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Matthew 12
New American Standard Bible

Sabbath Questions

12 [a](A)At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to (B)pick the heads of grain and eat. 2 Now when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what (C)is not lawful to do on a Sabbath!” 3 But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions— 4 how he entered the house of God, and (D)they ate the [b]consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? 5 Or have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple [c]violate the Sabbath, and yet are innocent? 6 But I say to you that something (E)greater than the temple is here. 7 But if you had known what this [d]means: ‘(F)I desire [e]compassion, [f]rather than sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned [g]the innocent.

Lord of the Sabbath

8 For (G)the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

9 (H)Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. 10 And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned [h]Jesus, asking, “(I)Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might bring charges against Him. 11 But He said to them, “(J)What man [i]is there among you who [j]has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 (K)How much more valuable then is a person than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do [k]good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then He *said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” (L)He stretched it out, and it was restored to [l]normal, like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and [m](M)conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

15 But Jesus, [n]aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and (N)He healed them all, 16 and (O)warned them not to [o]tell who He was. 17 This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled:

18 “(P)Behold, My [p]Servant whom I [q]have chosen;
(Q)My Beloved in whom My soul [r]delights;
(R)I will put My Spirit upon Him,
(S)And He will proclaim [s]justice to the [t]Gentiles.
19 (T)He will not quarrel, nor cry out;
Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
20 (U)A bent reed He will not break off,
And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish,
Until He [u]leads [v]justice to victory.
21 (V)And in His name the [w]Gentiles will hope.”

The Pharisees Rebuked

22 (W)Then a (X)demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to [x]Jesus, and He healed him so that the man who was unable to speak talked and [y]could see. 23 And all the crowds were amazed and were saying, “This man cannot be the (Y)Son of David, can he?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man (Z)casts out demons only by [z]Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”

25 (AA)And (AB)knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if (AC)Satan is casting out Satan, he [aa]has become divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if (AD)by [ab]Beelzebul I cast out the demons, (AE)by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. 28 But (AF)if I cast out the demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or, how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

The Unpardonable Sin

30 (AG)The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters.

31 “(AH)Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 (AI)And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in (AJ)this age or in the age to come.

Words Reveal Character

33 “Either [ac]assume the tree to be good as well as its fruit good, or [ad]assume the tree to be bad as well as its fruit bad; for (AK)the tree is known by its fruit. 34 (AL)You [ae]offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, express any good things? (AM)For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. 35 (AN)The good person brings out of his good treasure good things; and the evil person brings out of his evil treasure evil things. 36 But I tell you that for every [af]careless word that people [ag]speak, they will give an account of it on the (AO)day of judgment. 37 For [ah]by your words you will be justified, and [ai]by your words you will be condemned.”

The Desire for Signs

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, (AP)we want to see a [aj]sign from You.” 39 But He answered and said to them, “(AQ)An evil and adulterous generation craves a [ak]sign; and so no [al]sign will be given to it except the [am]sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as (AR)Jonah was in the stomach of the sea monster for three days and three nights, so will (AS)the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for (AT)three days and three nights. 41 (AU)The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because (AV)they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something (AW)greater than Jonah is here. 42 (AX)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, something (AY)greater than Solomon is here.

43 “(AZ)Now when the unclean spirit comes out of a person, 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 brings along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they come in and live there; and (BA)the last condition of that person becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”

Changed Relationships

46 (BB)While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His (BC)mother and (BD)brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 [[an]Someone said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to You.”] 48 But [ao]Jesus replied to the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” 49 And extending 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.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 12:1 Or On that occasion
  2. Matthew 12:4 Lit loaves of presentation
  3. Matthew 12:5 Or profane
  4. Matthew 12:7 Lit is
  5. Matthew 12:7 Or mercy
  6. Matthew 12:7 Lit and not
  7. Matthew 12:7 Plural in the Gr
  8. Matthew 12:10 Lit Him
  9. Matthew 12:11 Lit will be from you
  10. Matthew 12:11 Lit will have
  11. Matthew 12:12 Lit well
  12. Matthew 12:13 Lit health
  13. Matthew 12:14 Lit took counsel
  14. Matthew 12:15 Lit knowing
  15. Matthew 12:16 Lit make Him known
  16. Matthew 12:18 Lit Child
  17. Matthew 12:18 Lit chose
  18. Matthew 12:18 Or took pleasure
  19. Matthew 12:18 Or judgment
  20. Matthew 12:18 Or nations
  21. Matthew 12:20 Or brings forth
  22. Matthew 12:20 Or judgment
  23. Matthew 12:21 Or nations
  24. Matthew 12:22 Lit Him
  25. Matthew 12:22 Lit saw
  26. Matthew 12:24 Or Beezebul; meaning uncertain, perhaps lord prince, referring to Satan
  27. Matthew 12:26 Lit was
  28. Matthew 12:27 See note v 24
  29. Matthew 12:33 Lit make
  30. Matthew 12:33 Lit make
  31. Matthew 12:34 Or brood
  32. Matthew 12:36 Or useless
  33. Matthew 12:36 Lit will speak
  34. Matthew 12:37 Or in accordance with
  35. Matthew 12:37 Or in accordance with
  36. Matthew 12:38 I.e., confirming miracle
  37. Matthew 12:39 I.e., confirming miracle
  38. Matthew 12:39 I.e., confirming miracle
  39. Matthew 12:39 I.e., confirming miracle
  40. Matthew 12:47 This verse is not found in early mss
  41. Matthew 12:48 Lit He
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Matteo 12
Nuova Riveduta 2006

Gesù, Signore del sabato

12 (A)In quel tempo Gesù attraversò di sabato dei campi di grano; e i suoi discepoli ebbero fame e si misero a strappare delle spighe e a mangiare. 2 I farisei, veduto ciò, gli dissero: «Guarda! I tuoi discepoli fanno quello che non è lecito fare di sabato». 3 Ma egli rispose loro: «Non avete letto quello che fece Davide, quando ebbe fame, egli insieme a coloro che erano con lui? 4 Come egli entrò nella casa di Dio e come mangiarono[a] i pani di presentazione che non era lecito mangiare né a lui né a quelli che erano con lui, ma solamente ai sacerdoti? 5 O non avete letto nella legge che di sabato i sacerdoti nel tempio violano il sabato e non ne sono colpevoli? 6 Ora io vi dico che c’è qui qualcosa di più grande del tempio[b]. 7 Se sapeste che cosa significa: “Voglio misericordia e non sacrificio”[c], non avreste condannato gli innocenti; 8 perché il Figlio dell’uomo è signore del sabato[d]».

Guarigione di un uomo dalla mano paralizzata; il giorno del sabato

9 (B)Poi, allontanatosi di là, giunse nella loro sinagoga. 10 Ed ecco, c’era un uomo che aveva una mano paralizzata[e]. Allora essi, per poterlo accusare, fecero a Gesù questa domanda: «È lecito fare guarigioni in giorno di sabato?» 11 Ed egli disse loro: «Chi è colui tra di voi che, avendo una pecora, se questa cade in giorno di sabato in una fossa, non la prenda e la tiri fuori? 12 Certo un uomo vale molto più di una pecora! È dunque lecito far del bene in giorno di sabato». 13 Allora disse a quell’uomo: «Stendi la mano». Ed egli la stese, e la mano ritornò sana come l’altra.

Numerose guarigioni

14 (C)I farisei, usciti, tennero consiglio contro di lui per farlo morire. 15 Ma Gesù, saputolo, si allontanò di là; molti lo seguirono[f] ed egli li guarì tutti; 16 e ordinò loro di non divulgarlo, 17 affinché si adempisse quanto era stato detto per bocca del profeta Isaia:

18 «Ecco il mio servitore che ho scelto; il mio diletto, in cui l’anima mia si è compiaciuta. Io metterò lo Spirito mio sopra di lui, ed egli annuncerà la giustizia alle genti.
19 Non contenderà, né griderà e nessuno udrà la sua voce nelle piazze.
20 Non frantumerà la canna rotta e non spegnerà il lucignolo fumante, finché non abbia fatto trionfare la giustizia.
21  E nel suo nome le genti spereranno»[g].

I farisei accusano Gesù

22 (D)Allora gli fu presentato un indemoniato, cieco e muto; ed egli lo guarì, in modo che il [cieco e] muto parlava e vedeva. 23 E tutta la folla stupiva e diceva: «Non è questi il Figlio di Davide?»

24 Ma i farisei, udendo ciò, dissero: «Costui non scaccia i demòni se non per l’aiuto di Belzebù[h], principe dei demòni». 25 Ma egli[i], conoscendo i loro pensieri, disse loro: «Ogni regno diviso contro se stesso va in rovina; e ogni città o casa divisa contro se stessa non potrà reggere. 26 Se Satana scaccia Satana, egli è diviso contro se stesso; come dunque potrà reggere il suo regno? 27 E se io scaccio i demòni con l’aiuto di Belzebù, con l’aiuto di chi li scacciano i vostri figli? Per questo essi stessi saranno i vostri giudici. 28 Ma se è con l’aiuto dello Spirito di Dio che io scaccio i demòni, è dunque giunto fino a voi il regno di Dio. 29 Oppure, come può uno entrare nella casa dell’uomo forte e rubargli la sua roba, se prima non lega l’uomo forte? Allora soltanto gli saccheggerà la casa. 30 Chi non è con me è contro di me; e chi non raccoglie con me, disperde.

Il peccato imperdonabile; la bestemmia contro lo Spirito Santo

31 (E)«Perciò io vi dico: ogni peccato e bestemmia sarà perdonata agli uomini; ma la bestemmia contro lo Spirito non sarà perdonata [agli uomini]. 32 A chiunque parli contro il Figlio dell’uomo, sarà perdonato; ma a chiunque parli contro lo Spirito Santo, non sarà perdonato né in questo mondo[j] né in quello futuro. 33 O fate l’albero buono e buono pure il suo frutto, o fate l’albero cattivo e cattivo pure il suo frutto; perché dal frutto si conosce l’albero. 34 Razza di vipere, come potete dire cose buone essendo malvagi? Poiché dall’abbondanza del cuore la bocca parla. 35 L’uomo buono dal suo buon tesoro[k] trae cose buone; e l’uomo malvagio dal suo malvagio tesoro trae cose malvagie. 36 Io vi dico che di ogni parola oziosa che avranno detta, gli uomini renderanno conto nel giorno del giudizio; 37 poiché in base alle tue parole sarai giustificato, e in base alle tue parole sarai condannato».

Il segno di Giona; la regina di Seba

38 (F)Allora alcuni scribi e farisei presero a dirgli[l]: «Maestro, noi vorremmo vedere da te un segno». 39 Ma egli rispose loro: «Una generazione malvagia e adultera chiede un segno; segno non le sarà dato, se non il segno del profeta Giona. 40 Poiché, come Giona stette nel ventre del pesce tre giorni e tre notti, così il Figlio dell’uomo starà nel cuore della terra tre giorni e tre notti. 41 I Niniviti compariranno nel giudizio con questa generazione e la condanneranno, perché essi si ravvidero alla predicazione di Giona; ed ecco, qui c’è più che Giona! 42 La regina del mezzogiorno comparirà nel giudizio con questa generazione e la condannerà; perché ella venne dalle estremità della terra per udire la sapienza di Salomone; ed ecco, qui c’è più che Salomone!

Il ritorno dello spirito immondo

43 (G)«Quando lo spirito immondo esce da un uomo, si aggira per luoghi aridi cercando riposo e non lo trova. 44 Allora dice: “Ritornerò nella mia casa da dove sono uscito”; e quando ci arriva, la trova vuota, spazzata e adorna. 45 Allora va e prende con sé altri sette spiriti peggiori di lui, ed entrati vi prendono dimora; e l’ultima condizione di quell’uomo diventa peggiore della prima. Così avverrà anche a questa malvagia generazione».

La madre e i fratelli di Gesù

46 (H)Mentre Gesù parlava ancora alle folle, ecco sua madre e i suoi fratelli che, stando di fuori, cercavano di parlargli. 47 {E uno gli disse: «Tua madre e i tuoi fratelli sono là fuori che cercano di parlarti».} 48 Ma egli rispose a colui che gli parlava: «Chi è mia madre, e chi sono i miei fratelli?» 49 E, stendendo la mano verso i suoi discepoli, disse: «Ecco mia madre e i miei fratelli! 50 Poiché chiunque avrà fatto la volontà del Padre mio, che è nei cieli, mi è fratello, sorella e madre».

Footnotes

  1. Matteo 12:4 TR e M mangiò.
  2. Matteo 12:6 Che c’è qui qualcosa di più grande, ovvero: …che c’è qui qualcuno più grande…
  3. Matteo 12:7 +Os 6:6.
  4. Matteo 12:8 TR anche del sabato.
  5. Matteo 12:10 Paralizzata, lett. secca.
  6. Matteo 12:15 TR e M una gran folla lo seguì.
  7. Matteo 12:21 +Is 42:1-4.
  8. Matteo 12:24 Belzebù ovvero Beelzebub o Beelzebul, lett. dio delle mosche, uno dei nomi del diavolo al tempo di Gesù.
  9. Matteo 12:25 TR e M Ma Gesù…
  10. Matteo 12:32 Mondo, altri traducono: era, età, secolo.
  11. Matteo 12:35 TR dal suo buon tesoro del cuore.
  12. Matteo 12:38 TR e M presero a dire.
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Matthew 12
New Catholic Bible

Jesus Is the True Servant of God[a]

Chapter 12

Picking Grain on the Sabbath.[b] 1 At that time, Jesus was walking through a field of grain on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look at your disciples. They are doing what is forbidden on the Sabbath.”[c]

3 [d]He answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God and they ate the consecrated bread, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests were permitted to eat. 5 [e]Or have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath, but they are considered to be without guilt? 6 I tell you, one greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had truly understood what is meant by the words, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned these men who are without guilt. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”[f]

The Man with a Withered Hand.[g] 9 Moving on from that place, Jesus entered their synagogue. 10 A man was there who had a withered hand, and hoping to find some reason to accuse Jesus they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

11 He said to them, “Suppose you had only one sheep and it fell into a pit on the Sabbath. Would you not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable a man is than a sheep! Therefore, 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, so that it was as sound as the other one. 14 But the Pharisees went out and began to plot how they might put him to death.[h]

15 The Servant of the Lord.[i] When Jesus became aware of this, he departed from that place. Many people followed him, and he healed all who were ill, 16 but he warned them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

18 “Behold, my servant, whom I have chosen,
    my beloved in whom I delight.
I will place my spirit upon him,
    and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not cry out or shout,
    nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break,
    nor will he snuff out a smoldering wick,
until he establishes justice as victorious;
21     and in his name the Gentiles will place their hope.”

22 Whoever Is Not with Me Is against Me.[j] Then they brought to him a man who was unable to either see or speak and who was possessed by a demon. He cured him, so that the man who was mute both spoke and saw. 23 All the people were astonished, and they said, “Is this not the Son of David?”[k] 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul,[l] the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”

25 He knew what they were thinking, and he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself cannot survive. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom survive? 27 If it is by Beelzebul that I cast out demons, by whom do your own children cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

29 “Or again, how can anyone break into a strong man’s house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then indeed he can ransack the house.

30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore, I tell you that every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven 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 age to come.[m]

33 A Tree and Its Fruits.[n]“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 known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can your speech be virtuous when you yourselves are evil? For the mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart. 35 A good man brings forth good things from the good stored up within him, but an evil man brings forth evil things from his store of evil. 36 I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to render an account for every careless word they utter. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

38 The Sign of Jonah.[o] Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we would like you to show us a sign.” 39 He replied, “An evil and adulterous[p] generation asks for a sign, but the only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.[q]

41 [r]“On the day of judgment the inhabitants of Nineveh will rise up with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. 42 On the day of judgment the queen of the south will rise up with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the farthest reaches of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now one greater than Solomon is here.

43 New Offensive from the Evil Spirit.[s]“When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions seeking a place to rest, but it finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the home from which I departed.’And when it returns, it finds that home empty, swept clean, and put in order. 45 Then it goes off and brings back with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they enter and settle there. As a result, the plight of that person is worse than before. So it will also be with this evil generation.”

46 The True Family of Jesus.[t] While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brethren[u] appeared. They were standing outside, wishing to speak with him. [ 47 Someone told him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers are standing outside. They want to speak with you.”][v] 48 But Jesus replied to that man, “Who is my mother? Who are my brethren?” 49 Then, pointing to his disciples, he said, “Behold, my mother and my brethren. 50 Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother and sister and mother.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 12:1 The Good News of the kingdom spreads from town to town; a new law of salvation is announced and runs up against the refusal of those in authority. The conflict between Jesus and Judaism now appears inevitable. The newness of the Gospel totally upsets recognized habits of thinking and ways of acting. The more Jesus bypasses the Law for the service and salvation of human beings, the more he enters into conflict with his religious environment. Those who are close to Jesus are those who believe in him.
  2. Matthew 12:1 Jesus reminds the Pharisees, who are attached to the letter of the Law, that a religion without love is worthless (Hos 6:6), and in order to make them face up to their blindness he cites an incident of the Old Testament (David and his companions: 1 Sam 21:2-7), a practical aspect of worship (the priests do not abstain from work in the temple on the Sabbath: Lev 24:8; Num 28:9), and a requirement of good sense (the sheep in the pit). Jesus utters his decision with authority: he claims to be Lord of the Sabbath, and he is more than the Sabbath, that is, the very place of God’s presence.
  3. Matthew 12:2 The Pharisees had set down 39 categories of actions forbidden on the Sabbath, based on interpretations of the Law and Jewish customs. One of these was harvesting. By picking wheat and rubbing it in their hands, the disciples were technically harvesting according to the religious leaders. But the disciples were picking grain because they were hungry, not because they wanted to harvest the grain for profit. Hence, they were not working on the Sabbath.
  4. Matthew 12:3 Each Sabbath 12 fresh loaves of bread (the bread of the Presence) were to be set on a table in the Holy Place (Ex 25:30; Lev 24:5-9). The old loaves were eaten by priests. The loaves given to David (1 Sam 21:1-6) were the old loaves that had just been replaced by fresh ones. Although the priests were the only ones allowed to eat this bread, David and his men were allowed to eat it because of their need for food, showing that laws should be enforced with discernment and compassion.
  5. Matthew 12:5 The Sabbath-work is related to worshiping God, changing the shewbread (Lev 24:8), and doubling the usual daily burnt offerings (Num 28:9f). Hence, the Law itself requires works that break the Sabbath rest (violate the Sabbath) because of the higher duty of God’s service. If temple duties outweigh the Law, how much more does the presence of Jesus with his proclamation of the kingdom (one greater than the temple) justify the conduct of his disciples. If people become more concerned with the means of worship than with the God they worship, they will miss God even while they think they are worshiping him.
  6. Matthew 12:8 Lord of the Sabbath: the ultimate justification for the disciples’ violation of the Sabbath rest is that Jesus is the Son of Man, the Messiah, who has supreme authority over the Law.
  7. Matthew 12:9 By healing the man with a withered hand, Jesus corroborates his teaching: it is licit to do good on the Sabbath; no law can oppose the doing of good. He thus rejects the false interpretation put forth by the Pharisees who are attached to the letter of the Law to the detriment of the glory of God and the good of human beings. The very persons who are scandalized by Christ’s miracle are in no way held back from plotting his death even though it is the Sabbath.
  8. Matthew 12:14 Pharisees . . . began to plot how they might put him to death: even though Matthew does not mention them here, the Herodians were also involved in the plot (see Mk 3:6).
  9. Matthew 12:15 Evidently, at least for a while, Jesus gave up preaching in the synagogues (he departed). The prohibition against making known his miracles was in this case probably due to the wish to avoid conflict with the Pharisees. If we want to understand Jesus’ purpose and way of life, we will find the appropriate images in the Servant Songs of Isaiah; here the second of these (Isa 42:1-4) is cited. Jesus recalled these passages, which are the most profound in the Old Testament, when he thought about and spoke of his mission.
  10. Matthew 12:22 On certain days, Jesus confronts physically, so to speak, the forces of evil that keep human beings enslaved, as in the case of a possessed man rendered deaf and mute. By healing him Jesus shows that he frees people from every type of alienation and possession; he sets back the incursion of evil. How could the Pharisees suspect that Jesus belongs to this world of darkness? Moreover, they admit that their own “children,” i.e., disciples, also fight to free human beings from the powers of evil! When Jesus acts, the Spirit is at work, the kingdom of God is at hand, and everyone must take part in it. The blasphemy against the Spirit consists in ascribing to the devil the work of the Holy Spirit and is the result of becoming hardened in an attitude of refusal, which may one day be irremediable. This warning is given to the Pharisees and, through them, to every reader.
  11. Matthew 12:23 Son of David: see note on Mt 9:27.
  12. Matthew 12:24 Beelzebul: see note on Mt 10:25.
  13. Matthew 12:32 God desires the salvation of all human beings (1 Tim 2:4) and calls everyone to repentance (2 Pet 3:9). Christ’s Redemption is super-abundant satisfaction for all sin and reaches every person (Rom 5:12-21). Christ gave his Church the power to forgive sins through the Sacraments of Baptism and Penance. This power is unlimited; she can forgive every sin of the baptized as often as they confess with the necessary dispositions.
  14. Matthew 12:33 Jesus denounces hypocrites whose words are vanity and calumny. Every spoken word reflects the heart’s overflow and is known to God. Hence words are critically important (see Eph 5:3f, 12; Col 3:17; Jas 1:19; 3:1-12).
  15. Matthew 12:38 An opinion current among circles of apocalyptic thought at the time looked for the Messiah to perform a unique sign. Jesus offers only the sign of his Death and Resurrection typified by the story of Jonah in the belly of the whale (Jon 2:1).
  16. Matthew 12:39 Adulterous: i.e., in the spiritual sense of being unfaithful to the generation’s spiritual husband (God).
  17. Matthew 12:40 Three days and three nights: this manner of speaking denotes a common Jewish way of reckoning time and includes at least part of the first and part of the third day. Any part of the whole was counted as if it were the whole. Thus, even the time from Jesus’ Death till sunset on Good Friday is counted as a day. (The Old Testament depicted the Messiah as one who would suffer [Ps 22; Isa 53] and rise from the dead on the third day [Ps 16:9-11; Isa 53:10f].)
  18. Matthew 12:41 The people of Nineveh who repented (see Jon 3:1-10) and the queen of the south (i.e., of Sheba—see 1 Ki 10:1-3—a country in south-west Arabia now called Yemen) were pagans who responded to lesser opportunities than the one that had been presented to Israel in the person of Jesus, one greater than Jonah or Solomon.
  19. Matthew 12:43 A person’s religious history is a repeated exchange of good and evil. The option for evil can reach the point of taking full possession of the person. The same is true for the religious leaders of Israel. Just cleaning up one’s life without filling it with God leaves plenty of room for Satan to return.
  20. Matthew 12:46 Belonging to Jesus has nothing to do with the bonds of blood relations. The Church is never based on attachments of race, class, or culture. She is the family of God. Only one who does the will of Jesus’ heavenly Father belongs to his true family.
  21. Matthew 12:46 His mother and his brethren: “brethren” here is used in the sense of “cousins” or “relatives.” If they were true brothers of Jesus, sons of Mary, the Gospel would say: “his mother and the sons of his mother,” which was the normal manner of speaking in Israel of that time. The Church has never wavered in her teaching that Mary was a Virgin and that Jesus was her only son, just as he is the only Son of the Father (Lk 1:26).
    In the ancient tongues of Hebrew, Arabic, and Aramaic, there were no concrete words to indicate the different types of relatives that exist in modern languages. In general, all who belonged to the same family clan, including tribes, were called “brethren” or “sisters.” (See, for example, Jn 19:25, which mentions a certain Mary, sister of Mary the Mother of Jesus. If they were really sisters, they would not bear the same name. Also note that in Mt 27:56, the second Mary is called “the mother of James and Joses” [i.e., Joseph], two personages who are called “brethren” of the Lord in Mt 13:55.)
    In addition, in the first Christian community when the Gospels were written, there existed a very influential group composed of Jesus’ relatives and his countrymen of Nazareth, called the “brethren of the Lord.” The leader seemed to be James, who became bishop of the Judean community. This group was late in believing in Jesus even though they had lived with him for several years (Mk 3:21; Jn 7:3-5). When speaking of them, the evangelists use the name the community gave them: “brethren of the Lord” or “N. brother of Jesus.”
  22. Matthew 12:47 This verse is omitted in some mss.
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Matthew 12
New International Version

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. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”(D)

3 He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?(E) 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.(F) 5 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? 6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.(H) 7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’[a](I) you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man(J) 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,(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
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