Matthew 12 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

A Discussion about the Sabbath

(Mar 2:23–28; Luk 6:1–5 )

Mat 12:1At 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.

Mat 12:2

Mat 12:2But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”

Mat 12:3

Mat 12:3Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

Mat 12:4

Mat 12:4He 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.

Mat 12:5

Mat 12:5And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?

Mat 12:6

Mat 12:6I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!

Mat 12:7

Mat 12:7But 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.’[fn]

Mat 12:8

Mat 12:8For the Son of Man[fn] is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

(Mar 3:1–6; Luk 6:6–11 )

Mat 12:9

Mat 12:9Then Jesus went over to their synagogue,

Mat 12:10

Mat 12:10where 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.)

Mat 12:11

Mat 12:11And 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.

Mat 12:12

Mat 12:12And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”

Mat 12:13

Mat 12:13Then 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!

Mat 12:14

Mat 12:14Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.

Jesus, God’s Chosen Servant

Mat 12:15

Mat 12:15But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them,

Mat 12:16

Mat 12:16but he warned them not to reveal who he was.

Mat 12:17

Mat 12:17This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him:

Mat 12:18

Mat 12:18“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.

Mat 12:19

Mat 12:19He will not fight or shout
or raise his voice in public.

Mat 12:20

Mat 12:20He will not crush the weakest reed
or put out a flickering candle.
Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.

Mat 12:21

Mat 12:21And his name will be the hope
of all the world.”[fn]

Jesus and the Prince of Demons

(Mar 3:22–27; Luk 11:14–23 )

Mat 12:22

Mat 12:22Then 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.

Mat 12:23

Mat 12:23The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?”

Mat 12:24

Mat 12:24But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan,[fn] the prince of demons.”

Mat 12:25

Mat 12:25Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.

Mat 12:26

Mat 12:26And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.

Mat 12:27

Mat 12:27And 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.

Mat 12:28

Mat 12:28But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.

Mat 12:29

Mat 12:29For 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.

Mat 12:30

Mat 12:30“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

(Mar 3:28–30 )

Mat 12:31

Mat 12:31“So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven.

Mat 12:32

Mat 12:32Anyone 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.

(Mat 7:15–20 )

Mat 12:33

Mat 12:33“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.

Mat 12:34

Mat 12:34You 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.

Mat 12:35

Mat 12:35A 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.

Mat 12:36

Mat 12:36And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.

Mat 12:37

Mat 12:37The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

The Sign of Jonah

(Luk 11:29–32 )

Mat 12:38

Mat 12:38One 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.”

Mat 12:39

Mat 12:39But 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.

Mat 12:40

Mat 12:40For 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.

Mat 12:41

Mat 12:41“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.

Mat 12:42

Mat 12:42The queen of Sheba[fn] 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.

(Luk 11:24–26 )

Mat 12:43

Mat 12:43“When an evil[fn] spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.

Mat 12:44

Mat 12:44Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.

Mat 12:45

Mat 12:45Then 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.”

The True Family of Jesus

(Mar 3:31–35; Luk 8:19–21 )

Mat 12:46

Mat 12:46As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.

Mat 12:47

Mat 12:47Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to you.”[fn]

Mat 12:48

Mat 12:48Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”

Mat 12:49

Mat 12:49Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers.

Mat 12:50

Mat 12:50Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”