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Matthew 12
New American Standard Bible
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
- Matthew 12:1 Or On that occasion
- Matthew 12:4 Lit loaves of presentation
- Matthew 12:5 Or profane
- Matthew 12:7 Lit is
- Matthew 12:7 Or mercy
- Matthew 12:7 Lit and not
- Matthew 12:7 Plural in the Gr
- Matthew 12:10 Lit Him
- Matthew 12:11 Lit will be from you
- Matthew 12:11 Lit will have
- Matthew 12:12 Lit well
- Matthew 12:13 Lit health
- Matthew 12:14 Lit took counsel
- Matthew 12:15 Lit knowing
- Matthew 12:16 Lit make Him known
- Matthew 12:18 Lit Child
- Matthew 12:18 Lit chose
- Matthew 12:18 Or took pleasure
- Matthew 12:18 Or judgment
- Matthew 12:18 Or nations
- Matthew 12:20 Or brings forth
- Matthew 12:20 Or judgment
- Matthew 12:21 Or nations
- Matthew 12:22 Lit Him
- Matthew 12:22 Lit saw
- Matthew 12:24 Or Beezebul; meaning uncertain, perhaps lord prince, referring to Satan
- Matthew 12:26 Lit was
- Matthew 12:27 See note v 24
- Matthew 12:33 Lit make
- Matthew 12:33 Lit make
- Matthew 12:34 Or brood
- Matthew 12:36 Or useless
- Matthew 12:36 Lit will speak
- Matthew 12:37 Or in accordance with
- Matthew 12:37 Or in accordance with
- Matthew 12:38 I.e., confirming miracle
- Matthew 12:39 I.e., confirming miracle
- Matthew 12:39 I.e., confirming miracle
- Matthew 12:39 I.e., confirming miracle
- Matthew 12:47 This verse is not found in early mss
- Matthew 12:48 Lit He
Matthew 12
New International Version
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
- Matthew 12:7 Hosea 6:6
- Matthew 12:21 Isaiah 42:1-4
馬太福音 12
Chinese Standard Bible (Traditional)
馬太福音 12
Chinese Standard Bible (Traditional)
安息日的主
12 在安息日那天，耶穌從麥田經過。他的門徒們餓了，就開始摘麥穗吃。 2 有些法利賽人看見了，就對耶穌說：「你看，你的門徒們做了在安息日不可以做的事。」
3 耶穌對他們說：「大衛和那些與他在一起的人飢餓時所做的事，你們難道沒有讀過嗎？ 4 他不是進了神的殿[a]，和他們吃了[b]陳設餅嗎？這餅是他和那些與他在一起的人不可以吃的，唯有祭司才可以吃。 5 再者，你們難道沒有在律法書上讀過：當安息日，祭司們在聖殿裡觸犯了安息日，也是無罪的嗎？ 6 但是我告訴你們：比聖殿更大的就在這裡！ 7 你們如果明白『我要的是憐憫，而不是祭祀』[c]這話是什麼意思，就不會把無罪的定為有罪了。 8 因為人子是安息日的主。」
治癒手萎縮的人
9 耶穌離開那地方，進了他們的會堂。 10 看哪，有個一隻手枯萎的人。有些人就問耶穌，說：「在安息日使人痊癒，是否可以呢？」這是為要控告耶穌。
11 耶穌對他們說：「你們當中有哪一個人，如果他有一隻羊在安息日掉進坑裡，他不會抓住羊，把牠拉上來呢？ 12 人比羊重要多了！所以，在安息日做好事是可以的。」
13 於是耶穌對那個人說：「伸出你的手！」他一伸出來，手就復原了，和另一隻一樣健全。 14 那些法利賽人就出去，商議怎樣對付耶穌，好除滅他。
神的僕人
15 耶穌知道了，就離開那裡。有一大群人跟隨他，耶穌使他們都痊癒了， 16 並且告誡他們不要把他傳揚出去。 17 這是為要應驗那藉著先知以賽亞所說的話：
18 「看哪，我所揀選的僕人，
我所愛的，心所喜悅的。
我要把我的靈賜給他，
他要向外邦人宣揚審判的事。
19 他不爭競、不喧嚷，
大街[d]上也沒有人聽見他的聲音。
20 壓傷的蘆葦，他不折斷；
將熄的燈火，他不吹滅，
直到他使公義得勝，
21 外邦人將要仰望他的名。」[e]
自相紛爭
22 那時，一個有鬼魔附身、又瞎又啞的人被帶到耶穌那裡。耶穌使他痊癒，那啞巴就能說話，也能看見了。 23 眾人都十分驚訝，說：「難道這個人就是『大衛的後裔』？」
24 但法利賽人聽見了卻說：「這個人如果不是靠著鬼魔的王別西卜，就不能驅趕鬼魔！」
25 耶穌知道他們的想法，就對他們說：「任何一個國家，如果自相紛爭就成為荒蕪；任何一個城或家庭，如果自相紛爭就站立不住。 26 如果撒旦驅趕撒旦，就是自相紛爭，它的國怎麼能站立得住呢？ 27 如果我是靠別西卜驅趕鬼魔，那麼，你們的子弟是靠誰驅趕鬼魔呢？為此，你們的子弟就將要成為你們的審判者了。 28 然而，如果我藉著神的靈驅趕鬼魔，那麼，神的國就已經臨到你們了。 29 人怎麼能進入一個壯士的家搶奪他的東西呢？如果不先把那壯士捆住，就不能搶奪他的家。 30 不與我在一起的，就是在反對我；不與我一起收集的，就是在拆散。 31 為此，我告訴你們：人一切的罪和褻瀆的話都能被赦免，但褻瀆聖靈卻不能被赦免。 32 凡是說話抵擋人子的，還能被赦免；但如果有人說話抵擋聖靈，無論在這世代，或在將要來的世代，都不能被赦免。
樹與果
33 「你們讓一棵樹好，它的果子就好；你們讓一棵樹壞，它的果子就壞；這樣，一棵樹是憑著果子被認出來。 34 你們這些毒蛇的子孫！你們做為惡人，怎麼能說出善的來呢？因為心裡所充滿的，口裡就說出來。 35 好人從他心裡[f]所存的善，發出善來；壞人從他心裡所存的惡，發出惡來。 36 我告訴你們：人所說的每一句無益的話，在那審判的日子，句句都要做出交代， 37 因為憑你的話，你將被稱為義；也憑你的話，你將被定有罪。」
約拿的神蹟
38 當時，有一些經文士和法利賽人對耶穌說：「老師，我們希望你顯個神蹟給我們看。」
39 耶穌回答他們，說：「一個邪惡、淫亂的世代會尋求神蹟；可是除了先知約拿的神蹟以外，不會有神蹟賜給它了。 40 就是說，正如約拿在大魚的肚子裡三天三夜，人子也照樣將要在地心三天三夜。 41 在審判的時候，尼尼微人將要與這世代一起復活[g]，並且要定這世代的罪，因為尼尼微人因著約拿的傳道就悔改了。看，比約拿更大的就在這裡！ 42 在審判的時候，南方的女王[h]將要與這世代一起復活[i]，並且要定這世代的罪，因為她從極遠的地方來，要聽所羅門智慧的話語。看，比所羅門更大的就在這裡！
汙靈返回
43 「有個汙靈從一個人身上出來以後，走遍無水之地，尋找安歇的地方，卻找不到， 44 就說：『我要回到我離開的那屋裡去。』於是它回去，發現那裡空著，已被打掃乾淨，擺設整齊， 45 就去帶了另外七個比自己更邪惡的靈，進去住在那裡。那個人最後的情況就比先前更壞了。這邪惡的世代也將是這樣。」
真正的親屬
46 耶穌正在向人群講話，這時候他的母親和弟弟們[j]站在外面，想要和他說話。 47 有人告訴他：「看，你母親和弟弟們站在外面，想和你說話。」[k]
48 耶穌回答那對他說話的人，說：「我的母親是誰呢？我的弟兄是誰呢？」 49 他就伸手指著他的門徒們，說：「看，我的母親、我的弟兄！ 50 因為凡是遵行我天父旨意的人，他才是我的弟兄、姐妹和母親。」
Footnotes
- 馬太福音 12:4 殿——原文直譯「家」。
- 馬太福音 12:4 和他們吃了——有古抄本作「吃了」。
- 馬太福音 12:7 《何西阿書》6:6。
- 馬太福音 12:19 大街——或譯作「廣場」。
- 馬太福音 12:21 《以賽亞書》42:1-4。
- 馬太福音 12:35 有古抄本沒有「他心裡」。
- 馬太福音 12:41 復活——或譯作「起來」。
- 馬太福音 12:42 南方的女王——指「示巴女王」。
- 馬太福音 12:42 復活——或譯作「起來」。
- 馬太福音 12:46 弟弟——原文直譯「兄弟」。
- 馬太福音 12:47 有古抄本沒有此節。
Matthew 12
New Century Version
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.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Chinese Standard Bible (Traditional) (CSBT)
Copyright © 2011 by Global Bible Initiative
New Century Version (NCV) 
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.