Matthew 12
Common English Bible
Working on the Sabbath
12 At that time Jesus went through the wheat fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry so they were picking heads of wheat and eating them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are breaking the Sabbath law.”
3 But he said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and those with him were hungry? 4 He went into God’s house and broke the law by eating the bread of the presence, which only the priests were allowed to eat. 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple treat the Sabbath as any other day and are still innocent? 6 But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what this means, I want mercy and not sacrifice,[a] you wouldn’t have condemned the innocent. 8 The Human One[b] is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Healing on the Sabbath
9 Jesus left that place and went into their synagogue. 10 A man with a withered hand was there. Wanting to bring charges against Jesus, they asked, “Does the Law allow a person to heal on the Sabbath?”
11 Jesus replied, “Who among you has a sheep that falls into a pit on the Sabbath and will not take hold of it and pull it out? 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! So the Law allows a person to do what is good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he did and it was made healthy, just like the other one. 14 The Pharisees went out and met in order to find a way to destroy Jesus.
Healing the crowd
15 Jesus knew what they intended to do, so he went away from there. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them all. 16 But he ordered them not to spread the word about him, 17 so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:
18 Look, my Servant whom I chose,
the one I love, in whom I find great pleasure.
I’ll put my Spirit upon him,
and he’ll announce judgment to the Gentiles.
19 He won’t argue or shout,
and nobody will hear his voice in the streets.
20 He won’t break a bent stalk,
and he won’t snuff out a smoldering wick,
until he makes justice win.
21 And the Gentiles will put their hope in his name.[c]
22 They brought to Jesus a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak. Jesus healed him so that he could both speak and see. 23 All the crowds were amazed and said, “This man couldn’t be the Son of David, could he?”
24 When the Pharisees heard, they said, “This man throws out demons only by the authority of Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”
25 Because Jesus knew what they were thinking, he replied, “Every kingdom involved in civil war becomes a wasteland. Every city or house torn apart by divisions will collapse. 26 If Satan throws out Satan, he is at war with himself. How then can his kingdom endure? 27 And if I throw out demons by the authority of Beelzebul, then by whose authority do your followers throw them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. 28 But if I throw out demons by the power of God’s Spirit, then God’s kingdom has already overtaken you. 29 Can people go into a house that belongs to a strong man and steal his possessions, unless they first tie up the strong man? Then they can rob his house. 30 Whoever isn’t with me is against me, and whoever doesn’t gather with me scatters.
Insulting the Holy Spirit
31 “Therefore, I tell you that people will be forgiven for every sin and insult to God. But insulting the Holy Spirit won’t be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Human One[d] will be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit won’t be forgiven, not in this age or in the age that is coming.
Trees and fruits
33 “Either consider the tree good and its fruit good, or consider the tree rotten and its fruit rotten. A tree is known by its fruit. 34 Children of snakes! How can you speak good things while you are evil? What fills the heart comes out of the mouth. 35 Good people bring out good things from their good treasure. But evil people bring out evil things from their evil treasure. 36 I tell you that people will have to answer on Judgment Day for every useless word they speak. 37 By your words you will be either judged innocent or condemned as guilty.”
Request for a sign
38 At that time some of the legal experts and the Pharisees requested of Jesus, “Teacher, we would like to see a sign from you.”
39 But he replied, “An evil and unfaithful generation searches for a sign, but it won’t receive any sign except Jonah’s sign. 40 Just as Jonah was in the whale’s belly for three days and three nights,[e] so the Human One[f] will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41 The citizens of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it as guilty, because they changed their hearts and lives in response to Jonah’s preaching. And look, someone greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will be raised up by God at the judgment with this generation and condemn it because she came from a distant land to hear Solomon’s wisdom. And look, someone greater than Solomon is here.
Unclean spirit seeking a home
43 “When an unclean spirit leaves a person, it wanders through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find any. 44 Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the place vacant, cleaned up, and decorated. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself. They go in and make their home there. That person is worse off at the end than at the beginning. This is the way it will be also for this evil generation.”
Jesus’ family
46 While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers stood outside trying to speak with him. 47 Someone said to him, “Look, your mother and brothers are outside wanting to speak with you.”
48 Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 He stretched out his hand toward his disciples and said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers. 50 Whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven is my brother, sister, and mother.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 12:7 Hos 6:6
- Matthew 12:8 Or Son of Man
- Matthew 12:21 Isa 42:1-4
- Matthew 12:32 Or Son of Man
- Matthew 12:40 Jonah 1:17
- Matthew 12:40 Or Son of Man
Mateo 12
Reina Valera Contemporánea
Los discípulos recogen espigas en el día de reposo(A)
12 En aquel tiempo, al pasar Jesús por los sembrados en un día de reposo, sus discípulos tuvieron hambre y comenzaron a arrancar espigas(B) y a comerlas. 2 Cuando los fariseos vieron esto, le dijeron: «¡Fíjate! Tus discípulos hacen lo que no está permitido hacer en el día de reposo.» 3 Pero él les dijo: «¿No han leído ustedes lo que hizo David, cuando él y sus acompañantes tuvieron hambre? 4 ¡Pues entró en la casa de Dios y comió los panes de la proposición!(C) Panes que ni a él ni a sus acompañantes les estaba permitido comer, sino solamente a los sacerdotes.(D) 5 ¿O no han leído ustedes en la ley que, en el día de reposo, los sacerdotes que están en el templo profanan el día de reposo, y no se les culpa de nada?(E) 6 Pues yo les digo que aquí está uno mayor que el templo. 7 Si ustedes supieran lo que significa(F) “Misericordia quiero, y no sacrificio”,(G) no condenarían a los inocentes; 8 porque el Hijo del Hombre es Señor del día de reposo.»
El hombre de la mano atrofiada(H)
9 Al salir de allí, Jesús fue a la sinagoga del lugar. 10 Allí había un hombre que tenía atrofiada una mano. Para poder acusar a Jesús, algunos le preguntaron: «¿Está permitido sanar en el día de reposo?» 11 Él les respondió: «¿Quién de ustedes, si tiene una oveja, y ésta se cae en un hoyo en día de reposo, no va y la saca?(I) 12 ¡Y un hombre vale mucho más que una oveja! Por consiguiente, está permitido hacer el bien en los días de reposo.» 13 Entonces le dijo a aquel hombre: «Extiende tu mano.» El hombre la extendió, y su mano le quedó tan sana como la otra. 14 Pero los fariseos, en cuanto se fueron, conspiraron para matar a Jesús.
El siervo escogido
15 Cuando Jesús supo esto, se alejó de allí. Pero mucha gente lo siguió, y él los sanó a todos, 16 aunque les encargaba con firmeza que no lo descubrieran, 17 para que se cumpliera lo dicho por el profeta Isaías:
18 «Éste es mi siervo, a quien he escogido;
mi Amado, en quien se complace mi alma.
Pondré mi Espíritu sobre él,
y a las naciones anunciará juicio.
19 No disputará, ni gritará,
ni nadie oirá su voz en las calles.
20 No quebrará la caña cascada,
ni apagará la mecha humeante,
hasta que haga triunfar la justicia.
21 En su nombre esperarán las naciones.»(J)
La blasfemia contra el Espíritu Santo(K)
22 Un día le llevaron un endemoniado ciego y mudo, y él lo sanó, así que el ciego y mudo podía ver y hablar. 23 Toda la gente estaba atónita, y decía: «¿Será éste el Hijo de David?» 24 Los fariseos, al oírlo, decían: «Éste expulsa los demonios por el poder de Beelzebú, príncipe de los demonios.»(L) 25 Pero Jesús, que sabía lo que ellos pensaban, les dijo: «Todo reino dividido internamente acaba en la ruina. No hay casa o ciudad que permanezca, si internamente está dividida. 26 Así que, si Satanás expulsa a Satanás, se estará dividiendo a sí mismo; y así, ¿cómo podrá permanecer su reino? 27 Si yo expulso a los demonios por el poder de Beelzebú, ¿por el poder de quién los expulsan los hijos de ustedes? Por lo tanto, ellos serán los jueces de ustedes. 28 Pero si yo expulso a los demonios por el poder del Espíritu de Dios, eso significa que el reino de Dios ha llegado a ustedes. 29 Porque ¿cómo va a entrar alguien en la casa de un hombre fuerte, y cómo va a saquear sus bienes, si antes no lo ata? Sólo así podrá saquear su casa. 30 El que no está conmigo, está contra mí;(M) y el que no recoge conmigo, desparrama. 31 Por tanto, les digo: A ustedes se les perdonará todo pecado y blasfemia, excepto la blasfemia contra el Espíritu. 32 Cualquiera que hable mal del Hijo del Hombre, será perdonado; pero el que hable contra el Espíritu Santo no será perdonado, ni en este tiempo ni en el venidero.(N) 33 Si el árbol es bueno, también su fruto es bueno; pero si el árbol es malo, también su fruto es malo. Al árbol se le conoce por sus frutos.(O) 34 ¡Generación de víboras!(P) ¿Cómo pueden decir cosas buenas, si son malos? Porque de la abundancia del corazón habla la boca.(Q) 35 El hombre bueno saca cosas buenas del buen tesoro de su corazón; el hombre malo saca cosas malas de su mal tesoro. 36 Pero yo les digo que, en el día del juicio, cada uno de ustedes dará cuenta de cada palabra ociosa que haya pronunciado. 37 Porque por tus palabras serás reivindicado, y por tus palabras serás condenado.»
La generación perversa demanda señal(R)
38 Entonces algunos de los escribas y de los fariseos le dijeron: «Maestro, deseamos ver una señal tuya.»(S) 39 Pero él les dijo: «La generación mala y adúltera demanda una señal,(T) pero no tendrán más señal que la del profeta Jonás. 40 Porque así como Jonás estuvo tres días y tres noches en el vientre del gran pez,(U) así también el Hijo del Hombre estará tres días y tres noches en el corazón de la tierra. 41 En el juicio, los habitantes de Nínive se levantarán contra esta generación y la condenarán, porque ellos se arrepintieron por la predicación de Jonás,(V) y aquí hay alguien que es más grande que Jonás. 42 En el juicio, la reina del Sur se levantará contra esta generación y la condenará, porque ella vino desde los confines de la tierra para escuchar la sabiduría de Salomón,(W) y aquí hay alguien que es más grande que Salomón.
El espíritu inmundo que vuelve(X)
43 »Cuando el espíritu impuro sale del hombre, anda por lugares áridos en busca de reposo, y no lo halla. 44 Entonces dice: “Volveré a mi casa, de donde salí.” Y cuando llega, la halla desocupada, barrida y adornada. 45 Entonces va y trae otros siete espíritus peores que él, y entran y allí se quedan a vivir. ¡Y el estado final de aquel hombre resulta ser peor que el primero! Así también le pasará a esta generación malvada.»
La madre y los hermanos de Jesús(Y)
46 Mientras Jesús hablaba con la gente, su madre y sus hermanos estaban afuera, y querían hablar con él. 47 Alguien le dijo: «Tu madre y tus hermanos están afuera, y te quieren hablar.» 48 Él respondió al que le dijo esto: «¿Quién es mi madre, y quiénes son mis hermanos?» 49 Y extendiendo la mano hacia sus discípulos, dijo: «Mi madre y mis hermanos están aquí. 50 Porque todos los que hacen la voluntad de mi Padre que está en los cielos son mis hermanos, mis hermanas, y mi madre.»
Matthew 12
New Century Version
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
12 At that time Jesus was walking through some fields of grain on a Sabbath day. His followers were hungry, so they began to pick the grain and eat it. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Jesus, “Look! Your followers are doing what is unlawful to do on the Sabbath day.”
3 Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and the people with him were hungry? 4 He went into God’s house, and he and those with him ate the holy bread, which was lawful only for priests to eat. 5 And have you not read in the law of Moses that on every Sabbath day the priests in the Temple break this law about the Sabbath day? But the priests are not wrong for doing that. 6 I tell you that there is something here that is greater than the Temple. 7 The Scripture says, ‘I want kindness more than I want animal sacrifices.’[a] You don’t really know what those words mean. If you understood them, you would not judge those who have done nothing wrong.
8 “So the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath day.”
Jesus Heals a Man’s Hand
9 Jesus left there and went into their synagogue, 10 where there was a man with a crippled hand. They were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they asked him, “Is it right to heal on the Sabbath day?”[b]
11 Jesus answered, “If any of you has a sheep, and it falls into a ditch on the Sabbath day, you will help it out of the ditch. 12 Surely a human being is more important than a sheep. So it is lawful to do good things on the Sabbath day.”
13 Then Jesus said to the man with the crippled hand, “Hold out your hand.” The man held out his hand, and it became well again, like the other hand. 14 But the Pharisees left and made plans to kill Jesus.
Jesus Is God’s Chosen Servant
15 Jesus knew what the Pharisees were doing, so he left that place. Many people followed him, and he healed all who were sick. 16 But Jesus warned the people not to tell who he was. 17 He did these things to bring about what Isaiah the prophet had said:
18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen.
I love him, and I am pleased with him.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will tell of my justice to all people.
19 He will not argue or cry out;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 He will not break a crushed blade of grass
or put out even a weak flame
until he makes justice win the victory.
21 In him will the non-Jewish people find hope.” Isaiah 42:1–4
Jesus’ Power Is from God
22 Then some people brought to Jesus a man who was blind and could not talk, because he had a demon. Jesus healed the man so that he could talk and see. 23 All the people were amazed and said, “Perhaps this man is the Son of David!”
24 When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Jesus uses the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, to force demons out of people.”
25 Jesus knew what the Pharisees were thinking, so he said to them, “Every kingdom that is divided against itself will be destroyed. And any city or family that is divided against itself will not continue. 26 And if Satan forces out himself, then Satan is divided against himself, and his kingdom will not continue. 27 You say that I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons. If that is true, then what power do your people use to force out demons? So they will be your judges. 28 But if I use the power of God’s Spirit to force out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
29 “If anyone wants to enter a strong person’s house and steal his things, he must first tie up the strong person. Then he can steal the things from the house.
30 “Whoever is not with me is against me. Whoever does not work with me is working against me. 31 So I tell you, people can be forgiven for every sin and everything they say against God. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, now or in the future.
People Know You by Your Words
33 “If you want good fruit, you must make the tree good. If your tree is not good, it will have bad fruit. A tree is known by the kind of fruit it produces. 34 You snakes! You are evil people, so how can you say anything good? The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart. 35 Good people have good things in their hearts, and so they say good things. But evil people have evil in their hearts, so they say evil things. 36 And I tell you that on the Judgment Day people will be responsible for every careless thing they have said. 37 The words you have said will be used to judge you. Some of your words will prove you right, but some of your words will prove you guilty.”
The People Ask for a Miracle
38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law answered Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we want to see you work a miracle as a sign.”
39 Jesus answered, “Evil and sinful people are the ones who want to see a miracle for a sign. But no sign will be given to them, except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 Jonah was in the stomach of the big fish for three days and three nights. In the same way, the Son of Man will be in the grave three days and three nights. 41 On the Judgment Day the people from Nineveh[c] will stand up with you people who live now, and they will show that you are guilty. When Jonah preached to them, they were sorry and changed their lives. And I tell you that someone greater than Jonah is here. 42 On the Judgment Day, the Queen of the South[d] will stand up with you people who live today. She will show that you are guilty, because she came from far away to listen to Solomon’s wise teaching. And I tell you that someone greater than Solomon is here.
People Today Are Full of Evil
43 “When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it travels through dry places, looking for a place to rest, but it doesn’t find it. 44 So the spirit says, ‘I will go back to the house I left.’ When the spirit comes back, it finds the house still empty, swept clean, and made neat. 45 Then the evil spirit goes out and brings seven other spirits even more evil than it is, and they go in and live there. So the person has even more trouble than before. It is the same way with the evil people who live today.”
Jesus’ True Family
46 While Jesus was talking to the people, his mother and brothers stood outside, trying to find a way to talk to him. 47 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, and they want to talk to you.”[e]
48 He answered, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 Then he pointed to his followers and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 My true brother and sister and mother are those who do what my Father in heaven wants.”
Footnotes
- 12:7 ‘I . . . sacrifices.’ Quotation from Hosea 6:6.
- 12:10 Is it right . . . day? It was against Jewish Law to work on the Sabbath day.
- 12:41 Nineveh The city where Jonah preached to warn the people. Read Jonah 3.
- 12:42 Queen of the South The Queen of Sheba. She traveled a thousand miles to learn God’s wisdom from Solomon. Read 1 Kings 10:1–13.
- 12:47 Someone . . . you.” Some Greek copies do not have verse 47.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
Copyright © 2009, 2011 by Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
