Matthew 12
12
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
1At that time #Mark 2:23; Luke 6:1–5Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to #Deut. 23:25pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”
3But He said to them, “Have you not read #Ex. 31:15; 35:2; 1 Sam. 21:6what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4how he entered the house of God and ate #Ex. 25:30; Lev. 24:5the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, #Ex. 29:32; Lev. 8:31; 24:9but only for the priests? 5Or have you not read in the #Num. 28:9; (John 7:22)law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6Yet I say to you that in this place there is #(2 Chr. 6:18; Is. 66:1, 2; Mal. 3:1); Matt. 12:41, 42One greater than the temple. 7But if you had known what this means, #(1 Sam. 15:22; Hos. 6:6; Mic. 6:6–8); Matt. 9:13‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Healing on the Sabbath
9#Mark 3:1–6; Luke 6:6–11Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 10And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, #Luke 13:14; 14:3; John 9:16“Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.
11Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. 14Then #Ps. 2:2; Matt. 27:1; Mark 3:6; (Luke 6:11); John 5:18; 10:39; 11:53the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.
Behold, My Servant
15But when Jesus knew it, #Matt. 10:23; Mark 3:7He withdrew from there. #Matt. 19:2And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. 16Yet He #Matt. 8:4; 9:30; 17:9warned them not to make Him known, 17that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
18“Behold! #Is. 42:1–4; 49:3My Servant whom I have chosen,
My Beloved #Matt. 3:17; 17:5in whom My soul is well pleased!
I will put My Spirit upon Him,
And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.
19He will not quarrel nor cry out,
Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
20A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench,
Till He sends forth justice to victory;
21And in His name Gentiles will trust.”
A House Divided Cannot Stand
22#Matt. 9:32; (Mark 3:11); Luke 11:14, 15Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 23And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the #Matt. 9:27; 21:9Son of David?”
24#Matt. 9:34; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”
25But Jesus #Matt. 9:4; John 2:25; Rev. 2:23knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, #(Dan. 2:44; 7:14; Luke 1:33); 11:20; (17:20, 21; 1 John 3:8)surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29#Is. 49:24; (Luke 11:21–23)Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
The Unpardonable Sin
31“Therefore I say to you, #Mark 3:28–30; Luke 12:10; (Heb. 6:4–6; 10:26, 29; 1 John 5:16)every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, #Acts 7:51but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32Anyone who #Matt. 11:19; 13:55; John 7:12, 52speaks a word against the Son of Man, #1 Tim. 1:13it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
A Tree Known by Its Fruit
33“Either make the tree good and #Matt. 7:16–18; Luke 6:43, 44; (John 15:4–7)its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34#Matt. 3:7; 23:33; Luke 3:7Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? #1 Sam. 24:13; Is. 32:6; (Matt. 15:18); Luke 6:45; Eph. 4:29; (James 3:2–12)For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
The Scribes and Pharisees Ask for a Sign
38#Matt. 16:1; Mark 8:11; Luke 11:16; John 2:18; 1 Cor. 1:22Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
39But He answered and said to them, “An evil and #Is. 57:3; Matt. 16:4; Mark 8:38; (Luke 11:29–32); John 4:48adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40#Jon. 1:17; Luke 24:46; Acts 10:40; 1 Cor. 15:4For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41#Jon. 3:5; Luke 11:32The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and #Jer. 3:11; Ezek. 16:51; (Rom. 2:27)condemn it, #Jon. 3:5because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42#1 Kin. 10:1–13; 2 Chr. 9:1; Luke 11:31The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.
An Unclean Spirit Returns
43#Luke 11:24–26“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, #(Job 1:7; 1 Pet. 5:8)he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; #Mark 5:9; Luke 11:26; (Heb. 6:4–8; 10:26; 2 Pet. 2:20–22)and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Send for Him
46While He was still talking to the multitudes, #Mark 3:31–35; Luke 8:19–21behold, His mother and #Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3; John 2:12; 7:3, 5; Acts 1:14; 1 Cor. 9:5; Gal. 1:19brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. 47Then one said to Him, “Look, #Matt. 13:55, 56; John 2:12; Acts 1:14Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”
48But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My #John 20:17; (Rom. 8:29)brothers! 50For #John 15:14; (Gal. 5:6; 6:15; Col. 3:11; Heb. 2:11)whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
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Matthew 12: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Matthew 12
12
1 At that time, Jesus went out through the ripe grain on the Sabbath. And his disciples, being hungry, began to separate the grain and to eat.
2 Then the Pharisees, seeing this, said to him, "Behold, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbaths."
3 But he said to them: "Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him:
4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, 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, that on the Sabbaths the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath, and they are without guilt?
6 But I say to you, that something greater than the temple is here.
7 And if you knew what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would never have condemned the innocent.
8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
9 And when he had passed from there, he went into their synagogues.
10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand, and they questioned him, so that they might accuse him, saying, "Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbaths?"
11 But he said to them: "Who is there among you, having even one sheep, if it will have fallen into a pit on the Sabbath, would not take hold of it and lift it up?
12 How much better is a man than a sheep? And so, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbaths."
13 Then he said to the man, "Extend your hand." And he extended it, and it was restored to health, just like the other one.
14 Then the Pharisees, departing, took council against him, as to how they might destroy him.
15 But Jesus, knowing this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he cured them all.
16 And he instructed them, lest they make him known.
17 Then what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah was fulfilled, saying:
18 "Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased. I will place my Spirit over him, and he shall announce judgment to the nations.
19 He shall not contend, nor cry out, neither shall anyone hear his voice in the streets.
20 He shall not crush the bruised reed, and he shall not extinguish the smoking wick, until he sends forth judgment unto victory.
21 And the Gentiles shall hope in his name."
22 Then one who had a demon, who was blind and mute, was brought to him. And he cured him, so that he spoke and saw.
23 And all the crowds were stupefied, and they said, "Could this be the son of David?"
24 But the Pharisees, hearing it, said, "This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons."
25 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself will become desolate. And every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
26 So if Satan casts out Satan, then he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your own sons cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges.
28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has arrived among you.
29 Or how can anyone enter into the house of a strong man, and plunder his belongings, unless he first restrains the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
30 Whoever is not with me, is against me. And whoever does not gather with me, scatters.
31 For this reason, I say to you: Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
32 And anyone who will have spoken a word against the Son of man shall be forgiven. But whoever will have spoken against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven, neither in this age, nor in the future age.
33 Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree evil and its fruit evil. For certainly a tree is known by its fruit.
34 Progeny of vipers, how are you able to speak good things while you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
35 A good man offers good things from a good storehouse. And an evil man offers evil things from an evil storehouse.
36 But I say to you, that for every idle word which men will have spoken, they shall render an account in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words shall you be justified, and by your words shall you be condemned."
38 Then certain ones from the scribes and the Pharisees responded to him, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."
39 And answering, he said to them: "An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. But a sign will not be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
41 The men of Nineveh shall arise in judgment with this generation, and they shall condemn it. For, at the preaching of Jonah, they repented. And behold, there is a greater than Jonah here.
42 The Queen of the South shall arise in judgment with this generation, and she shall condemn it. For she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And behold, there is a greater than Solomon here.
43 Now when an unclean spirit departs from a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and he does not find it.
44 Then he says, 'I will return to my house, from which I departed'. And arriving, he finds it vacant, swept clean, and decorated.
45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and live there. And in the end, the man becomes worse than he was at first. So, too, shall it be with this most wicked generation."
46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak with him.
47 And someone said to him: "Behold, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, seeking you."
48 But responding to the one speaking to him, he said, "Which one is my mother, and who are my brothers?"
49 And extending his hand to his disciples, he said: "Behold: my mother and my brothers.
50 For anyone who does the will of my Father, who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."
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