Matthew 12

Sabbath Questions

1 # 12:1 Or On that occasion At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. 2Now when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath!” 3But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions— 4how he entered the house of God, and they ate the #12:4 Lit loaves of presentationconsecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? 5Or have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple #12:5 Or profaneviolate the Sabbath, and yet are innocent? 6But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. 7But if you had known what this #12:7 Lit ismeans: ‘I desire #12:7 Or mercycompassion, #12:7 Lit and notrather than sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned #12:7 Plural in the Grthe innocent.

Lord of the Sabbath

8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

9Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. 10And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned #12:10 Lit HimJesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might bring charges against Him. 11But He said to them, “What man #12:11 Lit will be from youis there among you who #12:11 Lit will havehas a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? 12How much more valuable then is a person than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do #12:12 Lit wellgood on the Sabbath.” 13Then He *said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” He stretched it out, and it was restored to #12:13 Lit healthnormal, like the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and #12:14 Lit took counselconspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

15But Jesus, #12:15 Lit knowingaware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all, 16and warned them not to #12:16 Lit make Him knowntell who He was. 17This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled:

18“Behold, My #12:18 Lit ChildServant whom I #12:18 Lit chosehave chosen;

My Beloved in whom My soul #12:18 Or took pleasuredelights;

I will put My Spirit upon Him,

And He will proclaim #12:18 Or judgmentjustice to the #12:18 Or nationsGentiles.

19“He will not quarrel, nor cry out;

Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.

20“A bent reed He will not break off,

And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish,

Until He #12:20 Or brings forthleads #12:20 Or judgmentjustice to victory.

21“And in His name the #12:21 Or nationsGentiles will hope.”

The Pharisees Rebuked

22Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to #12:22 Lit HimJesus, and He healed him so that the man who was unable to speak talked and #12:22 Lit sawcould see. 23And all the crowds were amazed and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” 24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by #12:24 Or Beezebul; meaning uncertain, perhaps lord prince, referring to SatanBeelzebul the ruler of the demons.”

25And 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. 26And if Satan is casting out Satan, he #12:26 Lit washas become divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27And if by #12:27 See note v 24Beelzebul I cast out the demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. 28But if I cast out the demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29Or, 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 The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters.

31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32And 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 this age or in the age to come.

Words Reveal Character

33 “Either # 12:33 Lit make assume the tree to be good as well as its fruit good, or # 12:33 Lit make assume the tree to be bad as well as its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34You #12:34 Or broodoffspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, express any good things? For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. 35The good person brings out of his good treasure good things; and the evil person brings out of his evil treasure evil things. 36But I tell you that for every #12:36 Or uselesscareless word that people #12:36 Lit will speakspeak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment. 37For #12:37 Or in accordance withby your words you will be justified, and #12:37 Or in accordance withby your words you will be condemned.”

The Desire for Signs

38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a #12:38 I.e., confirming miraclesign from You.” 39But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves a #12:39 I.e., confirming miraclesign; and so no #12:39 I.e., confirming miraclesign will be given to it except the #12:39 I.e., confirming miraclesign of Jonah the prophet; 40for just as Jonah was in the stomach of the sea monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42The 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 greater than Solomon is here.

43 “Now when the unclean spirit comes out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. 44Then 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. 45Then it goes and brings along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they come in and live there; and 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

46While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47[#12:47 This verse is not found in early mssSomeone said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to You.”] 48But #12:48 Lit HeJesus replied to the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” 49And extending His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold: My mother and My brothers! 50For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister, and mother.”

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Matthew 12: NASB2020

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Matthew 12

A Discussion about the Sabbath

1At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. 2But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”

3Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. 5And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? 6I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! 7But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’#12:7 Hos 6:6 (Greek version). 8For the Son of Man#12:8 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself. is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

9Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, 10where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.)

11And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. 12And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”

13Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! 14Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.

Jesus, God’s Chosen Servant

15But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, 16but he warned them not to reveal who he was. 17This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him:

18“Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen.

He is my Beloved, who pleases me.

I will put my Spirit upon him,

and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

19He will not fight or shout

or raise his voice in public.

20He will not crush the weakest reed

or put out a flickering candle.

Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.

21And his name will be the hope

of all the world.”#12:18-21 Isa 42:1-4 (Greek version for 42:4).

Jesus and the Prince of Demons

22Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. 23The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?”

24But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan,#12:24 Greek Beelzeboul; also in 12:27. Other manuscripts read Beezeboul; Latin version reads Beelzebub. the prince of demons.”

25Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 26And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. 27And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. 28But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 29For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

30 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

31 “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. 32Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.

33 “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. 34You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. 36And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

The Sign of Jonah

38One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.”

39But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.

41 “The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent. 42The queen of Sheba#12:42 Greek The queen of the south. will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.

43 “When an evil # 12:43 Greek unclean. spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. 44Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. 45Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.”

The True Family of Jesus

46As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 47Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.”#12:47 Some manuscripts do not include verse 47. Compare Mark 3:32 and Luke 8:20.

48Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. 50Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”

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