TCNT MAT Chapter 12

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Behold, yoʋr disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, [fn]he and those who were with him, 4 how he entered the house of God and [fn]ate the bread of the Presence, which was not lawful for him or those who were with him to eat, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and yet are guiltless? 6 But I tell you that [fn]something greater than the temple is here. 7 But if you had known what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord [fn]of the Sabbath.”

Jesus Heals a Man with a Withered Hand

9 Then he departed from there and went into their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a [fn]man who had a withered hand. In order to accuse Jesus, the Pharisees asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” 11 He said to them, “What man among you who has a sheep that falls into a pit on the Sabbath will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a person than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out yoʋr hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus as to how they might destroy him.

God's Chosen Servant

15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from there. [fn]Large crowds followed him, and he healed them all 16 and warned them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet:

18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,

my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased.

I will put my Spirit upon him,

and he will declare justice to the Gentiles.

19 He will not quarrel, nor will he cry out,

nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.

20 A bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not extinguish,

until he brings justice to victory.

21 And in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Jesus and Beelzebul

22 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and Jesus healed him, so that the [fn]man who was blind and mute could speak and see. 23 All the crowds were amazed and said, “Can this be the [fn]Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 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. 26 So if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom [fn]do your followers cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can anyone enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man? Then he [fn]will plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but [fn]they will not be forgiven for blasphemy against the Spirit. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, neither in [fn]the present age nor in the age to come.

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for by its fruit the tree is known. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person brings good things out of [fn]his good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of his evil treasure. 36 But I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give an account for every idle word they speak. 37 For by yoʋr words yoʋ will be justified, and by yoʋr words yoʋ will be condemned.”

The Sign of Jonah

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees [fn]responded, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from yoʋ.” 39 But Jesus answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 40 For just as [fn]Jonah was in the belly of the great sea creature 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 men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

An Unclean Spirit Returns

43 “When an unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it goes through waterless places seeking rest, but does not find any. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came out.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and dwell there, and the last state of that person becomes worse than the first. So will it be with this evil generation also.”

Jesus' Mother and Brothers

46 While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 47 [fn]Then someone said to him, “Behold, yoʋr mother and yoʋr brothers are standing outside, asking to speak to yoʋ.” 48 But he replied to the one who spoke to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”