THE BOOK OF MATTHEW

 

Matthew Chapter 12

1 ¶ At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath day; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pick and eat the ears of grain.

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 day.

3 But he said to them, Have you not read what David, and those who were with him, did, when he was hungry;

4 How he entered the house of God, and ate the consecrated bread, which it was not lawful for him, or for those with him, to eat, but only for the priests?

5 Or have you 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 am telling you, That one greater than the temple is here.

7 But if you had known what these words mean, I want mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent.

8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.

9 And when he had departed from there, he went into their synagogue:

10 And, a man who had a shriveled hand was there. And they asked him, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? that they might accuse him.

11 And he said to them, What man is there among you, who having one sheep, that falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, will not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

12 How much more valuable is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.

13 Then he said to the man, Stretch forth your hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like 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 that place: and a large crowd followed him, and he healed them all;

16 And warned them not to make him known:

17 That it might be fulfilled what was spoken by 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 will bring righteousness to the Gentiles.

19 He will not argue, nor shout; nor will any one hear his voice in the streets.

20 A bruised reed he will not break, and smoking flax he will not quench, till he brings righteousness to victory.

21 And in his name will the Gentiles trust.

22 ¶ Then they brought to him one who was demon possessed, who was blind, and mute: and he healed him, so that he could both talk and see.

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 does not cast out devils, except through Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, Every kingdom that is divided against itself is brought to destruction; and every city or house that is divided against itself will not 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 devils by Beelzebub, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they will be your judges.

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

29 Or again how can one enter a strong man’s house, and plunder his goods, 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 gather with me scatters.

31 Therefore I am telling you, men will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy: but blasphemy against the Holy Ghost 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 Ghost, will not be forgiven, not in this world, or in the world to come.

33 Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or else make the tree bad, and its fruit bad: for the tree is known by its fruit.

34 O generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, say anything good? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

36 But I am telling you, That men will account for every idle word that they speak, on the day of judgment.

37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.

38 ¶ Then some of the scribes and of the Pharisees said, Master, we want to see a sign from you.

39 But he answering said to them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; but 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 whale’s belly; 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 at the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and, behold, one greater than Jonah is here.

42 The queen of the south shall rise up at the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, one greater than Solomon is here.

43 When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.

44 Then it says, I will return to my house from which I came; and when it arrives, it finds it empty, 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 live there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.

46 ¶ While Jesus was still talking to the people, his mother and his brothers stood outside, wanting to speak with him.

47 Then someone said to him, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to talk with you.

48 But in answer he said to the one who told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brothers?

49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brothers!

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