Matthew 12

1. At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath days; and His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck the heads of grain and to eat them.

2. But after seeing this, the Pharisees said to Him, “Behold, 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 himself and those with him were hungry?

4. How he went into the house of God and he ate the loaves of showbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but for the priests only?

5. Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbaths the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?

6. But I say to you, there is one here Who is greater than the temple.

7. Now 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 even of the Sabbath day.”

9. And after leaving there, He went into their synagogue.

10. And, behold, a man was there who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbaths?” so that they might accuse Him.

11. But He said to them, “What man is there among you who, if he has one sheep that falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?

12. And how much better is a man than a sheep? So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbaths.”

13. And He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as sound as the other.

14. Then the Pharisees went out of the synagogue and held a council against Him to discuss how they might destroy Him.

15. But when Jesus knew of it, He withdrew from there; and great multitudes followed Him, and He healed all of them.

16. And He strictly commanded them not to make Him known publicly;

17. So that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying,

18. “Behold My Servant, Whom I have chosen; My Beloved, in Whom My soul has found delight. I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall declare judgment to the Gentiles.

19. He shall not strive nor cry out, neither shall anyone hear His voice in the streets.

20. A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, until He brings forth the judgment unto victory.

21. And the Gentiles shall hope in His name.”

22. Then was brought to Him one who was possessed by a demon, blind and dumb; and He healed him, so that the one who had been blind and dumb both spoke and saw.

23. And the multitudes were all amazed, and said, “Is this the Son of David?”

24. But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This Man does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, prince of the demons.”

25. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to 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 casts 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? On account of this, they shall be your judges.

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

29. Or how is anyone able to enter into the house of a strong man and plunder his goods, if he does not first bind the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

30. The one who is not with Me is against Me, and the one who does not gather with Me scatters.

31. Because of this, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men except the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit; that shall not be forgiven to men.

32. And 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, neither in this age nor in the coming age.

33. Either make the tree good and the fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for a tree is known by its fruit.

34. Offspring of vipers, how are you able to speak good things, being evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

35. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out good things; and the wicked man out of the wicked treasure brings out wicked things.

36. But I say to you, for every idle word that men may speak, they shall be held accountable in the day of judgment.

37. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.”

38. Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Master, we desire to see a sign from You.”

39. And He answered and said to them, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.

40. For just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, in like manner the Son of man shall be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

41. The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation 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, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

43. But when the unclean spirit has departed from a man, it goes through dry places seeking rest, but finds none.

44. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house, from which I came out.’ And after coming, it finds it unoccupied, swept and set in order.

45. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Likewise shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

46. But while He was still speaking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and His brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak with Him.

47. Then one said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”

48. But He answered and said to him, “Who is My mother? And who are My brothers?”

49. And stretching out His hand to His disciples, He said, “Behold, My mother and My brothers.

50. For whoever shall do the will of My Father, Who is in heaven, that one is My brother and sister and mother.”