Matthew 12
Revised Geneva Translation
12 At that time, Jesus went through the corn on a Sabbath day. And His disciples were hungry and began to pluck the ears of corn and eat.
2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Behold, Your disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath!”
3 But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry?
4 “How he went into the house of God, and ate the showbread (which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests)?
5 “Or have you not read in the Law how that, on the Sabbath days, the priests in the Temple break the Sabbath and are blameless?
6 “But I say to you that here is One greater than the Temple.
7 “Therefore, if you knew what this meant, ‘I will have mercy and not sacrifice’, you would not have condemned the innocents.
8 “For the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.”
9 And he departed from there and went into their synagogue.
10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal upon a Sabbath day?” (so that they might accuse Him)
11 And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, does not take it and lift it out?
12 “How much better, then, is a man than a sheep? Therefore, it is lawful to do well on a Sabbath day.”
13 “Then He said to the man, “Stretch forth your hand.” And he stretched it forth. And it was made whole as the other.
14 Then the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, how they might destroy Him.
15 But Jesus, knowing of it, departed from there. And great multitudes followed Him. And He healed them all,
16 and warned them that they should not make Him known.
17 So that which was spoken by Isaiah the Prophet might be fulfilled, which says,
18 “Behold My Servant, Whom I have chosen; My Beloved in Whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him. And He shall show judgment to the Gentiles.
19 “He shall not strive, nor cry, nor shall anyone hear His voice in the streets.
20 “A bruised reed shall He not break. And a smoldering wick shall He not quench, till He brings forth judgment unto victory.
21 “And in His Name shall the Gentiles trust.”
22 Then one possessed with a demon was brought to Him, who was both blind and mute. And He healed him, so that he who was blind and mute both spoke 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, “This Man does not cast out demons but by Beelzebub the Prince of Demons.
25 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 casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then shall his kingdom endure?
27 “Also, if I cast out demons through Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? They shall therefore be your judges.
28 “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come to you.
29 “Or else how can anyone enter into a strong man’s house and spoil his goods, unless he first binds the strong man, and then spoil his house?
30 “The one who is not with Me, is against Me. And the one who does not gather with Me, scatters.
31 “Therefore I say to you, “Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven man. But the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven man.
32 And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him. But whoever 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 its fruit good, or else make the tree evil, and its fruit evil. For the tree is known by the fruit.
34 “O generations of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
35 “A good man brings forth good things out of the good treasure of his heart. And an evil man, out of an evil treasure, brings forth evil things.
36 “But I say to you, that of every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof on the Day of Judgment.
37 “For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.”
38 Then answered some of the scribes and Pharisees, saying, “Master, we wish to see a sign from You.”
39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. But no sign shall be given to it, except the sign of the Prophet Jonah.
40 “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, 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 condemn it. For they repented at the preaching of Jonah. And behold, a Greater than Jonah is here.
42 “The Queen of the South shall rise in judgment with this generation and shall condemn it. For she came from the utmost parts of the Earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And behold, a Greater than Solomon is here.
43 “Now when the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, it walks throughout dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
44 “Then it says, ‘I will return to my house, from where I came.’ And when he has come, he finds it empty, swept and garnished.
45 “Then it goes, and takes with it seven other spirits, worse than itself. And they enter in, and dwell there. And the end of that man is worse than the beginning. Even so shall it be with this wicked generation.”
46 While he was still speaking to the multitude, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, desiring to speak with him.
47 Then one said to him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to speak with you.”
48 But He answered and said to him who told Him, “Who is My mother. And who are My brothers?”
49 And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples and said, “Behold My mother and My brothers.
50 “For whoever shall do My Father’s will (Who is in Heaven), the same is My brother and sister and mother.”
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
Matthew 12
King James Version
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.
2 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.
3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
4 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?
5 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?
6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
9 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.
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