Lord of the Sabbath Matthew 12:1–8 1 Matthew 12:1. At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.2 Matthew 12:2. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”3 Matthew 12:3. Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 Matthew 12:4. He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests. 5 Matthew 12:5. Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6 Matthew 12:6. But I tell you that One greater than the temple is here. 7 Matthew 12:7. If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 Matthew 12:8. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
The Man with the Shriveled Hand Matthew 12:9–14 9 Matthew 12:9. Moving on from there, Jesus entered their synagogue,10 Matthew 12:10. and a man with a withered hand was there. In order to accuse Jesus, they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”11 Matthew 12:11. He replied, “If one of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Matthew 12:12. How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Matthew 12:13. Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored to full use, just like the other.14 Matthew 12:14. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
The Servant of the Lord Matthew 12:15–21 15 Matthew 12:15. Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all,16 Matthew 12:16. warning them not to make Him known.17 Matthew 12:17. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:18 Matthew 12:18. “Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.19 Matthew 12:19. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets.20 Matthew 12:20. A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory.21 Matthew 12:21. In His name the nations will put their hope.”
A House Divided Matthew 12:22–32 22 Matthew 12:22. Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed the man so that he could speak and see.23 Matthew 12:23. The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?”24 Matthew 12:24. But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”25 Matthew 12:25. Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 Matthew 12:26. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 Matthew 12:27. And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 Matthew 12:28. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Matthew 12:29. Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. 30 Matthew 12:30. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. 31 Matthew 12:31. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Matthew 12:32. 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 one to come.
A Tree and Its Fruit Matthew 12:33–37 33 Matthew 12:33. Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Matthew 12:34. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 Matthew 12:35. The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. 36 Matthew 12:36. But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 Matthew 12:37. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
The Sign of Jonah Matthew 12:38–42 38 Matthew 12:38. Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”39 Matthew 12:39. Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 Matthew 12:40. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 Matthew 12:41. The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here. 42 Matthew 12:42. The Queen of the South will rise 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 now One greater than Solomon is here.
An Unclean Spirit’s Return Matthew 12:43–45 43 Matthew 12:43. When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Matthew 12:44. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ On its return, it finds the house vacant, swept clean, and put in order. 45 Matthew 12:45. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.”
True Relationships Matthew 12:46 46 Matthew 12:46. While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him.47 Matthew 12:47. Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.”48 Matthew 12:48. But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” 49 Matthew 12:49. Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers. 50 Matthew 12:50. For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
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Pray with this chapter A short prayer for the reader. This is not Scripture and is kept distinct from the Berean text.
Lord Jesus, as we read Matthew 12 — Lord of the Sabbath — open our ears to your voice and make us faithful hearers and doers of your word. Amen.
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