Matthew 12
12
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath Day
1One Sabbath day Jesus walked through the grainfields. His disciples were hungry. So they began to break off some heads of grain and eat them. 2The Pharisees saw this. They said to Jesus, “Look! It is against the Law to do this on the Sabbath day. But your disciples are doing it anyway!”
3Jesus answered, “Haven’t you read about what David did? He and his men were hungry. 4So he entered the house of God. He and his men ate the holy bread. Only priests were allowed to eat it. 5Haven’t you read the Law? It tells how every Sabbath day the priests in the temple have to do their work on that day. But they are not considered guilty. 6I tell you that something more important than the temple is here. 7Scripture says, ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ (Hosea 6:6) You don’t know what those words mean. If you did, you would not bring charges against those who are not guilty. 8The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath day.”
9Going on from that place, Jesus went into their synagogue. 10A man with a weak and twisted hand was there. The Pharisees were trying to accuse Jesus of a crime. So they asked him, “Does the Law allow us to heal on the Sabbath day?”
11He said to them, “What if one of your sheep falls into a pit on the Sabbath day? Won’t you take hold of it and lift it out? 12A person is worth more than sheep! So the Law allows us to do good on the Sabbath day.”
13Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out. It had been made as good as new. It was just as good as the other hand. 14But the Pharisees went out and planned how to kill Jesus.
God’s Chosen Servant
15Jesus knew all about the Pharisees’ plans. So he left that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were sick. 16But he warned them not to tell other people about him. 17This was to make what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah come true. It says,
18“Here is my servant. I have chosen him.
He is the one I love. I am very pleased with him.
I will put my Spirit on him.
He will announce to the nations that everything will be made right.
19He will not argue or cry out.
No one will hear his voice in the streets.
20He will not break a bent twig.
He will not put out a dimly burning flame.
He will make right win over wrong.
21The nations will put their hope in him.” (Isaiah 42:1–4)
Jesus and Beelzebul
22A man controlled by demons was brought to Jesus. The man was blind and could not speak. Jesus healed him. Then the man could speak and see. 23All the people were amazed. They said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24The Pharisees heard this. So they said, “This fellow drives out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons.”
25Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, “Every kingdom that fights against itself will be destroyed. Every city or family that is divided against itself will not stand. 26If Satan drives out Satan, he fights against himself. Then how can his kingdom stand? 27You say I drive out demons by the power of Beelzebul. Then by whose power do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28But suppose I drive out demons by the Spirit of God. Then the kingdom of God has come to you.
29“Or think about this. How can you enter a strong man’s house and just take what the man owns? You must first tie him up. Then you can rob his house.
30“Anyone who is not with me is against me. Anyone who does not gather sheep with me scatters them. 31So here is what I tell you. Every kind of sin and every evil word spoken against God will be forgiven. But speaking evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. A person like that won’t be forgiven either now or in days to come.
33“If you make a tree good, its fruit will be good. If you make a tree bad, its fruit will be bad. You can tell a tree by its fruit. 34You nest of poisonous snakes! How can you who are evil say anything good? Your mouths say everything that is in your hearts. 35A good man says good things. These come from the good that is stored up inside him. An evil man says evil things. These come from the evil that is stored up inside him. 36But here is what I tell you. On judgment day, everyone will have to account for every empty word they have spoken. 37By your words you will be found guilty or not guilty.”
The Sign of Jonah
38Some of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law came to Jesus. They said, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
39He answered, “Evil and unfaithful people ask for a sign! But none will be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40Jonah was in the belly of a huge fish for three days and three nights. Something like that will happen to the Son of Man. He will spend three days and three nights in the grave. 41The men of Nineveh will stand up on judgment day with the people now living. And the Ninevites will prove that these people are guilty. The men of Nineveh turned away from their sins when Jonah preached to them. And now something more important than Jonah is here. 42The Queen of the South will stand up on judgment day with the people now living. And she will prove that they are guilty. She came from very far away to listen to Solomon’s wisdom. And now something more important than Solomon is here.
43“What happens when an evil spirit comes out of a person? It goes through dry areas looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find it. 44Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives there, it finds the house empty. The house has been swept clean and put in order. 45Then the evil spirit goes and takes with it seven other spirits more evil than itself. They go in and live there. That person is worse off than before. That is how it will be with the evil people of today.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
46While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside. They wanted to speak to him. 47Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside. They want to speak to you.”
48Jesus replied to him, “Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?” 49Jesus pointed to his disciples. He said, “Here is my mother! Here are my brothers! 50Anyone who does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother or sister or mother.”
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Matthew 12: NIrV
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Matthew 12
12
Jesus, Lord over the Sabbath
1One Saturday, on the day of rest, # 12:1 The Hebrew word for Sabbath comes from shavat, which is the verb “to rest.” What was designed to be a day of rest and intimacy with God and family was now complicated by a host of rules and traditions. Jesus and his disciples were walking through a field of wheat. The disciples were hungry, so they plucked off some heads of grain and rubbed them in their hands # 12:1 As found in Hebrew Matthew. to eat. 2But when some of the Pharisees saw what was happening, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples shouldn’t be harvesting grain # 12:2 Or “doing what is unlawful.” on the Sabbath!”
3Jesus responded, “Haven’t you ever read what King David and his men did when they were hungry? 4They entered the house of God # 12:4 That is, the tabernacle. See 1 Sam. 21:1–6. Ancient Jewish tradition states that David did this on a Sabbath day. See also Lev. 24:5–9. and ate the sacred bread of God’s presence, # 12:4 Or “loaves of presentation.” See Ezek. 44:15–16. violating the law by eating bread that only the priests were allowed to eat.
5“And haven’t you read in the Torah that the priests violated the rules of the Sabbath by carrying out their duties in the temple on a Saturday, and yet they are without blame? 6But I say to you, there is one here who is even greater than the temple. # 12:6 We must always remember that Jesus is greater than the Sabbath and greater than the Temple. We have him in our hearts, and the Sabbath can never take his place. Since the Holy of Holies is now living within us, there is no need for another temple. 7If only you could learn the meaning of the words ‘I want compassion more than a sacrifice,’ # 12:7 See Hos. 6:6. Mercy is greater than ritual. you wouldn’t be condemning my innocent disciples. 8For the Son of Man exercises his lordship over the Sabbath.” # 12:8 Jesus made three startling statements that stunned those who heard him. First he said that he was greater than the temple (v. 6), then that God didn’t want sacrifices but mercy (v. 7), and finally that he, the Messiah, was the Lord of the Sabbath. Don’t be surprised when Jesus shocks you with truth that is outside your understanding.
9Then Jesus left them and went into the synagogue where 10he encountered a man who had an atrophied, paralyzed hand. # 12:10 There is a reading given by Jerome which inserts here these words, possibly from an older manuscript of Hebrew Matthew: “I was a stonemason working with my hands. Jesus, I beg you to heal me so that I don’t have to shamefully beg for food.” See Jerome, Commentary in Matthew xii:13 (de Santos 23). The fault-finding Pharisees asked Jesus, “Is it permissible to perform a work of healing on the Sabbath?” They only asked him this question because they hoped to accuse him of breaking the Jewish laws. # 12:10 The Aramaic is “They were like pests who wanted to devour him.”
11He answered them, “If any of you had a lamb that fell into a ditch on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you reach out your hand and lift it out? 12Isn’t a man much more valuable than a lamb? So of course, it’s always proper to do miracles, # 12:12 As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “to do (morally) good.” even on the Sabbath.”
13Then he turned to the man and said, “Hold out your hand!” And as he stretched it out, it was restored, exactly like the other. # 12:13 This is the first of seven miracles Jesus performed on the Sabbath. See Mark 1:21–6, 29–31; Luke 13:10–13; 14:1–4; John 5:1–9; 9:13–16.
14Immediately the Pharisees went out and started to scheme about how they would destroy him. 15Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he left by another way. Massive crowds followed him from there, and he healed all who were sick. 16However, he sternly warned them not to tell others or disclose his real identity, 17in order to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah: # 12:17 See Isa. 42:1–4.
18Take a careful look at my servant, # 12:18 Or “Here is my son.” my chosen one.
I love him dearly
and I find all my delight in him. # 12:18 The Aramaic is literally “He has sun-shined my being.”
I will breathe my Spirit upon him
and he will decree justice # 12:18 Or “judgment.” to the nations.
19He will not quarrel or raise his voice in public.
20He won’t brush aside the bruised and broken.
He will be gentle with the weak and feeble, # 12:20 Or “A bruised reed he will not break and a smoldering wick he will not extinguish.” The Hebrew Matthew adds a phrase here that corresponds to Isa. 42: “He will not fail or be discouraged.”
until his victory releases justice.
21And the fame of his name
will birth hope among the people. # 12:21 Hebrew Matthew is “The islands will wait for his teachings.”
Jesus Frees a Demonized Man
22Then a man was brought before Jesus who had a demon spirit that made him both blind and mute. Jesus healed him instantly, and he could see and talk again! 23The crowds went wild with amazement as they witnessed this miracle. And they kept saying to one another, “Could this man be the Messiah?” # 12:23 Or “Could he be the Son of David,” a title used for the Messiah.
24But when the Pharisees overheard what the people were saying, they said, “He casts out demons by the power of Satan, # 12:24 Or “Beelzebub” (Baal-zebub), a title used for Satan. See footnote on Matt. 10:25. the prince of demons!”
25Jesus supernaturally perceived their thoughts and motives, so he told them this parable:
“Any kingdom that fights against itself is reduced to ruins. And any family or community splintered by strife will fall apart. 26So if Satan casts out Satan, he is making war on himself. How then could his kingdom stand? 27So if Satan empowers me to cast out demons, who empowers your exorcists # 12:27 Or “your sons,” and by implication, “your followers” (who are exorcists). to cast them out? Go ask them, let them be your judges. # 12:27 In other words, to condemn Jesus as working by Satan’s power would be to condemn their own exorcists. 28But, if I drive out demons by the power of the Spirit of God, then the end of Satan’s kingdom has come! # 12:28 As translated from Hebrew Matthew and implied in the Greek. The Greek text, somewhat ambiguously, reads, “then the kingdom of God has approached.” The Hebrew Matthew cohesively fits Jesus’ parable in making the conclusion that the end of Satan’s kingdom has arrived for he has bound the mighty one (Satan) and ransacked his house (kingdom). Regardless, one indeed implies the other. 29Who would dare enter the house of a mighty man and steal his property? First he must be overpowered and tied up by one who is stronger than he. Then his entire house can be plundered.
30“So join with me, # 12:30 Jesus is saying, “This is a war with no neutrality. Join my side or you will miss the spoils of victory and be forever scattered.” for if you’re not on my side you are against me. And if you refuse to help me gather the spoils, you are making things worse. # 12:30 The Hebrew Matthew is “He who does not join me denies me.” 31This is why I warn you. God will forgive people for every sin and blasphemy except one. There is no forgiveness for the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. 32If anyone speaks evil of me, the Son of Man, he can be forgiven; but if anyone speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will never be forgiven, now or ever!”
Only Good Trees Bear Good Fruit
33“You must determine if a tree is good or rotten. You can recognize good trees by their delicious fruit. But if you find rotten fruit, you can be certain that the tree is rotten. The fruit defines the tree. 34But you who are known as the Pharisees are rotten to the core like venomous snakes. # 12:34 Or “You are the sons of snakes”; that is, their inner identity was like a striking, venomous viper. How can your words be good if you are rotten within? For what has been stored up in your hearts will be heard in the overflow of your words! # 12:34 The Hebrew Matthew reads, “Truly the heart awakens and the mouth speaks.”
35“When virtue is stored within, the hearts of good, upright people will produce good fruit. But when evil is hidden within, those who are evil will produce evil fruit. 36You can be sure of this: when the day of judgment comes, everyone will be held accountable for every careless word # 12:36 Or “worthless word.” The Aramaic is “every untrue word.” he has spoken. # 12:36 The agrapha includes a sentence here, also quoted by Justin Martyr: “In the words I find you saying, in those I will judge you.” See Justin Martyr, Dialogue 47:5. 37Your very words will be used as evidence, and your words will declare you either innocent or guilty.”
The Sign of Jonah
38Then a few Jewish scholars and Pharisees spoke up and said, “Teacher, why don’t you perform a miraculous sign for us.”
39Jesus replied, “Only evil people who are unfaithful to God would demand a sign. # 12:39 After experiencing the many miracles of Jesus’ love and power, and hearing his words of grace, for them to demand a further sign is what distinguished that generation as “evil.” There will be no sign given to you except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge sea creature for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41The people of Nineveh will also rise up on the day of judgment to condemn this generation. # 12:41 The Aramaic is “tribe.” The Ninevites (modern-day Mosul, Iraq) were pagans, yet through the preaching of one prophet they converted. The people of Israel had many prophets throughout their history, and the greatest Prophet of all was now preaching to them, yet they refused to listen. For they all repented when they heard the preaching of Jonah. And there is one greater than Jonah here preaching to you today! 42Even the Queen of Sheba # 12:42 Literally “the queen of the south.” See 1 Kings 10:1–13. Sheba is modern-day Yemen. will rise up on the day of judgment to condemn this generation for its unbelief! She journeyed from a far and distant land just to hear the wisdom of King Solomon. Yet now there is one greater than Solomon speaking to you today.”
Demons
43“When a demon is cast out of a person, it roams around a dry region, looking for a place to rest, but never finds it. 44Then it says, ‘I’ll return to the house I moved out of,’ and so it goes back, only to find that the house is vacant, warm, and ready for it to move back in. # 12:44 As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “swept clean and put in order.” 45So it goes looking for seven other demons more evil than itself, and they all enter together to live there. Then the person’s condition becomes much worse than it was in the beginning. This describes what will also happen to the people of this evil generation.”
Jesus’ True Family
46While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside, asking for him to come out and speak with them. 47Then someone said, “Look, your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to have a word with you.” 48But Jesus just looked at him and said, “Let me introduce you to my true mother and brothers.” 49Then gesturing to the disciples gathered around him, he said, “Look closely, for this is my true family. 50When you obey my heavenly Father, that makes you a part of my true family.” # 12:50 Our true identity is dependent upon our obedience to our Father in heaven.
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