New American Standard Bible

English Standard Version

Sabbath Questions

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat.

1

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

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 this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.”

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

But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions,

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 they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone?

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, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent?

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

“But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.

6

I tell you, 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.

7

And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.

8

Lord of the Sabbath

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

8

For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

9

Departing from there, He went into their synagogue.

9

A Man with a Withered Hand

He went on from there and entered their synagogue.

10

And 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.

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

And 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?

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

“How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

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!” He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other.

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, as to how they might destroy Him.

14

But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

15

But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all,

15

God’s Chosen Servant

Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all

16

and warned them not to tell who He was.

16

and ordered them not to make him known.

17

This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:

17

This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

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.

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, NOR CRY OUT;
NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS.

19

He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
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.

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.”

21

and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

22

The Pharisees Rebuked

Then 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.

22

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

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

All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?”

23

And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”

24

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”

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

And 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.

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

“If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?

26

And 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.

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 I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

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 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.

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

The Unpardonable Sin

“He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

30

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever 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.

31

Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will 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.

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

Words Reveal Character

“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.

33

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

“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.

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 man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.

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

“But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.

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.”

37

for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

38

The Desire for Signs

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

38

The Sign of Jonah

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”

39

But 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;

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 SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

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 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.

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 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.

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

“Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it.

43

Return of an Unclean Spirit

“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 it unoccupied, swept, and put in order.

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 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.”

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

Changed Relationships

While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him.

46

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothersa stood outside, asking to speak to him.b

48

But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?”

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, “Behold My mother and 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 who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

50

For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Parallel

New American Standard Bible

English Standard Version

Matthew 12

Matthew 12