0 SAB Matthew 12

Matthew

CHAPTER 12

The disciples pluck grain on the sabbath
12:1-8, Cf. Mk 2:23-28, Lk 6:1-5

1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.

Jesus's disciples were hungry on the Sabbath. So they plucked and ate some grain.

2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

When the Pharisees saw it, they said to Jesus,
Your disciples are breaking the sabbath.

3But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

Jesus said to them,
Haven't you read what David did when he and his men were hungry? [1]

He entered the house of God and ate the bread that only priests are supposed to eat.

5Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

Haven't you read in the law that priests may profane the sabbath.

6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

Well, this place has a person who is greater than the temple. (Me.)

7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

If you knew what this means, "I will have mercy and not sacrifice" [2], you wouldn't condemn the innocent.

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

Because the Son of man is Lord of the sabbath. [3]
A man with a withered hand
12:9-14, Cf. Mk 3:1-6, Lk 6:6-11

9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:

10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

Next Jesus then went to their synagogue and saw a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus,
Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?

11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

Jesus answered,
If a sheep falls into a pit on the sabbath day, would you lift it out?

12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

Well, a man is better than a sheep. Therefore, it is lawful to do good on sabbath days.

13Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

Jesus then said to the man,
Hold out your hand.

And the man held it out, and it was healed.

Then the Pharisees held a council to plot how they could destroy him.

God's chosen servant
12:15-21

15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

16And charged them that they should not make him known:

17That it might be fulfilled which 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 shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

Jesus left, since he knew what they were up to.

A great crowd followed him, and he healed them all.

Jesus told them not to tell anyone to fulfill the words of Isaiah [4], saying,

Look at my chosen servant, my beloved, in whom I am well pleased.

I'll put my spirit on him, and he will show judgment to the Gentiles.

19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

He won't strive or cry; no one will hear his voice in the streets.

20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

He won't break a bruised reed or quench smoking flax, until he judges in victory,.

21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

And the Gentiles will trust in his name.
Jesus and Beelzebub
12:22-29, Cf. Mk 3:22-27, Lk 11:14-22

22Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

Then they brought to Jesus a man possessed with a devil, who could neither see nor speak.

And Jesus healed him. [5]

23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

Everyone was amazed, and said,
Isn't this the son of David?

24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

When the Pharisees heard about it, they said,
This man casts out devils through the power of Beelzebub, the prince of devils. [6]

25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Jesus read their thoughts, and said to them,
A kingdom or city divided against itself will not stand.

26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself and his kingdom will fall.

27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do you and your followers cast them out?

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

29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is upon you.
The unforgivable sin
(blasphemy against the Holy Ghost)
 12:30-37, Cf. Mk 3:29, Lk 12:10

30He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Whoever is not with me is against me. [7]

And whoever doesn't gather with me, scatters.

31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven -- except for blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which will never be forgiven.

32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Whoever speaks against the Son of man will be forgiven.

But whoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, will never be forgiven, not in this world or the world to come. [8]

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

Either make the tree good, and the fruit good; or make the tree bad, and the fruit bad.

A tree is known by its fruit.

34O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

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

You generation of vipers! [9]

How can you, being evil, speak good things?

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Every idle word that people speak will be used against them on the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

For by your words you will be either justified or condemned. [10]
An evil and adulterous generation (asks for a sign)
12:38-42, Cf. Mt 16:1-4, Lk 11:29-32

38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,
Master, could you give us a sign.

39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah:

Jesus answered,
An evil generation and adulterous generation asks for a sign. [11]

You'll get no sign, except for the sign of Jonah.

40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

For as Jonah lived 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. [12]

41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and, behold, a greater than Jonah is here.

The men of Nineveh will condemn this generation, because they repented at Jonah's preaching.

And someone greater than Jonah is here. (Me.)

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

And the queen of the south will condemn this generation [13], because she heard the wisdom of Solomon.

And someone greater than Solomon is here. (Me.) [14]

The return of the unclean spirit
12:33-45, Cf. Lk 11:24-26

43When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

44Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

45Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

When an unclean spirit goes out of a man [15], he walks around looking for another body to inhabit.

When he doesn't find any, he says to himself,

I guess I'll just go back to the body I left.

But when he gets back into that body, he finds it empty, clean, and swept.

So he finds seven other spirits even more wicked than himself, and they enter that body and live there.

And the last state of the man is worse than the first.

That is the way it'll be for this wicked generation.

Jesus: Who is my mother?
12:46-50, Cf. Mk 3:31-35, Lk 8:19-21

46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

While Jesus was busy talking, his mother and brothers came by and wanted to talk with him.

47Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

So someone said to Jesus,
Your mother and brothers would like to talk to you.

48But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

Jesus said,
Who is my mother? And who are my brothers? [16]

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

He then stretched out his hand toward his disciples and said,
These are my mother and brothers.

50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Whoever does the will of my Father is my brother, sister, and mother.
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