Matthew 12

Lord of the Sabbath

1At that time Jesus passed through the grainfields on the Sabbath. # 12:1–8 Mk 2:23–28; Lk 6:1–5 His disciples # 12:1 Mt 10:1; 26:56; Mk 3:7; 16:20; Lk 6:13; Jn 12:16 were hungry and began to pick and eat some heads of grain. 2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is not lawful # 12:2 Mt 12:10; Lk 13:14; 14:3; Jn 5:10; 7:23; 9:16 to do on the Sabbath.”

3He said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry: 4how he entered the house of God, and they ate # 12:4 Other mss read he ate the bread of the Presence — which is not lawful for him or for those with him to eat, but only for the priests? # 12:4 Ex 25:30; Lv 24:5–9; 1Sm 21:6 5Or haven’t you read in the law that on Sabbath days the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent? # 12:5 Nm 28:9–10; 1Ch 9:32; Jn 7:22–23 6I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. # 12:6 2Ch 6:18; Mal 3:1; Mt 12:41–42 7If you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, # 12:7 Hs 6:6; Mc 6:8; Mt 9:13,# 12:7 Hs 6:6 you would not have condemned the innocent. 8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” # 12:8 Mt 8:20; 9:6; 12:32,40

The Man with the Shriveled Hand

9Moving on from there, he entered their synagogue. # 12:9–14 Mk 3:1–6; Lk 6:6–11 10There he saw a man who had a shriveled hand, and in order to accuse him they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath? ” # 12:10 Mt 12:2; Lk 13:14; 14:3; Jn 9:16

11He replied to them, “Who among you, if he had a sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath, wouldn’t take hold of it and lift it out? # 12:11 Ex 23:4–5; Dt 22:4; Lk 14:5 12A person is worth far more than a sheep; # 12:12 Mt 6:26; 10:31 so it is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath.”

13Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored, # 12:13 1Kg 13:4; Mt 8:3; Ac 28:8 as good as the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, how they might kill him. # 12:14 Mt 26:4; 27:1; Mk 3:6; Lk 6:11; Jn 10:39; 11:53

The Servant of the Lord

15Jesus was aware of this and withdrew. Large crowds # 12:15 Other mss read Many followed him, and he healed them all. # 12:15 Mt 4:23; 10:23; 19:2; Mk 3:7 16He warned them not to make him known, # 12:16 Mt 8:4; 9:30 17so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

18 Here is my servant whom I have chosen,

my beloved in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him,

and he will proclaim justice to the nations. # 12:18 Mt 3:17; 17:5; Lk 4:18; Jn 3:34

19 He will not argue or shout,

and no one will hear his voice in the streets.

20 He will not break a bruised reed,

and he will not put out a smoldering wick,

until he has led justice to victory. # 12:20 Or until he has successfully put forth justice

21 The nations will put their hope in his name. # 12:18–21 Is 42:1–4,# 12:18–21 Is 42:1–4; Jn 10:25

A House Divided

22Then a demon-possessed man # 12:22–24 Lk 11:14–15 who was blind and unable to speak was brought to him. He healed him, so that the man # 12:22 Lit mute could both speak and see. # 12:22 Mt 4:24; 9:32–34 23All the crowds were astounded and said, “Could this be the Son of David? ” # 12:23 2Ch 1:1; Mt 1:1; Rm 1:3

24When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” # 12:24 Mt 9:34; 10:25; Mk 3:22

25Knowing their thoughts, # 12:25–29 Mk 3:23–27; Lk 11:17–22 he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26If Satan # 12:26 Mt 4:1,10; 13:19; Ac 13:10 drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges. # 12:27 2Kg 2:7; Ac 19:13 28If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. # 12:28 Lk 17:21; 1Jn 3:8 29How can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up # 12:29 Is 49:24; 53:12 the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. 30Anyone who is not with me is against me, # 12:30 Mk 9:40; Lk 9:50; 11:23 and anyone who does not gather with me scatters. 31Therefore, # 12:31–32 Mk 3:28–30; Lk 12:10 I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy, # 12:31 Heb 6:4–6; 10:26; 1Jn 5:16 but the blasphemy against # 12:31 Or of the Spirit will not be forgiven. # 12:31 Other mss add people 32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, # 12:32 Mt 11:19; Mk 2:10; Jn 7:12; 9:24 it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come. # 12:32 Mk 10:30; Lk 12:10; 20:34–35; Eph 1:21; Ti 2:12; Heb 6:5

A Tree and Its Fruit

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit will be good, or make the tree bad # 12:33 Or decayed; lit rotten and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. # 12:33 Mt 7:18–19,23; Lk 6:43–44; Jn 15:4–7 34Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow # 12:34 1Sm 24:13; Mt 3:7; 23:33; Lk 6:45; Eph 4:29 of the heart. 35A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil. # 12:35 Mt 13:52; Col 4:6 36I tell you that on the day of judgment # 12:36 Mt 12:41; Jn 5:29; 1Jn 4:17 people will have to account # 12:36 Lk 16:2; Ac 19:40; Rm 14:12; Heb 13:17; 1Pt 4:5 for every careless # 12:36 Lit worthless word they speak. # 12:36 Lit will speak 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

The Sign of Jonah

38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” # 12:38 Mt 16:1; Mk 8:11–12; Lk 11:16; Jn 2:18; 6:30; 1Co 1:22

39He answered them, # 12:39 Mk 8:11–12; Lk 11:29–32 “An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. # 12:39 Is 57:3; Mt 16:4; Mk 8:38 40For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish # 12:40 Or sea creature; Jnh 1:17,# 12:40 Jnh 1:17 three days and three nights, # 12:40 Jnh 1:17 so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. 41The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, # 12:41 Jr 3:11; Ezk 16:51; Rm 2:27 because they repented at Jonah’s preaching; and look — something greater than Jonah is here. # 12:41 Jnh 1:2; 3:5 42The queen of the south # 12:42 1Kg 10:1; 2Ch 9:1 will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and look — something greater than Solomon is here.

An Unclean Spirit’s Return

43 “When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places looking for rest but doesn’t find any. # 12:43–45 Lk 11:24–26 44Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ Returning, it finds the house vacant, swept, and put in order. 45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that person’s last condition is worse than the first. # 12:45 Heb 6:4; 2Pt 2:20 That’s how it will also be with this evil generation.”

True Relationships

46While he # 12:46–50 Mk 3:31–35; Lk 8:19–21 was still speaking with the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside wanting to speak to him. # 12:46 Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3; Jn 2:12; Ac 1:14; 1Co 9:5; Gl 1:19 47Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” # 12:47 Other mss omit this v.

48He replied to the one who was speaking to him, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers? ” 49Stretching out his hand toward his disciples, # 12:49 Mt 10:42; 28:19; Lk 14:26; Jn 8:31; 13:35; 15:8; Ac 6:1 he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” # 12:50 Mt 6:1; 7:21; Jn 15:14; Heb 2:11

Currently Selected:

Matthew 12: CSB

Highlight

Copy

Compare

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

Learn More About Christian Standard Bible

Mattityahu 12

1At that time Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach went on Shabbos through the grainfields. And his talmidim were hungry and began to pick the heads of wheat and to eat them. 2But the Perushim, seeing this, said to Moshiach: Hinei! Your talmidim are doing what is asur on Shabbos! 3But Moshiach said to them, Have you not read what Dovid HaMelech did when he and those with him were hungry, 4how he entered into the Beis Hashem and ate the Lechem HaPanim (the Bread of the Presence), which was not mutar (permissible) for him to eat nor the ones with him, but only the kohanim? 5Or have you not read in the Torah that on Shabbos the kohanim are mechallel Shabbos in the Beis Hamikdash and yet are blameless?#12:5 Num 28:9-10 6But I say to you that something greater than the Beis Hamikdash is here. 7But if you'd had daas what this means, CHESED CHAFATZTI VLO ZEVACH#12:7 Hos 6:6 (I desire mercy and not sacrifice), you would not have condemned the innocent. 8For the Bar Enosh (Moshiach) is Adon HaShabbos.

9And having gone from there, he went into their shul. 10And hinei! There was a man with a withered hand. And they questioned Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, asking, Is it mutar (permissible) to bring refuah (healing) on Shabbos? They did this in order to bring accusation against him. 11But Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, What man will there be among you, who owns a keves (lamb), and if it falls into a pit on Shabbos, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12Therefore, how much more valuable is a man than a keves. For this reason, it is mutar (permissible) on Shabbos to do HaTov. 13Then Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to the man, Stretch out your hand. And the man stretched out his hand. And it was restored to health, as sound as the other hand. 14But the Perushim went out and took counsel against Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach so that they might destroy him.

15But Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, having da'as of this, departed from there. And many multitudes followed Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, and he brought refuah to them all. 16And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach warned them that they should not make him manifest. 17This was to fulfill what was spoken through Yeshayah HaNavi, saying, 18HEN AVDI ETMACH BO, BECHIRI RATZTAH NAFSHI, NATATI RUCHI ALAV, MISHPAT LAGOYIM YOTZI, (Here is my Servant, whom I uphold, my Chosen One in whom my Soul delights, I will put my Spirit on him, he will bring Justice to the Nations), 19LO YITZAK VLO YISSAH VLO YASHMIA BACHUTZ KOLO (He will not shout nor cry out nor raise the sound of his voice in the street.) 20KANEH RATZUTZ LO YISHBOR UFISHTAH CHEHAH LO YECHABENAH LE-EMET YOTZI MISHPAT (A bruised reed he will not break nor a smoldering wick will he snuff out) until Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach leads mishpat (justice) to victory. 21And in his Name, HAGOYIM will put their tikvah (hope).#12:18-21 Isa 42:1-4; Isa 11:10 TARGUM HA-SHIVIM

22Then a man, blind and mute, who was possessed by shedim, was brought to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, and he brought refuah to him, so that the mute man was able to speak and to see. 23And all the multitudes were amazed and they were saying, Surely this is not the Ben Dovid,#12:23 Moshiach is he? 24But, having heard this, the Perushim said, This one does not cast out shedim except by Baal-zibbul, the Sar HaShedim (the Prince of Demons). 25But having daas of their thoughts, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, Every malchut that is divided against itself is made desolate, and every ir (city) and bais (house) that is divided against itself will not stand. 26And if HaSatan casts out HaSatan, he is divided against himself. How, therefore, will the Malchut HaSatan stand? 27And if by Baal-zibbul I cast out the shedim, by whom do your banim (sons) cast them out? Therefore, they will be your shofetim (judges). 28But if by the Ruach Hakodesh I#12:28 Moshiach cast out the shedim, then upon you the Malchut Hashem has arrived. 29Or how is someone able to enter the Bayit HaGibbor and confiscate his furnishings unless he binds the Gibbor first. Then he will plunder the Bayit HaGibbor. 30The one not with me#12:30 Moshiach is against me.#12:30 anti-Moshiach And the one not gathering with me scatters. 31Therefore, I say to you, every chet (sin) and gidduf (blasphemy) will be forgiven men, but whoever commits Chillul Hashem against the Ruach Hakodesh will not be forgiven. 32And whoever speaks a word against the Bar Enosh#12:32 Moshiach will be granted selicha (forgiveness), but whoever speaks against the Ruach Hakodesh, selicha will not be granted him either in the Olam Hazeh or in the Olam Habah.

33Either make the etz (tree) tov (good) and its pri (fruit) will be tov, or make the etz nishchat (corrupt) and its pri will be rah; for by its pri the etz is known. 34You banim of nechashim (sons of snakes), how are you able to speak tovot (good things), for out of the abundance of the lev (heart) the mouth speaks. 35The ish tov (good man) out of the good otzar (treasure) brings forth good; and the ish rah out of the evil otzar brings forth evil. 36But I say to you, that for every careless lashon horah (evil speech) that men speak, they will be called to account on the Yom HaDin (the Day of Judgment). 37For by your devarim you will be pronounced tzodek (righteous), and by your devarim you will be charged with guilt.

38Then some of the Sofrim and Perushim answered Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, saying, Rabbi, we desire to see an ot (miraculous sign) from you. 39But Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach answered them, Dor rah umnaef (an evil and adulterous generation) seeks for an ot (miraculous sign), but no ot will be given it except the ot of Yonah HaNavi. 40For just as Yonah was in the belly of the great fish SHLOSHAH YAMIM USHLOSHAH LAILAH#12:40 Jon 2:1 (three days and three nights), so will be the Bar Enosh (Moshiach) in the heart of the earth SHLOSHAH YAMIM USHLOSHAH LAILOT (three days and three nights). 41The men of Nineveh will stand up at the Yom HaDin with this generation and they will condemn it, for the men of Nineveh made teshuva at the darshenen (preaching) of Yonah, and, hinei, something much greater than Yonah is here. 42The Queen of the South will be made to stand up alive at the Yom HaDin with this generation and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the chochmah of Sh'lomo and, hinei, something much greater than Sh'lomo is here.

43Now when the ruach hatameh (unclean spirit) goes out from the man, it goes through dry places seeking a manoach (resting place) and it does not find one. 44Then it says, Into my haunt I will return from where I came out. And having come out, it finds the bais standing empty, having been swept and having been put beseder (in order). 45Then it goes and takes along with itself seven other ruchot more evil than itself and, having entered the residence, it sets up house there, and the last state of that man has become worse than the first. Thus it will be with this evil generation also.

46While he was still speaking to the multitudes, hinei, Moshiachʼs Em and achim stood outside, seeking to speak with him. 47And someone said to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Hinei! Your Em and your achim have stood outside seeking to speak with you. 48And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said in reply to the one speaking with him, Who is my Em and who are my achim? 49And stretching out his hand upon his talmidim, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, Hinei, my Em and my achim. 50For whoever does the ratzon (will) of Avi sh'ba'Shomayim,#12:50 see Mt 6:10; 26:39 he is my ach (brother) and achot (sister) and Em (Mother).

Currently Selected:

Highlight

Copy

Compare

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

THE ORTHODOX JEWISH BIBLE

Learn More About The Orthodox Jewish Bible