Matthew 12
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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.1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them.
2But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."
3Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?3He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
4 He 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.4He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread--which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.
5 And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?5Or haven't you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent?
6 I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!6I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.
7 But 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.’7If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.
8 For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!” Jesus Heals on the Sabbath8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
9Then Jesus went over to their synagogue,9Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue,
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.)10and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"
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.11He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?
12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”12How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
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!13Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.
14Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus. Jesus, God’s Chosen Servant14But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
15But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them,15Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.
16but he warned them not to reveal who he was.16He warned them not to tell others about him.
17This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him:17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
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.18"Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public.19He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.20A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.
21And his name will be the hope of all the world.” Jesus and the Prince of Demons21In his name the nations will put their hope."
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.22Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
23The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?”23All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"
24But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.”24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."
25Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.25Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.26If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
27 And 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.27And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.28But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.29"Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
30 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.30"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
31 “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven.31And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 Anyone 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.32Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
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.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 recognized by its fruit.
34 You 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.34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
35 A 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.35A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.36But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.
37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” The Sign of Jonah37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
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.”38Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."
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.39He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For 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.40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
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.41The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.
42 The queen of Sheba 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.42The 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 listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.
43 “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.43"When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.44Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.
45 Then 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 Jesus45Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."
46As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.46While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.
47Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.”47Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."
48Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”48He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"
49Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers.49Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers.
50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.New International Version (NIV)

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Matthew 11
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