‏ Matthew 12

1At that time Jesus went on the sabbath through the grain-fields; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears of grain, and to eat. 2But the Pharisees, seeing it, said to him, Lo! thy disciples are doing that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath. 3But he said to them, Have ye not read what David did, when he and those who were with him were hungry? 4how he went into the house of God, and they ate the show-bread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but for the priests alone? 5Or have ye not read in the Law, that on the sabbaths the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 6But I say to you, that something greater than the temple is here. 7But if ye had known what this meaneth, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice," ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath. 9And departing thence, he went into their synagogue. 10And, lo! there was a man having a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath? that they might accuse him. 11And he said to them, Who of you that owneth one sheep, if it fall into a pit on the sabbath, will not lay hold of it, and lift it out? 12Of how much more worth now is a man than a sheep! So then it is lawful to do well on the sabbath. 13Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored sound as the other. 14Then the Pharisees went out, and consulted together against him, how they might destroy him. 15But Jesus, knowing it, withdrew from thence; and many followed him; and he healed them all, 16and strictly charged them not to make him known; 17that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, 18"Behold my servant, whom I chose; my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased; I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will declare judgment to the nations. 19He will not strive, nor cry aloud, nor will any one hear his voice in the streets. 20A bruised reed he will not break, and smoking flax he will not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. 21And in his name will nations hope." 22Then was brought to him one possessed by a demon, blind and dumb; and he healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw. 23And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Is this the son of David? 24But the Pharisees, hearing it, said, This man doth not cast out the demons, except through Beelzebul, the prince of the demons. 25And he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? 27And if I cast out the demons through Beelzebul, through whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore shall they be judges of you. 28But if I cast out the demons through the Spirit of God, then hath the kingdom of God already come to you. 29Or how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and seize upon his goods, unless he first bind the strong man, and then plunder his house? 30He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 31Therefore I say to you, All manner of sin and evil-speaking will be forgiven to men; but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32And whoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaketh against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this world, or in the world to come. 33Either say that the tree is good, and its fruit good; or say that the tree is bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! 34How can ye, evil as ye are, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35The good man, from his good treasure, bringeth out good things; and the evil man, from his evil treasure, bringeth out evil things. 36And I say to you, that for every idle word that men shall speak, they will give account in the day of judgment. 37For by thy words thou wilt be justified, and by thy words thou wilt be condemned. 38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we wish to see a sign from thee. 39But he answered and said to them, A wicked and adulterous generation is seeking for a sign; and no sign will be given to it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet. 40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and, lo! something more than Jonah is here. 42The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and lo! something more than Solomon is here. 43But when the unclean spirit is gone out from a man, it goeth through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth it not. 44Then it saith, I will return to my house whence I came out. And on coming, it findeth it empty, and swept, and put in order. 45Then it goeth and taketh with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they enter in, and dwell there; and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. So will it be also with this wicked generation. 46While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, lo! his mother and his brothers were standing without, seeking to speak with him. 47And one said to him, Behold, thy mother and thy brothers are standing without, seeking to speak with thee. 48But he answered and said to him that told him, Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? 49And stretching forth his hand toward his disciples, be said, Behold, my mother and my brothers! 50For whoever doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.