae] 43 (W)“When an unclean spirit goes out of a person it roams through arid regions searching for rest but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it empty, swept clean, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings back with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they move in and dwell there; and the last condition of that person is worse than the first. Thus it will be with this evil generation.”

The True Family of Jesus.[af] 46 (X)While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. 47 [Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.”][ag] 48 But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Footnotes

  1. 12:1–14 Matthew here returns to the Marcan order that he left in Mt 9:18. The two stories depend on Mk 2:23–28; 3:1–6, respectively, and are the only places in either gospel that deal explicitly with Jesus’ attitude toward sabbath observance.
  2. 12:1–2 The picking of the heads of grain is here equated with reaping, which was forbidden on the sabbath (Ex 34:21).
  3. 12:3–4 See 1 Sm 21:2–7. In the Marcan parallel (Mk 2:25–26) the high priest is called Abiathar, although in 1 Samuel this action is attributed to Ahimelech. The Old Testament story is not about a violation of the sabbath rest; its pertinence to this dispute is that a violation of the law was permissible because of David’s men being without food.
  4. 12:5–6 This and the following argument (Mt 12:7) are peculiar to Matthew. The temple service seems to be the changing of the showbread on the sabbath (Lv 24:8) and the doubling on the sabbath of the usual daily holocausts (Nm 28:9–10). The argument is that the law itself requires work that breaks the sabbath rest, because of the higher duty of temple service. If temple duties outweigh the sabbath law, how much more does the presence of Jesus, with his proclamation of the kingdom (something greater than the temple), justify the conduct of his disciples.
  5. 12:7 See note on Mt 9:13.
  6. 12:8 The ultimate justification for the disciples’ violation of the sabbath rest is that Jesus, the Son of Man, has supreme authority over the law.
  7. 12:10 Rabbinic tradition later than the gospels allowed relief to be given to a sufferer on the sabbath if life was in danger. This may also have been the view of Jesus’ Pharisaic contemporaries. But the case here is not about one in danger of death.
  8. 12:11 Matthew omits the question posed by Jesus in Mk 3:4 and substitutes one about rescuing a sheep on the sabbath, similar to that in Lk 14:5.
  9. 12:14 See Mk 3:6. Here the plan to bring about Jesus’ death is attributed to the Pharisees only. This is probably due to the situation of Matthew’s church, when the sole opponents were the Pharisees.
  10. 12:15–21 Matthew follows Mk 3:7–12 but summarizes his source in two verses (Mt 12:15, 16) that pick up the withdrawal, the healings, and the command for silence. To this he adds a fulfillment citation from the first Servant Song (Is 42:1–4) that does not correspond exactly to either the Hebrew or the LXX of that passage. It is the longest Old Testament citation in this gospel, emphasizing the meekness of Jesus, the Servant of the Lord, and foretelling the extension of his mission to the Gentiles.
  11. 12:15 Jesus’ knowledge of the Pharisees’ plot and his healing all are peculiar to Matthew.
  12. 12:19 The servant’s not contending is seen as fulfilled in Jesus’ withdrawal from the disputes narrated in Mt 12:1–14.
  13. 12:21 Except for a minor detail, Matthew here follows the LXX, although the meaning of the Hebrew (“the coastlands will wait for his teaching”) is similar.
  14. 12:22–32 For the exorcism, see note on Mt 9:32–34. The long discussion combines Marcan and Q material (Mk 3:22–30; Lk 11:19–20, 23; 12:10). Mk 3:20–21 is omitted, with a consequent lessening of the sharpness of Mt 12:48.
  15. 12:23 See note on Mt 9:27.
  16. 12:24 See note on Mt 10:25.
  17. 12:25–26 Jesus’ first response to the Pharisees’ charge is that if it were true, Satan would be destroying his own kingdom.
  18. 12:27 Besides pointing out the absurdity of the charge, Jesus asks how the work of Jewish exorcists (your own people) is to be interpreted. Are they, too, to be charged with collusion with Beelzebul? For an example of Jewish exorcism see Josephus, Antiquities 8:42–49.
  19. 12:28 The Q parallel (Lk 11:20) speaks of the “finger” rather than of the “spirit” of God. While the difference is probably due to Matthew’s editing, he retains the kingdom of God rather than changing it to his usual “kingdom of heaven.” Has come upon you: see Mt 4:17.
  20. 12:29 A short parable illustrates what Jesus is doing. The strong man is Satan, whom Jesus has tied up and whose house he is plundering. Jewish expectation was that Satan would be chained up in the last days (Rev 20:2); Jesus’ exorcisms indicate that those days have begun.
  21. 12:30 This saying, already attached to the preceding verses in Q (see Lk 11:23), warns that there can be no neutrality where Jesus is concerned. Its pertinence in a context where Jesus is addressing not the neutral but the bitterly opposed is not clear. The accusation of scattering, however, does fit the situation. Jesus is the shepherd of God’s people (Mt 2:6), his mission is to the lost sheep of Israel (Mt 15:24); the Pharisees, who oppose him, are guilty of scattering the sheep.
  22. 12:31 Blasphemy against the Spirit: the sin of attributing to Satan (Mt 12:24) what is the work of the Spirit of God (Mt 12:28).
  23. 12:33 Declare: literally, “make.” The meaning of this verse is obscure. Possibly it is a challenge to the Pharisees either to declare Jesus and his exorcisms good or both of them bad. A tree is known by its fruit; if the fruit is good, so must the tree be. If the driving out of demons is good, so must its source be.
  24. 12:34 The admission of Jesus’ goodness cannot be made by the Pharisees, for they are evil, and the words that proceed from their evil hearts cannot be good.
  25. 12:36–37 If on the day of judgment people will be held accountable for even their careless words, the vicious accusations of the Pharisees will surely lead to their condemnation.
  26. 12:38–42 This section is mainly from Q (see Lk 11:29–32). Mk 8:11–12, which Matthew has followed in Mt 16:1–4, has a similar demand for a sign. The scribes and Pharisees refuse to accept the exorcisms of Jesus as authentication of his claims and demand a sign that will end all possibility of doubt. Jesus’ response is that no such sign will be given. Because his opponents are evil and see him as an agent of Satan, nothing will convince them.
  27. 12:38 Teacher: see note on Mt 8:19. In Mt 16:1 the request is for a sign “from heaven” (Mk 8:11).
  28. 12:39 Unfaithful: literally, “adulterous.” The covenant between God and Israel was portrayed as a marriage bond, and unfaithfulness to the covenant as adultery; cf. Hos 2:4–14; Jer 3:6–10.
  29. 12:40 See Jon 2:1. While in Q the sign was simply Jonah’s preaching to the Ninevites (Lk 11:30, 32), Matthew here adds Jonah’s sojourn in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, a prefigurement of Jesus’ sojourn in the abode of the dead and, implicitly, of his resurrection.
  30. 12:41–42 The Ninevites who repented (see Jon 3:1–10) and the queen of the south (i.e., of Sheba; see 1 Kgs 10:1–13) were pagans who responded to lesser opportunities than have been offered to Israel in the ministry of Jesus, something greater than Jonah or Solomon. At the final judgment they will condemn the faithless generation that has rejected him.
  31. 12:43–45 Another Q passage; cf. Mt 11:24–26. Jesus’ ministry has broken Satan’s hold over Israel, but the refusal of this evil generation to accept him will lead to a worse situation than what preceded his coming.
  32. 12:46–50 See Mk 3:31–35. Matthew has omitted Mk 3:20–21 which is taken up in Mk 3:31 (see note on Mt 12:22–32), yet the point of the story is the same in both gospels: natural kinship with Jesus counts for nothing; only one who does the will of his heavenly Father belongs to his true family.
  33. 12:47 This verse is omitted in some important textual witnesses, including Codex Sinaiticus (original reading) and Codex Vaticanus.

12 In quel tempo Gesú camminava in giorno di sabato tra i campi di grano; ora i suoi discepoli ebbero fame e si misero a svellere delle spighe e a mangiarle.

Ma i farisei, veduto ciò, gli dissero: «Ecco, i tuoi discepoli fanno quello che non è lecito fare in giorno di sabato».

Ed egli disse loro: «Non avete letto ciò che fece Davide, quando ebbe fame, egli e quelli che erano con lui?

Come egli entrò nella casa di Dio e mangiò i pani della presentazione, che non era lecito mangiare né a lui, né a quelli che erano con lui, ma solo ai sacerdoti?

Ovvero, non avete letto nella legge che nel tempio i sacerdoti, nei giorni di sabato, trasgrediscono il sabato e tuttavia sono senza colpa?

Ora io vi dico che qui c'è qualcuno piú grande del tempio.

Ora, se voi sapeste che cosa significa: "Io voglio misericordia e non sacrificio" non avreste condannato gl'innocenti.

Perché il Figlio dell'uomo è signore anche del sabato».

Poi, partitosi di là, entrò nella loro sinagoga;

10 ed ecco, vi era un uomo che aveva una mano secca. Ed essi domandarono a Gesú, per poterlo poi accusare: «è lecito guarire qualcuno in giorno di sabato?».

11 Ed egli disse loro: «Chi è l'uomo fra voi che avendo una pecora, se questa cade in giorno di sabato in una fossa, non la prenda e non la tiri fuori?

12 Ora, quanto vale un uomo piú di una pecora! E dunque lecito fare del bene in giorno di sabato?».

13 Allora egli disse a quell'uomo: «Stendi la tua mano!». Ed egli la stese e fu resa sana come l'altra.

14 Ma i farisei, usciti fuori, tennero consiglio contro di lui, del come farlo morire,

15 Ma Gesú, conoscendo ciò, si allontanò di là; grandi folle lo seguirono, ed egli li guarí tutti,

16 e ordinò loro severamente di non dire chi egli fosse,

17 affinché si adempisse ciò che fu detto dal profeta Isaia che dice:

18 «Ecco il mio servo che io ho scelto; l'amato mio in cui l'anima mia si è compiaciuta. Io metterò il mio Spirito su di lui, ed egli annunzierà la giustizia alle genti.

19 Egli non disputerà e non griderà e nessuno udirà la sua voce per le piazze.

20 Egli non frantumerà la canna rotta e non spegnerà il lucignolo fumante, finché non abbia fatto trionfare la giustizia.

21 E le genti spereranno nel suo nome».

22 Allora gli fu presentato un indemoniato, cieco e muto; ed egli lo guarí, sicché il cieco e muto parlava e vedeva.

23 E tutte le folle stupivano e dicevano: «Non è costui il Figlio di Davide?».

24 Ma i farisei, udito ciò, dicevano: «Costui scaccia i demoni a solo per virtú di Beelzebub, principe dei demoni».

25 E Gesú, conoscendo i loro pensieri, disse loro: «Ogni regno diviso contro se stesso va in rovina; ed ogni città o casa, divisa contro se stessa non può durare.

26 Ora, se Satana scaccia Satana, egli è diviso contro se stesso, come dunque può durare il suo regno?

27 E se io scaccio i demoni con l'aiuto di Beelzebub, con l'aiuto di chi li scacciano i vostri figli? Per questo essi saranno i vostri giudici.

28 Ma, se io scaccio i demoni per mezzo dello Spirito di Dio, allora il regno di Dio è giunto in mezzo a voi.

29 Ovvero, come può uno entrare nella casa dell'uomo forte e rapirgli i suoi beni, se prima non lega l'uomo forte? Allora soltanto riuscirà a saccheggiare la sua casa.

30 Chi non è con me è contro di me, e chi non raccoglie con me disperde.

31 Perciò io vi dico: Ogni peccato e bestemmia sarà perdonata agli uomini; ma la bestemmia contro lo Spirito non sarà loro perdonata.

32 E chiunque parla contro il Figlio dell'uomo, sarà perdonato; ma chi parla contro lo Spirito Santo, non gli sarà perdonato, né in questa età né in quella futura».

33 «O fate l'albero buono e il suo frutto sarà buono, o fate l'albero malvagio e il suo frutto sarà malvagio; infatti l'albero lo si conosce dal frutto.

34 Razza di vipere! Come potete dir cose buone, essendo malvagi? Poiché la bocca parla dall'abbondanza del cuore.

35 L'uomo buono dal buon tesoro del cuore trae cose buone; ma l'uomo malvagio dal suo malvagio tesoro trae cose malvagie.

36 Or io dico che nel giorno del giudizio gli uomini renderanno conto di ogni parola oziosa che avranno detta.

37 Poiché in base alle tue parole sarai giustificato, e in base alle tue parole sarai condannato».

38 Allora alcuni scribi e farisei, lo interrogarono, dicendo: «Maestro, noi vorremmo vedere da te qualche segno».

39 Ma egli, rispondendo, disse loro: «Questa malvagia e adultera generazione chiede un segno, ma nessun segno le sarà dato, se non il segno del profeta Giona.

40 Infatti, come Giona fu tre giorni e tre notti nel ventre del grosso pesce, cosí starà il Figlio dell'uomo tre giorni e tre notti nel cuore della terra.

41 I Niniviti risorgeranno nel giudizio con questa generazione e la condanneranno, perché essi si ravvidero alla predicazione di Giona; ed ecco, qui c'è uno piú grande di Giona.

42 La regina del mezzogiorno risusciterà nel giudizio con questa generazione e la condannerà, perché ella venne dagli estremi confini della terra per udire la sapienza di Salomone; ed ecco, qui c'è uno piú grande di Salomone.

43 Ora, quando lo spirito immondo è uscito da un uomo, vaga per luoghi aridi, cercando riposo e non lo trova.

44 Allora dice: "Ritornerò nella mia casa da dove sono uscito ma quando giunge, la trova vuota, spazzata e adorna;

45 va allora a prendere con sé altri sette spiriti peggiori di lui, i quali entrano e vi prendono dimora; e l'ultima condizione di quell'uomo diventa peggiore della prima, Cosí avverrà anche a questa generazione malvagia».

46 Ora, mentre egli parlava ancora alle folle, ecco sua madre e i suoi fratelli i quali, fermatisi fuori, cercavano di parlargli.

47 E qualcuno gli disse: «Ecco tua madre e i tuoi fratelli sono là fuori e cercano di parlarti».

48 Ma egli rispondendo, disse a colui che lo aveva informato: «Chi è mia madre e chi sono i miei fratelli?».

49 E, distesa la mano verso i suoi discepoli, disse: «Ecco mia madre e i miei fratelli.

50 Poiché chiunque fa la volontà del Padre mio, che è nei cieli, mi è fratello, sorella e madre».

12 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.

But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:

10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

16 And charged them that they should not make him known:

17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew 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 send forth judgment unto victory.

21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

27 And if I by 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 the kingdom of God is come unto you.

29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

40 For as Jonas 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 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

46 While he yet talked to the people, 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 unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

安息日的主(A)

12 安息日那天,耶稣从麦田经过;他的门徒饿了,就摘了些麦穗来吃。 法利赛人看见了,就对他说:“你看,你的门徒作了安息日不可作的事。” 耶稣对他们说:“大卫和跟他在一起的人,在饥饿的时候所作的,你们没有念过吗? 他不是进了 神的殿,吃了他和跟他在一起的人不可以吃,只有祭司才可以吃的陈设饼吗? 律法书上记着:安息日,祭司在殿里供职,触犯了安息日,也不算有罪;你们也没有念过吗? 我告诉你们,这里有一位是比圣殿更大的。 如果你们明白‘我喜爱怜悯,不喜爱祭祀’这句话的意思,就不会把无罪的定罪了。 因为人子是安息日的主。”

治好手枯的人(B)

耶稣离开那里,来到他们的会堂。 10 会堂里有一个人,他的一只手枯干了。有人问耶稣:“在安息日治病,可以吗?”目的是要控告耶稣。 11 耶稣回答:“你们当中有哪一个,他仅有的一只羊在安息日跌进坑里,会不把羊抓住拉上来呢? 12 人比羊贵重得多了!所以,在安息日行善是可以的。” 13 于是对那人说:“伸出手来!”他把手一伸,就复原了,好象另一只手一样。 14 法利赛人出去,商议怎样对付耶稣,好杀掉他。

 神拣选的仆人

15 耶稣知道了,就离开那里。有很多人跟随他,他医好他们所有的病人, 16 又嘱咐他们不可替他张扬。 17 这就应验了以赛亚先知所说的:

18 “看哪!我所拣选的仆人,

我所爱,心里所喜悦的;

我要把我的灵赐给他,

他必向万国宣扬公理。

19 他不争吵,也不喧嚷,

人在街上听不见他的声音。

20 压伤的芦苇,他不折断,

将残的灯火,他不吹灭;

直到他施行公理,使公理得胜。

21 万民都要寄望于他的名。”

耶稣靠 神的灵赶鬼(C)

22 有人带了一个被鬼附着、又瞎又哑的人到耶稣那里。耶稣医好了他,那哑巴就能说话,也能看见了。 23 群众都很惊奇,说:“难道他就是大卫的子孙?” 24 法利赛人听见了,说:“这个人赶鬼,只不过是靠鬼王别西卜罢了。” 25 耶稣知道他们的心思,就对他们说:“如果一个国家自相纷争,就必定荒凉;一城一家自相纷争,必站立不住。 26 如果撒但赶逐撒但,就会自相纷争。那么,他的国怎能站立得住呢? 27 我若靠别西卜赶鬼,你们的子孙又靠谁赶鬼呢?这样,他们就要断定你们的不是。 28 我若靠 神的灵赶鬼, 神的国就已经临到你们了。 29 如果不先把壮汉绑起来,怎能进到他的家里,抢夺财物呢?如果绑起来了,就可以抢劫他的家了。 30 不站在我这一边的就是反对我的,不跟我一起收聚的,就是分散的。 31 因此,我告诉你们,人的一切罪和亵渎的话,都可以赦免;可是,亵渎圣灵就得不着赦免。 32 无论谁说话得罪了人子,还可以赦免;但说话得罪了圣灵的,今生来世都得不着赦免。

种好树结好果子(D)

33 “你们种好树就结好果子,种坏树就结坏果子;凭着果子就能认出树来。 34 毒蛇所生的啊,你们既然是邪恶的,怎能说出良善的话?因为心中所充满的,口里就说出来。 35 良善的人从他良善的心(“心”原文作“库房”)发出良善,邪恶的人从他邪恶的心(“心”原文作“库房”)发出邪恶。 36 我告诉你们,人所说的闲话,在审判的日子,句句都要供出来, 37 因为你要照你的话被称为义,或定为有罪。”

约拿的神迹(E)

38 当时,有一些经学家和法利赛人对耶稣说:“老师,我们想请你显个神迹看看。” 39 但耶稣说:“邪恶和淫乱的世代寻求神迹,除了约拿先知的神迹以外,再没有神迹给你们了。 40 约拿怎样三日三夜在大鱼的腹中,人子也要照样三日三夜在地里。 41 审判的时候,尼尼微人要和这个世代一同起来,定这个世代的罪,因为他们听了约拿所传的就悔改了。你看,这里有一位是比约拿更大的。 42 审判的时候,南方的女王要和这个世代一同起来,定这个世代的罪,因为她从地极来到,要听所罗门智慧的话。你看,这里有一位是比所罗门更大的。

污灵去而复返的教训(F)

43 “有一个污灵离开了一个人,走遍干旱之地,寻找栖身的地方,却没有找到。 44 他就说:‘我要回到我从前离开了的那房子。’到了之后,看见里面空着,已经打扫干净,粉饰好了, 45 他就去带了另外七个比自己更恶的污灵来,一齐进去住在那里;那人后来的情况,比以前更坏了。这邪恶的世代也会这样。”

谁是耶稣的母亲和弟兄(G)

46 耶稣还在对群众讲话的时候,他的母亲和弟弟站在外面,要找他讲话。 47 有人告诉耶稣:“你的母亲和弟弟站在外面,有话要跟你说。” 48 他回答那人:“谁是我的母亲?谁是我的弟兄?” 49 他伸手指着门徒说:“你看,我的母亲,我的弟兄! 50 凡是遵行我天父旨意的,就是我的弟兄、姊妹和母亲了。”

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath(A)(B)

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

He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?(E) 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.(F) Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath(G) and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.(H) If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’[a](I) you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man(J) 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,(K) they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”(L)

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?(M) 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep!(N) 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.(O)

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.(P) 16 He warned them not to tell others about him.(Q) 17 This was to fulfill(R) what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
    the one I love, in whom I delight;(S)
I will put my Spirit on him,(T)
    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.”[b](U)

Jesus and Beelzebul(V)

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.(W) 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”(X)

24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul,(Y) the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”(Z)

25 Jesus knew their thoughts(AA) 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(AB) drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul,(AC) by whom do your people(AD) 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(AE) 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.(AF) 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.(AG) 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(AH) or in the age to come.(AI)

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.(AJ) 34 You brood of vipers,(AK) how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks(AL) 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.”(AM)

The Sign of Jonah(AN)(AO)

38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign(AP) from you.”(AQ)

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.(AR) 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish,(AS) so the Son of Man(AT) will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.(AU) 41 The men of Nineveh(AV) will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah,(AW) 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(AX) 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.(AY) That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers(AZ)

46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother(BA) and brothers(BB) 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(BC) is my brother and sister and mother.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 12:7 Hosea 6:6
  2. Matthew 12:21 Isaiah 42:1-4