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Matthew 12:1-50
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Matthew 12:1-50 (Amplified Bible)1 AT THAT particular time Jesus went through the fields of standing grain on the Sabbath; and His disciples were hungry, and they began to pick off the spikes of grain and to eat.
2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, See there! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful and not permitted on the Sabbath.
3 He said to them, Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, and those who accompanied him--
4 How he went into the house of God and ate the loaves of the showbread--which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for the men who accompanied him, but for the priests only?
5 Or have you never read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple violate the sanctity of the Sabbath and yet are guiltless?
6 But I tell you, Something greater and more exalted and more majestic than the temple is here!
7 And if you had only known what this saying means, I desire mercy rather than sacrifice and sacrificial victims, you would not have condemned the guiltless.
8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.
9 And going on from there, He went into their synagogue.
10 And behold, a man was there with one withered hand. And they said to Him, Is it lawful or allowable to cure people on the Sabbath days?--that they might accuse Him.
11 But He said to them, What man is there among you, if he has only one sheep and it falls into a pit or ditch on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?
12 How much better and of more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful and allowable to do good on the Sabbath days.
13 Then He said to the man, Reach out your hand. And the man reached it out and it was restored, as sound as the other one.
14 But the Pharisees went out and held a consultation against Him, how they might do away with Him.
15 But being aware of this, Jesus went away from there. And many people joined and accompanied Him, and He cured all of them,
16 And strictly charged them and sharply warned them not to make Him publicly known.
17 This was in fulfillment of what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah,
18 Behold, My Servant Whom I have chosen, My Beloved in and with Whom My soul is well pleased and has found its delight. I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall proclaim and show forth justice to the nations.
19 He will not strive or wrangle or cry out loudly; nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets;
20 A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering (dimly burning) wick He will not quench, till He brings justice and a just cause to victory.
21 And in and on His name will the Gentiles (the peoples outside of Israel) set their hopes.
22 Then a blind and dumb man under the power of a demon was brought to Jesus, and He cured him, so that the blind and dumb man both spoke and saw.
23 And all the people were stunned with bewildered wonder and said, This cannot be the Son of David, can it?
24 But the Pharisees, hearing it, said, This Man drives out demons only by and with the help of Beelzebub, the prince of demons.
25 And knowing their thoughts, He said to them, Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being brought to desolation and laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will last or continue to stand.
26 And if Satan drives out Satan, he has become divided against himself and disunified; how then will his kingdom last or continue to stand?
27 And if I drive out the demons by Beelzebub, by whose do your sons drive them out? For this reason they shall be your judges.
28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you .
29 Or how can a person go into a strong man's house and carry off his goods (the entire equipment of his house) without first binding the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.
30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me and for My side scatters.
31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy (every evil, abusive, injurious speaking, or indignity against sacred things) can be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not and cannot be forgiven.
32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Spirit, the Holy One, will not be forgiven, either in this world and age or in the world and age to come.
33 Either make the tree sound (healthy and good), and its fruit sound (healthy and good), or make the tree rotten (diseased and bad), and its fruit rotten (diseased and bad); for the tree is known and recognized and judged by its fruit.
34 You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things.
36 But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak.
37 For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, Teacher, we desire to see a sign or miracle from You .
39 But He replied to them, An evil and adulterous generation (a generation morally unfaithful to God) seeks and demands a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For even as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, Someone more and greater than Jonah is here!
42 The queen of the South will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, Someone more and greater than Solomon is here.
43 But when the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, it roams through dry places in search of rest, but it does not find any.
44 Then it says, I will go back to my house from which I came out. And when it arrives, it finds the place unoccupied, swept, put in order, and decorated.
45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and make their home there. And the last condition of that man becomes worse than the first. So also shall it be with this wicked generation.
46 Jesus was still speaking to the people when behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to Him.
47 Someone said to Him, Listen! Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to You.
48 But He replied to the man who told Him, Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?
49 And stretching out His hand toward His adherents, He said, Here are My mother and My brothers.
50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother!
Matthew 12:1-50 (New English Translation)1 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on a Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pick heads of wheat and eat them.
2 But when the Pharisees saw this they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is against the law to do on the Sabbath."
3 He said to them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry
4 how he entered the house of God and they ate the sacred bread, which was against the law for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests?
5 Or have you not read in the law that the priests in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are not guilty?
6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.
7 If you had known what this means: 'I want mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.
8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."
9 Then Jesus left that place and entered their synagogue.
10 A man was there who had a withered hand. And they asked Jesus, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" so that they could accuse him.
11 He said to them, "Would not any one of you, if he had one sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath, take hold of it and lift it out?
12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and it was restored, as healthy as the other.
14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, as to how they could assassinate him.
15 Now when Jesus learned of this, he went away from there. Great crowds followed him, and he healed them all.
16 But he sternly warned them not to make him known.
17 This fulfilled what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet:
18 " I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19 nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
20 until he brings justice to victory.
21 And in his name the Gentiles will hope."
22 Then they brought to him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. Jesus healed him so that he could speak and see.
23 All the crowds were amazed and said, "Could this one be the Son of David?"
24 But when the Pharisees heard this they said, "He does not cast out demons except by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons!"
25 Now when Jesus realized what they were thinking, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and no town 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 do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges.
28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you.
29 How else can someone enter a strong man's house and steal his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can thoroughly plunder the house.
30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
31 For this reason I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
33 "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is known by its fruit.
34 Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say anything good, since you are evil? For the mouth speaks from what fills the heart.
35 The good person brings good things out of his good treasury, and the evil person brings evil things out of his evil treasury.
36 I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
38 Then some of the experts in the law along with some Pharisees answered him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."
39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For just as Jonah was for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
41 The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented when Jonah preached to them and now, something greater than Jonah is here!
42 The queen of the South 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 now, something greater than Solomon is here!
43 "When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but does not find it.
44 Then it says, 'I will return to the home I left.' When it returns, it finds the house empty, swept clean, and put in order.
45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so the last state of that person is worse than the first. It will be that way for this evil generation as well!"
46 While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside, asking to speak to him.
47 Someone told him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside wanting to speak to you."
48 To the one who had said this, Jesus replied, "Who is my mother and who are my brothers?"
49 And pointing toward his disciples he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!
50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Matthew 12:1-50 (New International Version - 2010)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 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."
3 He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread�which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.
5 Or haven't you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent?
6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.
7 If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.
8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue,
10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"
11 He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you 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." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.
14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.
16 He warned them not to tell others about him.
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
18 "Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19 He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory.
21 In his name the nations will put their hope."
22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
23 All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."
25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, 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 come upon you.
29 "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off 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.
31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
33 "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.
37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."
39 He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.
42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.
43 "When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
44 Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.
45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.
47 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."
48 He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"
49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers.
50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Matthew 12:1-50 (New International Version - 1979)1At 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.
2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."
3He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
4He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread--which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.
5Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent?
6I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.
7If you had known what these words mean, `I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.
8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
9Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue,
10and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"
11He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?
12How much more valuable 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." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.
14But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
15Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick,
16warning them not to tell who he was.
17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
18"Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.
21In his name the nations will put their hope."
22Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
23All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"
24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."
25Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
26If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
27And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
28But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29"Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.
30"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
31And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
32Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
33"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
35The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
36But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
38Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you."
39He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.
42The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.
43"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
44Then it says, `I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.
45Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."
46While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.
47Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."
48He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"
49Pointing to his disciples, 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."
Matthew 12:1-50 (New American Standard)1At 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.
2But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples do 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 consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone?
5"Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent?
6"But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.
7"But if you had known what this means, 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,' you would not have condemned the innocent.
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 Jesus, asking, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"--so that they might accuse Him.
11And He said to them, "What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out?
12"How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
13Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand!" He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other.
14But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.
15But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all,
16and warned them not to tell who He was.
17This was to fulfill what was 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 SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES.
19"HE WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT;
NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS.
20"A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF,
AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT,
UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY.
21"AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE."
22Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw.
23All 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 Beelzebul the ruler of the demons."
25And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.
26"If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?
27"If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason 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 strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
30"He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
31"Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
32"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.
33"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.
34"You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
35"The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.
36"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.
37"For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."
39But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet;
40for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41"The 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.
42"The 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 goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it.
44"Then 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.
45"Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation."
46While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him.
47Someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You."
48But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?"
49And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and My brothers!
50"For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."
Matthew 12:1-50 (Today's New International Version)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 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."
3 He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread�which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.
5 Or haven't you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent?
6 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.
7 If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.
8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue,
10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"
11 He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?
12 How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.
14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.
16 He warned them not to tell others about him.
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
18 "Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19 He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he leads justice to victory.
21 In his name the nations will put their hope."
22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
23 All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."
25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, 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 come upon you.
29 "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions without first tying up the strong man? Then his house can be plundered.
30 "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
31 And so I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy. But blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
33 "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 Good people bring good things out of the good stored up in them, and evil people bring evil things out of the evil stored up in them.
36 But I tell you that people will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.
37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."
39 He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.
42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.
43 "When an evil spirit comes out of anyone, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
44 Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.
45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.
47 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."
48 He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"
49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers.
50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Matthew 12:1-50 (New International Reader's Version)1 One Sabbath day Jesus walked through the grainfields. His disciples were hungry. So they began to break off some heads of grain and eat them.
2 The Pharisees saw this. They said to Jesus, "Look! It is against the Law to do this on the Sabbath. But your disciples are doing it anyway!"
3 Jesus answered, "Haven't you read about what David did? He and his men were hungry.
4 So he entered the house of God. He and his men ate the holy bread. Only priests were allowed to eat it.
5 Haven't you read the Law? It tells how every Sabbath day the priests in the temple have to do their work on that day. But they are not considered guilty.
6 "I tell you that one who is more important than the temple is here.
7 Scripture says, 'I want mercy and not sacrifice.'�(Hosea 6:6) You don't know what those words mean. If you did, you would not bring charges against those who are not guilty.
8 The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath day."
9 Going on from that place, Jesus went into their synagogue.
10 A man with a weak and twisted hand was there. The Pharisees were trying to find fault with Jesus. So they asked him, "Does the Law allow us to heal on the Sabbath day?"
11 He said to them, "What if one of your sheep falls into a pit on the Sabbath? Won't you take hold of it and lift it out?
12 A man is worth more than sheep! So the Law allows us to do good on the Sabbath day."
13 Then Jesus said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out. It was as good as new, just as good as the other hand.
14 But the Pharisees went out and planned how to kill Jesus.
15 Jesus knew all about the Pharisees' plans. So he left that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick people.
16 But he warned them not to tell who he was.
17 This was to make what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah come true. It says,
18 "Here is my servant. I have chosen him.
He is the one I love. I am very pleased with him.
I will put my Spirit on him.
He will announce to the nations that everything will be made right.
19 He will not argue or cry out.
No one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 He will not break a bent twig.
He will not put out a dimly burning flame.
He will make everything right.
21 The nations will put their hope in him." �(Isaiah 42:1?4)
22 A man controlled by demons was brought to Jesus. The man was blind and could not speak. Jesus healed him. Then the man could speak and see.
23 All the people were amazed. They said, "Could this be the Son of David?"
24 The Pharisees heard this. So they said, "This fellow drives out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons."
25 Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, "Every kingdom that fights against itself will be destroyed. Every city or family that is divided against itself will not stand.
26 If Satan drives out Satan, he fights against himself. Then how can his kingdom stand?
27 You say I drive out demons by the power of Beelzebub. Then by whose power do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
28 But suppose I drive out demons by the Spirit of God. Then God's kingdom has come to you.
29 "Or think about this. How can you enter a strong man's house and just take what the man owns? You must first tie him up. Then you can rob his house.
30 "Anyone who is not with me is against me. Anyone who does not gather sheep with me scatters them.
31 So here is what I tell you. Every sin and every evil word spoken against God will be forgiven. But speaking evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. A person like that won't be forgiven either now or in days to come.
33 "If you make a tree good, its fruit will be good. If you make a tree bad, its fruit will be bad. You can tell a tree by its fruit.
34 "You nest of poisonous snakes! How can you who are evil say anything good? Your mouths say everything that is in your hearts.
35 A good man says good things. These come from the good that is put away inside him. An evil man says evil things. These come from the evil that is put away inside him.
36 But here is what I tell you. On judgment day, people will have to account for every careless word they have spoken.
37 By your words you will be found guilty or not guilty."
38 Some of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law came to Jesus. They said, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you."
39 He answered, "Evil and unfaithful people ask for a miraculous sign! But none will be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 Jonah was in the stomach of a huge fish for three days and three nights. Something like that will happen to the Son of Man. He will spend three days and three nights in the grave.
41 "The men of Nineveh will stand up on judgment day with the people now living. And the Ninevites will prove that those people are guilty. The men of Nineveh turned away from their sins when Jonah preached to them. And now one who is more important than Jonah is here.
42 "The Queen of the South will stand up on judgment day with the people now living. And she will prove that they are guilty. She came from very far away to listen to Solomon's wisdom. And now one who is more important than Solomon is here.
43 "What happens when an evil spirit comes out of a man? It goes through dry areas looking for a place to rest. But it doesn't find it.
44 Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives there, it finds the house empty. The house has been swept clean and put in order.
45 Then the evil spirit goes and takes with it seven other spirits more evil than itself. They go in and live there. That man is worse off than before. That is how it will be with the evil people of today."
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside. They wanted to speak to him.
47 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside. They want to speak to you."
48 Jesus replied to him, "Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?"
49 Jesus pointed to his disciples. He said, "Here is my mother! Here are my brothers!
50 Anyone who does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother or sister or mother."
Matthew 12:1-50 (Revised Standard Version )1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.
2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath."
3He said to them, "Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him:
4how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
5Or have you not read in the law how on the sabbath the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless?
6I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.
7And if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.
8For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath."
9And he went on from there, and entered their synagogue.
10And behold, there was a man with a withered hand. And they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?" so that they might accuse him.
11He said to them, "What man of you, if he has one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?
12Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath."
13Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, whole like the other.
14But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him, how to destroy him.
15Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all,
16and ordered them not to make him known.
17This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
18"Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will any one hear his voice in the streets;
20he will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick, till he brings justice to victory;
21and in his name will the Gentiles hope."
22Then a blind and dumb demoniac was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw.
23And all the people were amazed, and said, "Can this be the Son of David?"
24But when the Pharisees heard it they said, "It is only by Be-el'zebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons."
25Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand;
26and if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?
27And if I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.
28But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.
30He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
31Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
32And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
33"Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.
34You brood of vipers! how can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35The good man out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
36I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter;
37for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."
39But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41The men of Nin'eveh will arise 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.
42The queen of the South will arise 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.
43"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest, but he 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 brings with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. So shall it be also with this evil generation."
46While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.
4748
49And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, 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."
Matthew 12:1-50 (English Standard Version)1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.
2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your 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, and those who were with him:
4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it 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 how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?
6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.
7 And 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 of the Sabbath."
9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue.
10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"--so that they might accuse him.
11 He said to them, "Which one of you who has a sheep, if it 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 man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.
14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all
16 and ordered them not to make him known.
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
18 "Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope."
22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw.
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, "Can this be the Son of David?"
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons."
25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.
26 And 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 do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may 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, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.
34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."
39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For just 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 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.
43 "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.
44 Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.
45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation."
46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.
47 (OMITTED TEXT)
48 But he replied to the man who told him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"
49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!
50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Matthew 12:1-50 (King James Version)1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
16 And charged them that they should not make him known:
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
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 shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Matthew 12:1-50 (American Standard Version)1 At that season Jesus went on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck ears and to eat.
2 But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do upon the sabbath.
3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him;
4 how he entered into the house of God, and ate the showbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests?
5 Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless?
6 But I say unto you, that one greater than the temple is here.
7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
8 For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath.
9 And he departed thence, and went into their synagogue:
10 and behold, a man having a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? that they might accuse him.
11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be of you, that shall have one sheep, and if this fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12 How much then is a man of more value than a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day.
13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, as the other.
14 But the Pharisees went out, and took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.
15 And Jesus perceiving it withdrew from thence: and many followed him; and he healed them all,
16 and charged them that they should not make him known:
17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
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 shall declare judgment to the Gentiles.
19 He shall not strive, nor cry aloud; Neither shall any one hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed shall he not break, And smoking flax shall he not quench, Till he send forth judgment unto victory.
21 And in his name shall the Gentiles hope.
22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a demon, blind and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the dumb man spake and saw.
23 And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Can this be the son of David?
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons.
25 And knowing their thoughts he said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26 and if Satan casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
28 But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you.
29 Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
30 He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
31 Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
32 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.
33 Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit.
34 Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
38 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee.
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet:
40 for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.
42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
43 But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation.
46 While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him.
47 And one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, seeking to speak to thee.
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, and said, Behold, my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Matthew 12:1-50 (Good News)1 Not long afterward Jesus was walking through some wheat fields on a Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began to pick heads of wheat and eat the grain.
2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Jesus, "Look, it is against our Law for your disciples to do this on the Sabbath!"
3 Jesus answered, "Have you never read what David did that time when he and his men were hungry?
4 He went into the house of God, and he and his men ate the bread offered to God, even though it was against the Law for them to eat it---only the priests were allowed to eat that bread.
5 Or have you not read in the Law of Moses that every Sabbath the priests in the Temple actually break the Sabbath law, yet they are not guilty?
6 I tell you that there is something here greater than the Temple.
7 The scripture says, 'It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices.' If you really knew what this means, you would not condemn people who are not guilty;
8 for the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
9 Jesus left that place and went to a synagogue,
10 where there was a man who had a paralyzed hand. Some people were there who wanted to accuse Jesus of doing wrong, so they asked him, "Is it against our Law to heal on the Sabbath?"
11 Jesus answered, "What if one of you has a sheep and it falls into a deep hole on the Sabbath? Will you not take hold of it and lift it out?
12 And a human being is worth much more than a sheep! So then, our Law does allow us to help someone on the Sabbath."
13 Then he said to the man with the paralyzed hand, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it became well again, just like the other one.
14 Then the Pharisees left and made plans to kill Jesus.
15 When Jesus heard about the plot against him, he went away from that place; and large crowds followed him. He healed all the sick
16 and gave them orders not to tell others about him.
17 He did this so as to make come true what God had said through the prophet Isaiah:
18 "Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, the one I love, and with whom I am pleased. I will send my Spirit upon him, and he will announce my judgment to the nations.
19 He will not argue or shout, or make loud speeches in the streets.
20 He will not break off a bent reed, nor put out a flickering lamp. He will persist until he causes justice to triumph,
21 and on him all peoples will put their hope."
22 Then some people brought to Jesus a man who was blind and could not talk because he had a demon. Jesus healed the man, so that he was able to talk and see.
23 The crowds were all amazed at what Jesus had done. "Could he be the Son of David?" they asked.
24 When the Pharisees heard this, they replied, "He drives out demons only because their ruler Beelzebul gives him power to do so."
25 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and so he said to them, "Any country that divides itself into groups which fight each other will not last very long. And any town or family that divides itself into groups which fight each other will fall apart.
26 So if one group is fighting another in Satan's kingdom, this means that it is already divided into groups and will soon fall apart!
27 You say that I drive out demons because Beelzebul gives me the power to do so. Well, then, who gives your followers the power to drive them out? What your own followers do proves that you are wrong!
28 No, it is not Beelzebul, but God's Spirit, who gives me the power to drive out demons, which proves that the Kingdom of God has already come upon you.
29 "No one can break into a strong man's house and take away his belongings unless he first ties up the strong man; then he can plunder his house.
30 "Anyone who is not for me is really against me; anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering.
31 For this reason I tell you: people can be forgiven any sin and any evil thing they say; but whoever says evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 Anyone who says something against the Son of Man can be forgiven; but whoever says something against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven---now or ever.
33 "To have good fruit you must have a healthy tree; if you have a poor tree, you will have bad fruit. A tree is known by the kind of fruit it bears.
34 You snakes---how can you say good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
35 A good person brings good things out of a treasure of good things; a bad person brings bad things out of a treasure of bad things.
36 "You can be sure that on the Judgment Day you will have to give account of every useless word you have ever spoken.
37 Your words will be used to judge you---to declare you either innocent or guilty."
38 Then some teachers of the Law and some Pharisees spoke up. "Teacher," they said, "we want to see you perform a miracle."
39 "How evil and godless are the people of this day!" Jesus exclaimed. "You ask me for a miracle? No! The only miracle you will be given is the miracle of the prophet Jonah.
40 In the same way that Jonah spent three days and nights in the big fish, so will the Son of Man spend three days and nights in the depths of the earth.
41 On the Judgment Day the people of Nineveh will stand up and accuse you, because they turned from their sins when they heard Jonah preach; and I tell you that there is something here greater than Jonah!
42 On the Judgment Day the Queen of Sheba will stand up and accuse you, because she traveled all the way from her country to listen to King Solomon's wise teaching; and I assure you that there is something here greater than Solomon!
43 "When an evil spirit goes out of a person, it travels over dry country looking for a place to rest. If it can't find one,
44 it says to itself, 'I will go back to my house.' So it goes back and finds the house empty, clean, and all fixed up.
45 Then it goes out and brings along seven other spirits even worse than itself, and they come and live there. So when it is all over, that person is in worse shape than at the beginning. This is what will happen to the evil people of this day."
46 Jesus was still talking to the people when his mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside, asking to speak with him.
47 So one of the people there said to him, "Look, your mother and brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak with you."
48 Jesus answered, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?"
49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "Look! Here are my mother and my brothers!
50 Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother, my sister, and my mother."
Matthew 12:1-50 (Contemporary English Version)1 One Sabbath, Jesus and his disciples were walking through some wheat fields. His disciples were hungry and began picking and eating grains of wheat.
2 Some Pharisees noticed this and said to Jesus, "Why are your disciples picking grain on the Sabbath? They are not supposed to do that!"
3 Jesus answered: You surely must have read what David did when he and his followers were hungry.
4 He went into the house of God, and then they ate the sacred loaves of bread that only priests are supposed to eat.
5 Haven't you read in the Law of Moses that the priests are allowed to work in the temple on the Sabbath? But no one says that they are guilty of breaking the law of the Sabbath.
6 I tell you that there is something here greater than the temple.
7 Don't you know what the Scriptures mean when they say, "Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others?" If you knew what this means, you would not condemn these innocent disciples of mine.
8 So the Son of Man is Lord over the Sabbath.
9 Jesus left and went into one of the Jewish meeting places,
10 where there was a man whose hand was crippled. Some Pharisees wanted to accuse Jesus of doing something wrong, and they asked him, "Is it right to heal someone on the Sabbath?"
11 Jesus answered, "If you had a sheep that fell into a ditch on the Sabbath, wouldn't you lift it out?
12 People are worth much more than sheep, and so it is right to do good on the Sabbath."
13 Then Jesus told the man, "Hold out your hand." The man did, and it became as healthy as the other one.
14 The Pharisees left and started making plans to kill Jesus.
15 When Jesus found out what was happening, he left there and large crowds followed him. He healed all of their sick,
16 but warned them not to tell anyone about him.
17 So God's promise came true, just as Isaiah the prophet had said,
18 "Here is my chosen servant! I love him, and he pleases me. I will give him my Spirit, and he will bring justice to the nations.
19 He won't shout or yell or call out in the streets.
20 He won't break off a bent reed or put out a dying flame, but he will make sure that justice is done.
21 All nations will place their hope in him."
22 Some people brought to Jesus a man who was blind and could not talk because he had a demon in him. Jesus healed the man, and then he was able to talk and see.
23 The crowds were so amazed that they asked, "Could Jesus be the Son of David?"
24 When the Pharisees heard this, they said, "He forces out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons!"
25 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said to them: Any kingdom where people fight each other will end up ruined. And a town or family that fights will soon destroy itself.
26 So if Satan fights against himself, how can his kingdom last?
27 If I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons, whose power do your own followers use to force them out? Your followers are the ones who will judge you.
28 But when I force out demons by the power of God's Spirit, it proves that God's kingdom has already come to you.
29 How can anyone break into a strong man's house and steal his things, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can take everything.
30 If you are not on my side, you are against me. If you don't gather in the harvest with me, you scatter it.
31 I tell you that any sinful thing you do or say can be forgiven. Even if you speak against the Son of Man, you can be forgiven. But if you speak against the Holy Spirit, you can never be forgiven, either in this life or in the life to come.
32 (SEE 12:31)
33 A good tree produces only good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. You can tell what a tree is like by the fruit it produces.
34 You are a bunch of evil snakes, so how can you say anything good? Your words show what is in your hearts.
35 Good people bring good things out of their hearts, but evil people bring evil things out of their hearts.
36 I promise you that on the day of judgment, everyone will have to account for every careless word they have spoken.
37 On that day they will be told that they are either innocent or guilty because of the things they have said.
38 Some Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses said, "Teacher, we want you to show us a sign from heaven."
39 But Jesus replied: You want a sign because you are evil and won't believe! But the only sign you will get is the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 He was in the stomach of a big fish for three days and nights, just as the Son of Man will be deep in the earth for three days and nights.
41 On the day of judgment the people of Nineveh will stand there with you and condemn you. They turned to God when Jonah preached, and yet here is something far greater than Jonah.
42 The Queen of the South will also stand there with you and condemn you. She traveled a long way to hear Solomon's wisdom, and yet here is something much greater than Solomon.
43 When an evil spirit leaves a person, it travels through the desert, looking for a place to rest. But when the demon doesn't find a place,
44 it says, "I will go back to the home I left." When it gets there and finds the place empty, clean, and fixed up,
45 it goes off and finds seven other evil spirits even worse than itself. They all come and make their home there, and the person ends up in worse shape than before. That's how it will be with you evil people of today.
46 While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside because they wanted to talk with him.
47 Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to talk with you."
48 Jesus answered, "Who is my mother and who are my brothers?"
49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "These are my mother and my brothers!
50 Anyone who obeys my Father in heaven is my brother or sister or mother."
Matthew 12:1-50 (Bible in Basic English)1 At that time Jesus went through the fields on the Sabbath day; and his disciples, being in need of food, were taking the heads of grain.
2 But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, See, your disciples do that which it is not right to do on the Sabbath.
3 But he said to them, Have you no knowledge of what David did when he had need of food, and those who were with him?
4 How he went into the house of God and took for food the holy bread which it was not right for him or for those who were with him to take, but only for the priests?
5 Or is it not said in the law, how the Sabbath is broken by the priests in the Temple and they do no wrong?
6 But I say to you that a greater thing than the Temple is here.
7 But if these words had been in your minds, My desire is for mercy and not for offerings, you would not have been judging those who have done no wrong.
8 For the Son of man is lord of the Sabbath.
9 And he went from there into their Synagogue:
10 And there was a man with a dead hand. And they put a question to him, saying, Is it right to make a man well on the Sabbath day? so that they might have something against him.
11 And he said to them, Which of you, having a sheep, if it gets into a hole on the Sabbath day, will not put out a helping hand and get it back?
12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! For this reason it is right to do good on the Sabbath day.
13 Then said he to the man, Put out your hand. And he put it out, and it was made as well as the other.
14 But the Pharisees went out and made designs against him, how they might put him to death.
15 And Jesus, having knowledge of this, went away from there, and a great number went after him; and he made them all well,
16 Ordering them not to give people word of him:
17 So that what was said by Isaiah the prophet might come true,
18 See my servant, the man of my selection, my loved one in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit on him, and he will make my decision clear to the Gentiles.
19 His coming will not be with fighting or loud cries; and his voice will not be lifted up in the streets.
20 The crushed stem will not be broken by him; and the feebly burning light will he not put out, till he has made righteousness overcome all.
21 And in his name will the Gentiles put their hope.
22 Then they took to him one with an evil spirit, who was blind and had no power of talking: and he made him well so that he had the power of talking and seeing.
23 And all the people were surprised and said, Is not this the Son of David?
24 But the Pharisees, hearing of it, said, This man only sends evil spirits out of men by Beelzebub, the ruler of evil spirits.
25 And having knowledge of their thoughts he said to them, Every kingdom having division in itself is made waste, and every town or house having division in itself will come to destruction.
26 And if Satan sends out Satan, he makes war against himself; how then will he keep his kingdom?
27 And if I by Beelzebub send evil spirits out of men, by whom do your sons send them out? So let them be your judges.
28 But if I by the Spirit of God send out evil spirits, then is the kingdom of God come on you.
29 Or how may one go into a strong man's house and take his goods, if he does not first put cords round the strong man? and then he may take his goods.
30 Whoever is not with me is against me; and he who does not take part with me in getting people together, is driving them away.
31 So I say to you, Every sin and every evil word against God will have forgiveness; but for evil words against the Spirit there will be no forgiveness.
32 And whoever says a word against the Son of man, will have forgiveness; but whoever says a word against the Holy Spirit, will not have forgiveness in this life or in that which is to come.
33 Make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for by its fruit you will get knowledge of the tree.
34 You offspring of snakes, how are you, being evil, able to say good things? because out of the heart's store come the words of the mouth.
35 The good man out of his good store gives good things; and the evil man out of his evil store gives evil things.
36 And I say to you that in the day when they are judged, men will have to give an account of every foolish word they have said.
37 For by your words will your righteousness be seen, and by your words you will be judged.
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees, hearing this, said to him, Master, we are looking for a sign from you.
39 But he, answering, said to them, An evil and false generation is looking for a sign; and no sign will be given to it but the sign of the prophet Jonah:
40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the stomach of the great fish, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh will come up in the day of judging and give their decision against this generation: because they were turned from their sins at the preaching of Jonah; and now a greater than Jonah is here.
42 The queen of the South will come up in the day of judging and give her decision against this generation: for she came from the ends of the earth to give ear to the wisdom of Solomon; and now a greater than Solomon is here.
43 But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of a man, goes through dry places looking for rest, and getting it not.
44 Then he says, I will go back into my house from which I came out; and when he comes, he sees that there is no one in it, but that it has been made fair and clean.
45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits worse than himself, and they go in and make it their living-place: and the last condition of that man is worse than the first. Even so will it be with this evil generation.
46 While he was still talking to the people, his mother and his brothers came, desiring to have talk with him.
47 And one said to him, See, your mother and your brothers are outside, desiring to have talk with you.
48 But he in answer said to him who gave the news, Who is my mother and who are my brothers?
49 And he put out his hand to his disciples and said, See, my mother and my brothers!
50 For whoever does the pleasure of my Father in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Matthew 12:1-50 (The Message)1 One Sabbath, Jesus was strolling with his disciples through a field of ripe grain. Hungry, the disciples were pulling off the heads of grain and munching on them.
2 Some Pharisees reported them to Jesus: "Your disciples are breaking the Sabbath rules!"
3 Jesus said, "Really? Didn't you ever read what David and his companions did when they were hungry,
4 how they entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, bread that no one but priests were allowed to eat?
5 And didn't you ever read in God's Law that priests carrying out their Temple duties break Sabbath rules all the time and it's not held against them?
6 "There is far more at stake here than religion.
7 If you had any idea what this Scripture meant--'I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual'--you wouldn't be nitpicking like this.
8 The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath; he's in charge."
9 When Jesus left the field, he entered their meeting place.
10 There was a man there with a crippled hand. They said to Jesus, "Is it legal to heal on the Sabbath?" They were baiting him.
11 He replied, "Is there a person here who, finding one of your lambs fallen into a ravine, wouldn't, even though it was a Sabbath, pull it out?
12 Surely kindness to people is as legal as kindness to animals!"
13 Then he said to the man, "Hold out your hand." He held it out and it was healed.
14 The Pharisees walked out furious, sputtering about how they were going to ruin Jesus.
15 Jesus, knowing they were out to get him, moved on. A lot of people followed him, and he healed them all
16 . He also cautioned them to keep it quiet,
17 following guidelines set down by Isaiah:
18 Look well at my handpicked servant; I love him so much, take such delight in him. I've placed my Spirit on him; he'll decree justice to the nations.
19 But he won't yell, won't raise his voice; there'll be no commotion in the streets.
20 He won't walk over anyone's feelings, won't push you into a corner. Before you know it, his justice will triumph;
21 the mere sound of his name will signal hope, even among far-off unbelievers.
22 Next a poor demon-afflicted wretch, both blind and deaf, was set down before him. Jesus healed him, gave him his sight and hearing.
23 The people who saw it were impressed--"This has to be the Son of David!"
24 But the Pharisees, when they heard the report, were cynical. "Black magic," they said. "Some devil trick he's pulled from his sleeve."
25 Jesus confronted their slander. "A judge who gives opposite verdicts on the same person cancels himself out; a family that's in a constant squabble disintegrates;
26 if Satan banishes Satan, is there any Satan left?
27 If you're slinging devil mud at me, calling me a devil kicking out devils, doesn't the same mud stick to your own exorcists?
28 "But if it's by God's power that I am sending the evil spirits packing, then God's kingdom is here for sure.
29 How in the world do you think it's possible in broad daylight to enter the house of an awake, able-bodied man and walk off with his possessions unless you tie him up first? Tie him up, though, and you can clean him out.
30 "This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, you're the enemy; if you're not helping, you're making things worse.
31 "There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven. But if you deliberately persist in your slanders against God's Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who forgives.
32 If you reject the Son of Man out of some misunderstanding, the Holy Spirit can forgive you, but when you reject the Holy Spirit, you're sawing off the branch on which you're sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgive
33 "If you grow a healthy tree, you'll pick healthy fruit. If you grow a diseased tree, you'll pick worm-eaten fruit. The fruit tells you about the tree.
34 "You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words.
35 A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard.
36 Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously.
37 Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation."
38 Later a few religion scholars and Pharisees got on him. "Teacher, we want to see your credentials. Give us some hard evidence that God is in this. How about a miracle?"
39 Jesus said, "You're looking for proof, but you're looking for the wrong kind. All you want is something to titillate your curiosity, satisfy your lust for miracles. The only proof you're going to get is what looks like the absence of proof: Jonah-evidenc
40 Like Jonah, three days and nights in the fish's belly, the Son of Man will be gone three days and nights in a deep grave.
41 "On Judgment Day, the Ninevites will stand up and give evidence that will condemn this generation, because when Jonah preached to them they changed their lives. A far greater preacher than Jonah is here, and you squabble about 'proofs.'
42 On Judgment Day, the Queen of Sheba will come forward and bring evidence that will condemn this generation, because she traveled from a far corner of the earth to listen to wise Solomon. Wisdom far greater than Solomon's is right in front of you, and you
43 "When a defiling evil spirit is expelled from someone, it drifts along through the desert looking for an oasis, some unsuspecting soul it can bedevil. When it doesn't find anyone,
44 it says, 'I'll go back to my old haunt.' On return it finds the person spotlessly clean, but vacant.
45 It then runs out and rounds up seven other spirits more evil than itself and they all move in, whooping it up. That person ends up far worse off than if he'd never gotten cleaned up in the first place. "That's what this generation is like: You may think
46 While he was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers showed up. They were outside trying to get a message to him.
47 Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and brothers are out here, wanting to speak with you."
48 Jesus didn't respond directly, but said, "Who do you think my mother and brothers are?"
49 He then stretched out his hand toward his disciples. "Look closely. These are my mother and brothers.
50 Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father's will is my brother and sister and mother."
Matthew 12:1-50 (New Living Translation)1 At 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.
2 But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, "Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath."
3 Jesus said to them, "Haven't you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
4 He 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.
5 And haven't you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?
6 I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!
7 But 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.'
8 For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!"
9 Then Jesus went over to their synagogue,
10 where 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.)
11 And 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.
12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath."
13 Then 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!
14 Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.
15 But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them,
16 but he warned them not to reveal who he was.
17 This 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.
19 He will not fight or shout
or raise his voice in public.
20 He will not crush the weakest reed
or put out a flickering candle.
Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.
21 And his name will be the hope
of all the world."
22 Then 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.
23 The crowd was amazed and asked, "Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?"
24 But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, "No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons."
25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, "Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.
26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.
27 And 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.
28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.
29 For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan 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.
32 Anyone 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.
34 You 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.
35 A 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.
36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.
37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you."
38 One 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."
39 But 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.
40 For 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.
42 The queen of Sheba 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 spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.
44 Then it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.
45 Then 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."
46 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.
47 Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to you."
48 Jesus asked, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?"
49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "Look, these are my mother and brothers.
50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!"
Matthew 12:1-50 (Spanish Version)1 Por aquel tiempo Jesús pasó por entre los sembrados en el día de reposo; sus discípulos tuvieron hambre, y empezaron a arrancar espigas y a comer.
2 Y cuando lo vieron los fariseos, le dijeron: Mira, tus discípulos hacen lo que no es lícito hacer en el día de reposo.
3 Pero El les dijo: ¿No habéis leído lo que hizo David cuando él y sus compañeros tuvieron hambre,
4 cómo entró en la casa de Dios y comieron los panes consagrados, que no les era lícito comer, ni a él ni a los que estaban con él, sino sólo a los sacerdotes?
5 ¿O no habéis leído en la ley, que en los días de reposo los sacerdotes en el templo profanan el día de reposo y están sin culpa?
6 Pues os digo que algo mayor que el templo está aquí.
7 Pero si hubierais sabido lo que esto significa: "MISERICORDIA QUIERO Y NO SACRIFICIO", no hubierais condenado a los inocentes.
8 Porque el Hijo del Hombre es Señor del día de reposo.
9 Pasando de allí, entró en la sinagoga de ellos.
10 Y he aquí, había allí un hombre que tenía una mano seca. Y para poder acusarle, le preguntaron, diciendo: ¿Es lícito sanar en el día de reposo?
11 Y El les dijo: ¿Qué hombre habrá de vosotros que tenga una sola oveja, si ésta se le cae en un hoyo en día de reposo, no le echa mano y la saca?
12 Pues, ¡cuánto más vale un hombre que una oveja! Por tanto, es lícito hacer bien en el día de reposo.
13 Entonces dijo* al hombre: Extiende tu mano. Y él la extendió, y le fue restaurada, sana como la otra.
14 Pero cuando los fariseos salieron, se confabularon contra El, para ver cómo podrían destruirle.
15 Mas Jesús, sabiéndo lo, se retiró de allí. Y muchos le siguieron, y los sanó a todos.
16 Y les advirtió que no revelaran quién era El;
17 para que se cumpliera lo que fue dicho por medio del profeta Isaías, cuando dijo:
18 MIRAD, MI SIERVO, A QUIEN HE ESCOGIDO; MI AMADO EN QUIEN SE AGRADA MI ALMA; SOBRE EL PONDRE MI ESPIRITU, Y A LAS NACIONES PROCLAMARA JUSTICIA.
19 NO CONTENDERA, NI GRITARA, NI HABRA QUIEN EN LAS CALLES OIGA SU VOZ.
20 NO QUEBRARA LA CAÑA CASCADA, NI APAGARA LA MECHA QUE HUMEA, HASTA QUE LLEVE A LA VICTORIA LA JUSTICIA.
21 Y EN SU NOMBRE PONDRAN LAS NACIONES SU ESPERANZA.
22 Entonces le trajeron un endemoniado ciego y mudo, y lo sanó, de manera que el mudo hablaba y veía.
23 Y todas las multitudes estaban asombradas, y decían: ¿Acaso no es éste el Hijo de David?
24 Pero cuando los fariseos lo oyeron, dijeron: Este no expulsa los demonios sino por Beelzebú, el príncipe de los demonios.
25 Y conociendo Jesús sus pensamientos, les dijo: Todo reino dividido contra sí mismo es asolado, y toda ciudad o casa dividida contra sí misma no se mantendrá en pie.
26 Y si Satanás expulsa a Satanás, está dividido contra sí mismo; ¿cómo puede entonces mantenerse en pie su reino?
27 Y si yo expulso los demonios por Beelzebú, ¿por quién los expulsan vuestros hijos? Por tanto, ellos serán vuestros jueces.
28 Pero si yo expulso los demonios por el Espíritu de Dios, entonces el reino de Dios ha llegado a vosotros.
29 ¿O cómo puede alguien entrar en la casa de un hombre fuerte y saquear sus bienes, si primero no lo ata? Y entonces saqueará su casa.
30 El que no está conmigo, está contra mí; y el que no recoge conmigo, desparrama.
31 Por eso os digo: todo pecado y blasfemia será perdonado a los hombres, pero la blasfemia contra el Espíritu no será perdonada.
32 Y a cualquiera que diga una palabra contra el Hijo del Hombre, se le perdonará; pero al que hable contra el Espíritu Santo, no se le perdonará ni en este siglo ni en el venidero.
33 O haced bueno el árbol y bueno su fruto, o haced malo el árbol y malo su fruto; porque por el fruto se conoce el árbol.
34 ¡Camada de víboras! ¿Cómo podéis hablar cosas buenas siendo malos? Porque de la abundancia del corazón habla la boca.
35 El hombre bueno de su buen tesoro saca cosas buenas; y el hombre malo de su mal tesoro saca cosas malas.
36 Y yo os digo que de toda palabra vana que hablen los hombres, darán cuenta de ella en el día del juicio.
37 Porque por tus palabras serás justificado, y por tus palabras serás condenado.
38 Entonces le respondieron algunos de los escribas y fariseos, diciendo: Maestro, queremos ver una señal de parte tuya.
39 Pero respondiendo El, les dijo: Una generación perversa y adúltera demanda señal, y ninguna señal se le dará, sino la señal de Jonás el profeta;
40 porque como ESTUVO JONAS EN EL VIENTRE DEL MONSTRUO MARINO TRES DIAS Y TRES NOCHES, así estará el Hijo del Hombre tres días y tres noches en el corazón de la tierra.
41 Los hombres de Nínive se levantarán con esta generación en el juicio y la condenarán, porque ellos se arrepintieron con la predicación de Jonás; y mirad, algo más grande que Jonás está aquí.
42 La Reina del Sur se levantará con esta generación en el juicio y la condenará, porque ella vino desde los confines de la tierra para oír la sabiduría de Salomón; y mirad, algo más grande que Salomón está aquí.
43 Cuando el espíritu inmundo sale del hombre, pasa por lugares áridos buscando descanso y no lo halla.
44 Entonces dice: "Volveré a mi casa de donde salí"; y cuando llega, la encuentra desocupada, barrida y arreglada.
45 Va entonces, y toma consigo otros siete espíritus más depravados que él, y entrando, moran allí; y el estado final de aquel hombre resulta peor que el primero. Así será también con esta generación perversa.
46 Mientras El aún estaba hablando a la multitud, he aquí, su madre y sus hermanos estaban afuera, deseando hablar con El.
47 Y alguien le dijo: He aquí, tu madre y tus hermanos están afuera deseando hablar contigo.
48 Pero respondiendo El al que se lo decía, dijo: ¿Quién es mi madre, y quiénes son mis hermanos?
49 Y extendiendo su mano hacia sus discípulos, dijo: ¡He aquí mi madre y mis hermanos!
50 Porque cualquiera que hace la voluntad de mi Padre que está en los cielos, ése es mi hermano y mi hermana y mi madre.
Matthew 12:1-50 (French Version)1 En ce temps-là, Jésus traversa des champs de blé un jour de sabbat. Ses disciples, qui avaient faim, se mirent à arracher des épis et à manger.
2 Les pharisiens, voyant cela, lui dirent: Voici, tes disciples font ce qu'il n'est pas permis de faire pendant le sabbat.
3 Mais Jésus leur répondit: N'avez-vous pas lu ce que fit David, lorsqu'il eut faim, lui et ceux qui étaient avec lui;
4 comment il entra dans la maison de Dieu, et mangea les pains de proposition, qu'il ne lui était pas permis de manger, non plus qu'à ceux qui étaient avec lui, et qui étaient réservés aux sacrificateurs seuls?
5 Ou, n'avez-vous pas lu dans la loi que, les jours de sabbat, les sacrificateurs violent le sabbat dans le temple, sans se rendre coupables?
6 Or, je vous le dis, il y a ici quelque chose de plus grand que le temple.
7 Si vous saviez ce que signifie: Je prends plaisir à la miséricorde, et non aux sacrifices, vous n'auriez pas condamné des innocents.
8 Car le Fils de l'homme est maître du sabbat.
9 Étant parti de là, Jésus entra dans la synagogue.
10 Et voici, il s'y trouvait un homme qui avait la main sèche. Ils demandèrent à Jésus: Est-il permis de faire une guérison les jours de sabbat? C'était afin de pouvoir l'accuser.
11 Il leur répondit: Lequel d'entre vous, s'il n'a qu'une brebis et qu'elle tombe dans une fosse le jour du sabbat, ne la saisira pour l'en retirer?
12 Combien un homme ne vaut-il pas plus qu'une brebis! Il est donc permis de faire du bien les jours de sabbat.
13 Alors il dit à l'homme: Étends ta main. Il l'étendit, et elle devint saine comme l'autre.
14 Les pharisiens sortirent, et ils se consultèrent sur les moyens de le faire périr.
15 Mais Jésus, l'ayant su, s'éloigna de ce lieu. Une grande foule le suivit. Il guérit tous les malades,
16 et il leur recommanda sévèrement de ne pas le faire connaître,
17 afin que s'accomplît ce qui avait été annoncé par Ésaïe, le prophète:
18 Voici mon serviteur que j'ai choisi, Mon bien-aimé en qui mon âme a pris plaisir. Je mettrai mon Esprit sur lui, Et il annoncera la justice aux nations.
19 Il ne contestera point, il ne criera point, Et personne n'entendra sa voix dans les rues.
20 Il ne brisera point le roseau cassé, Et il n'éteindra point le lumignon qui fume, Jusqu'à ce qu'il ait fait triompher la justice.
21 Et les nations espéreront en son nom.
22 Alors on lui amena un démoniaque aveugle et muet, et il le guérit, de sorte que le muet parlait et voyait.
23 Toute la foule étonnée disait: N'est-ce point là le Fils de David?
24 Les pharisiens, ayant entendu cela, dirent: Cet homme ne chasse les démons que par Béelzébul, prince des démons.
25 Comme Jésus connaissait leurs pensées, il leur dit: Tout royaume divisé contre lui-même est dévasté, et toute ville ou maison divisée contre elle-même ne peut subsister.
26 Si Satan chasse Satan, il est divisé contre lui-même; comment donc son royaume subsistera-t-il?
27 Et si moi, je chasse les démons par Béelzébul, vos fils, par qui les chassent-ils? C'est pourquoi ils seront eux-mêmes vos juges.
28 Mais, si c'est par l'Esprit de Dieu que je chasse les démons, le royaume de Dieu est donc venu vers vous.
29 Ou, comment quelqu'un peut-il entrer dans la maison d'un homme fort et piller ses biens, sans avoir auparavant lié cet homme fort? Alors seulement il pillera sa maison.
30 Celui qui n'est pas avec moi est contre moi, et celui qui n'assemble pas avec moi disperse.
31 C'est pourquoi je vous dis: Tout péché et tout blasphème sera pardonné aux hommes, mais le blasphème contre l'Esprit ne sera point pardonné.
32 Quiconque parlera contre le Fils de l'homme, il lui sera pardonné; mais quiconque parlera contre le Saint Esprit, il ne lui sera pardonné ni dans ce siècle ni dans le siècle à venir.
33 Ou dites que l'arbre est bon et que son fruit est bon, ou dites que l'arbre est mauvais et que son fruit est mauvais; car on connaît l'arbre par le fruit.
34 Races de vipères, comment pourriez-vous dire de bonnes choses, méchants comme vous l'êtes? Car c'est de l'abondance du coeur que la bouche parle.
35 L'homme bon tire de bonnes choses de son bon trésor, et l'homme méchant tire de mauvaises choses de son mauvais trésor.
36 Je vous le dis: au jour du jugement, les hommes rendront compte de toute parole vaine qu'ils auront proférée.
37 Car par tes paroles tu seras justifié, et par tes paroles tu seras condamné.
38 Alors quelques-uns des scribes et des pharisiens prirent la parole, et dirent: Maître, nous voudrions te voir faire un miracle.
39 Il leur répondit: Une génération méchante et adultère demande un miracle; il ne lui sera donné d'autre miracle que celui du prophète Jonas.
40 Car, de même que Jonas fut trois jours et trois nuits dans le ventre d'un grand poisson, de même le Fils de l'homme sera trois jours et trois nuits dans le sein de la terre.
41 Les hommes de Ninive se lèveront, au jour du jugement, avec cette génération et la condamneront, parce qu'ils se repentirent à la prédication de Jonas; et voici, il y a ici plus que Jonas.
42 La reine du Midi se lèvera, au jour du jugement, avec cette génération et la condamnera, parce qu'elle vint des extrémités de la terre pour entendre la sagesse de Salomon, et voici, il y a ici plus que Salomon.
43 Lorsque l'esprit impur est sorti d'un homme, il va par des lieux arides, cherchant du repos, et il n'en trouve point.
44 Alors il dit: Je retournerai dans ma maison d'où je suis sorti; et, quand il arrive, il la trouve vide, balayée et ornée.
45 Il s'en va, et il prend avec lui sept autres esprits plus méchants que lui; ils entrent dans la maison, s'y établissent, et la dernière condition de cet homme est pire que la première. Il en sera de même pour cette génération méchante.
46 Comme Jésus s'adressait encore à la foule, voici, sa mère et ses frères, qui étaient dehors, cherchèrent à lui parler.
47 Quelqu'un lui dit: Voici, ta mère et tes frères sont dehors, et ils cherchent à te parler.
48 Mais Jésus répondit à celui qui le lui disait: Qui est ma mère, et qui sont mes frères?
49 Puis, étendant la main sur ses disciples, il dit: Voici ma mère et mes frères.
50 Car, quiconque fait la volonté de mon Père qui est dans les cieux, celui-là est mon frère, et ma soeur, et ma mère.