Matthew 12

Jesus Has Authority Over the Day of Worship—Mark 2:23–28; Luke 6:1–5

1 Then on a day of worship Jesus walked through the grainfields. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain to eat.2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing something that is not right to do on the day of worship.”3 Jesus asked them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his men were hungry?4 Haven’t you read how he went into the house of God and atet the bread of the presence? He and his men had no right to eat those loaves. Only the priests have that right.5 Or haven’t you read in Moses’ Teachings that on the day of worship the priests in the temple do things they shouldn’t on the day of worship yet remain innocent?6 I can guarantee that somethingt greater than the temple is here.

7 If you had known what ‘I want mercy, not sacrifices’ means, you would not have condemned innocent people.
8 “The Son of Man has authority over the day of worship.”

Jesus Heals on the Day of Worship—Mark 3:1–6; Luke 6:6–11

9 Jesus moved on from there and went into a synagogue.

10 A man with a paralyzed hand was there. The people asked Jesus whether it was right to heal on a day of worship so that they could accuse him of doing something wrong.
11 Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you has a sheep. If it falls into a pit on a day of worship, wouldn’t you take hold of it and lift it out?

12 Certainly, a human is more valuable than a sheep! So it is right to do good on the day of worship.”
13 Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man held it out, and it became normal again, as healthy as the other.14 The Pharisees left and plotted to kill Jesus.

15 He knew about this, so he left that place.
Many people followed him, and he cured all of them.

Jesus Is God’s Servant

16 He also ordered them not to tell people who he was.

17 So what the prophet Isaiah had said came true:
18 “Here is my servantwhom I have chosen,whom I love,and in whom I delight.I will put my Spirit on him,and he will announce justice to the nations.19 He will not quarrel or shout,and no one will hear his voice in the streets.20 He will not break off a damaged cattail.He will not even put out a smoking wickuntil he has made justice victorious.21 The nations will have hope because of him.”

Jesus Is Accused of Working With Beelzebul—Mark 3:20–30; Luke 11:14–23

22 Then some people brought Jesus a man possessed by a demon. The demon made the man blind and unable to talk. Jesus cured him so that he could talk and see.23 The crowds were all amazed and said, “Can this man be the Son of David?”

24 When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man can force demons out of people only with the help of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons.”
25 Since Jesus knew what they were thinking, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is ruined. And every city or household divided against itself will not last.26 If Satan forces Satan out, he is divided against himself. How, then, can his kingdom last?27 If I force demons out of people with the help of Beelzebul, who helps your followers force them out? That’s why they will be your judges.28 But if I force demons out with the help of God’s Spirit, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

29 How can anyone go into a strong man’s house and steal his property? First he must tie up the strong man. Then he can go through his house and steal his property.
30 “Whoever isn’t with me is against me. Whoever doesn’t gather with me scatters.31 So I can guarantee that people will be forgiven for any sin or cursing. However, cursing 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 in this world or the next.
33 “Make a tree good, and then its fruit will be good. Or make a tree rotten, and then its fruit will be rotten. A person can recognize a tree by its fruit.34 You poisonous snakes! How can you evil people say anything good? Your mouth says what comes from inside you.

35 Good people do the good things that are in them. But evil people do the evil things that are in them.
36 “I can guarantee that on judgment day people will have to give an account of every careless word they say.

37 By your words you will be declared innocent, or by your words you will be declared guilty.”

The Sign of Jonah—Luke 11:29–32, 24–26

38 Then some scribes and Pharisees said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign.”39 He responded, “The people of an evil and unfaithful era look for a miraculous sign. But the only sign they will get is the sign of the prophet Jonah.40 Just as Jonah was in the belly of a huge fish 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 men of Nineveh will stand up with you at the time of judgment and will condemn you, because they turned to God and changed the way they thought and acted when Jonah spoke his message. But look, someone greater than Jonah is here!

42 The queen from the south will stand up at the time of judgment with you. She will condemn you, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon’s wisdom. But look, someone greater than Solomon is here!
43 “When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it goes through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find any.44 Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to the home I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean, and in order.

45 Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself. They enter and take up permanent residence there. In the end the condition of that person is worse than it was before. That is what will happen to the evil people of this day.”

The True Family of Jesus—Mark 3:31–35; Luke 8:19–21

46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside. They wanted to talk to him.

47 Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside. They want to talk to you.”
48 He replied to the man speaking to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”49 Pointing with his hand at his disciples, he said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers.

50 Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother and sister and mother.”

Matthew 12

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.