Matthew 12:6-37

English Standard Version

⁶I tell you, ^(A)something greater than the temple is here. ⁷And if you had known ^(B)what this means, ^(C)‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. ⁸For ^(D)the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

A Man with a Withered Hand

⁹He went on from there and ^(E)entered their synagogue. ¹⁰And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, ^(F)“Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—^(G)so that they might accuse him. ¹¹He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, ^(H)if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? ¹²^(I)Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So ^(J)it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” ¹³Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And ^(K)the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. ¹⁴But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

God's Chosen Servant

¹⁵Jesus, aware of this, ^(L)withdrew from there. And ^(M)many followed him, and he healed them all ¹⁶and ^(N)ordered them not to make him known. ¹⁷^(O)This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁸^(P)“Behold, my ^(Q)servant whom I have chosen,
    my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
^(R)I will put my Spirit upon him,
    and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
¹⁹He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
    nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
²⁰a bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
²¹    ^(S)and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

²²^(T)Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. ²³^(U)And all the people were amazed, and said, ^(V)“Can this be the Son of David?” ²⁴But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, ^(W)“It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” ²⁵^(X)Knowing their thoughts, ^(Y)he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. ²⁶And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? ²⁷And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, ^(Z)by whom do ^(AA)your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁸But if it is ^(AB)by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then ^(AC)the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹Or ^(AD)how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed ^(AE)he may plunder his house. ³⁰^(AF)Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. ³¹^(AG)Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but ^(AH)the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³²And whoever speaks a word ^(AI)against the Son of Man ^(AJ)will be forgiven, but ^(AK)whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in ^(AL)this age or in the age to come.

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

³³^(AM)“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, ^(AN)for the tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴^(AO)You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, ^(AP)when you are evil? ^(AQ)For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵^(AR)The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. ³⁶I tell you, ^(AS)on the day of judgment ^(AT)people will give account for ^(AU)every careless word they speak, ³⁷for ^(AV)by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”