Matthew 12
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath (12:1–14)
1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them, 2 but when the Pharisees saw them, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the sabbath.” 3 Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? 4 How he entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated shewbread, which was not lawful for him nor for those who were with him to do, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the law that the priests on sabbath days in the temple desecrate the sabbath but are innocent? 6 But I say to you that someone greater than the temple is here. 7 If you understood what this means, ‘I wish for mercy, not sacrifice’ [Hosea 6:6], you would not have condemned the innocent, 8 for the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”
9 After he went on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and behold, there was a man who had a shriveled hand. They asked Jesus, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?” so that they might accuse him. 11 But Jesus said to them, “What person will there be among you who has one sheep, and if it were to fall into a pit on the sabbath, would he not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man stretched it out and it was completely healed, just as healthy as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted against Jesus regarding how they might kill him.
Jesus Fulfills Another Prophecy of Isaiah (12:15–21)
15 Since Jesus was aware of their intent, he withdrew from that place. Large crowds followed him, and he healed all those who were ill. 16 He ordered them to not make him known 17 in order to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, who said, 18 “Behold my son, whom I have chosen, my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased, I will place my Spirit on him, and he will announce judgment to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. 20 He will not break a crushed reed and will not extinguish a smoldering wick until he has driven judgment into victory. 21 And the Gentiles will trust in his name” [Isa. 42:1–4].
Jesus Answers Those Who Say He Is Healing with Evil Powers (12:22–30)
22 Then they brought him a man who was possessed of a demon and was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that the mute man could both talk and see. 23 All the people were amazed and said, “Is this the son of David?” 24 When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man does not cast out demons, but it is by Beelzeboul, the ruler of the demons.” 25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself becomes isolated, and every town or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzeboul, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has overtaken you. 29 Or how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and seize his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man, then he can plunder his house? 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
Commit No Blasphemy Against the Holy Ghost (12:31–37)
31 “I tell you, every type of mankind’s sin and blasphemy will be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, neither in this world nor in the world to come. 33 Either make the tree good and its fruit will be good, or make the tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for the tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You generations of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks out of the excrement of the heart. 35 A good man bears good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and an evil man bears evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. 36 I tell you that on the day of judgment every person will have to explain every idle word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
The Sign of Jonah Is Identified as a Sign of Jesus (12:38–45)
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees responded to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” 39 He answered and said to them, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign! But no sign will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was dead, for three days and three nights, in the belly of a huge sea monster, so likewise for three days and nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth. 41 The people of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment of this generation and will condemn it; for they repented because of the preaching of Jonah, and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment of this generation and will condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now someone greater than Solomon is here. 43 When the impure spirit comes out of a person, it passes through arid places, seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return into my house which I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house vacant, swept and in good order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they enter in and live there. And the final state of that person is worse than the first. This is how it will be for this wicked generation.”
All Who Do the Will of the Father Are Family (12:46–50)
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowds, behold, his mother and siblings stood outside, desiring to speak with him. 47 Someone told him, “Behold, your mother and siblings are standing outside, desiring to speak with you.” 48 But he responded to the man who said, “Who is my mother? And who are my siblings?” 49 He stretched out his hand toward his disciples, and said, “Here are my mother and my siblings! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father who is in the heavens, this very person is my brother and sister and mother.”
