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Regarding The Sabbath, Jesus Makes Himself The Issue: I Am Lord of The Sabbath

12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry and began to pluck[a] heads [of grain] and eat. And the Pharisees, having seen it, said to Him, “Behold— Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to be doing on a Sabbath”. And the One said to them, “Did you not read [in 1 Sam 21:1-6] what David did when he was hungry, and the ones with him— how he entered into the house of God and they ate the Bread of Presentation[b] which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for the ones with him, but for the priests alone? Or did you not read in the Law that on the Sabbaths, the priests in the temple profane[c] the Sabbath and are guiltless[d]? But I say to you that a greater-thing than the temple is here. But if you had known what it means [in Hos 6:6]— ‘I desire mercy, and not a sacrifice’— you would not have condemned the guiltless ones. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath[e]”.

Jesus Deliberately Heals a Man On The Sabbath, Inflaming The Pharisees

And having passed-on from there, He went into their synagogue. 10 And behold— there was a man having a withered hand. And they questioned Him, saying, ‘Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath?’— in order that they might accuse Him. 11 And the One said to them, “What person will there be from-among you who will have one sheep, and if this sheep falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and raise it? 12 How much then is a person more-valuable than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to be acting commendably[f] on the Sabbath”. 13 Then He says to the man, “Stretch-out your hand”. And he stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 And having gone out, the Pharisees took counsel against Him, so that they might destroy Him.

Jesus Speaks By His Actions. He Does Not Quarrel Or Shout, Fulfilling Isaiah

15 But Jesus, having known it, withdrew from there. And large crowds followed Him, and He cured them all. 16 And He warned them that they should not make Him known, 17 in order that the thing might be fulfilled having been spoken through Isaiah the prophet saying 18 “Behold My servant Whom I chose, My Beloved in Whom My soul was[g] well-pleased: I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will announce[h] justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel, nor shout, nor will anyone hear His voice in the wide-roads. 20 He will not break a reed having been bruised, and He will not quench a smoldering wick, until He leads-out[i] justice[j] to victory. 21 And the Gentiles will put-hope in His name” [Isa 42:1-4].

The Crowds Call Jesus The Messiah. The Pharisees Attribute His Power To The Devil

22 Then a blind and mute man being demon-possessed was brought to Him. And He cured him, so that the mute man was speaking and seeing. 23 And all the crowds were astonished, and were saying, “This One is not the Son of David, is He?” 24 But the Pharisees, having heard it, said, “This One is not casting out the demons except by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons!”

Such Blasphemy Against The Spirit Will Not Be Forgiven

25 And knowing their thoughts, He said to them— “Every kingdom having been divided against itself is desolated, and every city or house having been divided against itself will not stand; 26 and if Satan is casting-out Satan, he was divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I am casting out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom[k] are your sons casting them out? For this reason they will be your judges; 28 but if I am casting out the demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God came[l] upon you. 29 Or how can anyone enter into the house of the strong man and snatch-away his things unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30 The one not being with Me[m] is against Me. And the one not gathering with Me is scattering. 31 For this reason I say to you— every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven to people. But the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven[n]. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven to him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven to him— neither in this age nor in the one coming. 33 Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad[o]. For the tree is known by the fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How are you able to speak good things, being evil? For the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart— 35 the good person brings out good things from his good treasure[p], and the evil person brings out evil things from his evil treasure. 36 And I say to you that every useless[q] word which people will speak— they will render an account for it on the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be declared-righteous, and by your words you will be condemned”.

Pharisees Ask Jesus For a Sign. He Offers Only The Sign of Jonah: Three Days In a Grave

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees responded to Him, saying “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You”. 39 But the One, having responded, said to them— “An evil and adulterous[r] generation is seeking-for a sign. And a sign will not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea-creature[s], so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights[t] in the heart of the earth.

The Ninevites Will Condemn This Generation, For They Repented At Jonah’s Message

41 “Ninevite men will rise-up at the judgment with this generation, and they will condemn it. Because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and behold— a greater thing than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will be raised at the judgment with this generation, and she will condemn it. Because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold— a greater thing than Solomon is here.

The Demons I Cast Out Now Will Return Later, And You Will Be Worse Off

43 “Now when the unclean spirit departs from the person, it goes through waterless places seeking rest[u], and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from where I came-out’. And having come, it finds it being unoccupied, having been swept and put-in-order[v]. 45 Then it proceeds and takes along with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself. And having gone in, they dwell there, and the last[w] state of that person becomes worse than the first. So it will be[x] also with this evil generation”.

Jesus Says That Whoever Does The Will of God Is His Brother And Sister And Mother

46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold— His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 And someone said to Him, “Behold— Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to You”. 48 But the One, having responded, said to the one speaking to Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And having stretched-out His hand toward His disciples, He said “Behold— My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in the heavens— he is My brother and sister and mother”.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 12:1 The Law permitted this, Deut 23:25.
  2. Matthew 12:4 That is, the bread ‘presented to’ or ‘set-before’ God, Lev 24:6-9. See Mk 2:26.
  3. Matthew 12:5 That is, treat as common, as an ordinary work day. In other words, the temple ministry is more important than the Sabbath. And Jesus is more important than the temple.
  4. Matthew 12:5 Or, innocent, without accusation.
  5. Matthew 12:8 Compare Mk 2:27.
  6. Matthew 12:12 Or, rightly, appropriately, well. God did not forbid doing good on the Sabbath. Compare Mk 3:4.
  7. Matthew 12:18 See 3:17.
  8. Matthew 12:18 Or, declare, proclaim.
  9. Matthew 12:20 Or, brings out, sends out, takes out.
  10. Matthew 12:20 Or, judgment.
  11. Matthew 12:27 The reasoning required to prove that the Jews are not using the power of Satan to cast out demons will also prove it in the case of Jesus.
  12. Matthew 12:28 Or arrived.
  13. Matthew 12:30 That is, not standing with Me.
  14. Matthew 12:31 To attribute the works and power of Jesus to Satan is to speak against the Spirit empowering Him.
  15. Matthew 12:33 make the tree good... or... bad. That is, either make the tree (Jesus) good and the fruit (His works) good... or bad. You can’t say that His miracles are good and He is from Satan. Or, either make the tree (you Pharisees) good and its fruit (repentance, believing Jesus) good... or bad. Make your choice about Me!
  16. Matthew 12:35 Or, treasury, treasure house.
  17. Matthew 12:36 Or, unproductive, idle, not working, and therefore, non-edifying, unprofitable, worthless.
  18. Matthew 12:39 That is, spiritually unfaithful to God.
  19. Matthew 12:40 Or, huge fish. This is a generic term used of large sea creatures.
  20. Matthew 12:40 A day and a night is one day, as in Gen 1:5. This is another way of saying ‘three days’. It does not mean 72 hours.
  21. Matthew 12:43 Or, a resting place.
  22. Matthew 12:44 Or, adorned, decorated.
  23. Matthew 12:45 Lit, last things.
  24. Matthew 12:45 Jesus is casting out demons and putting Israel’s house in order. But upon this evil generation’s rejection of Him, the demons will return and Israel will be worse off.

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath(A)(B)

12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain(C) and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”(D)

He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?(E) He 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.(F) Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath(G) and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.(H) If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’[a](I) you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man(J) is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus,(K) they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”(L)

11 He 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?(M) 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep!(N) Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

13 Then 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. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.(O)

God’s Chosen Servant

15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.(P) 16 He warned them not to tell others about him.(Q) 17 This was to fulfill(R) what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
    the one I love, in whom I delight;(S)
I will put my Spirit on him,(T)
    and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19 He will not quarrel or cry out;
    no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory.
21     In his name the nations will put their hope.”[b](U)

Jesus and Beelzebul(V)

22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.(W) 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”(X)

24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul,(Y) the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”(Z)

25 Jesus knew their thoughts(AA) and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan(AB) drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul,(AC) by whom do your people(AD) drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God(AE) has come upon you.

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 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.(AF) 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.(AG) 32 Anyone 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(AH) or in the age to come.(AI)

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.(AJ) 34 You brood of vipers,(AK) how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks(AL) what the heart is full of. 35 A 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 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”(AM)

The Sign of Jonah(AN)(AO)

38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign(AP) from you.”(AQ)

39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.(AR) 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish,(AS) so the Son of Man(AT) will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.(AU) 41 The men of Nineveh(AV) will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah,(AW) and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came(AX) from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.

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 house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then 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.(AY) That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers(AZ)

46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother(BA) and brothers(BB) stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”

48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven(BC) is my brother and sister and mother.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 12:7 Hosea 6:6
  2. Matthew 12:21 Isaiah 42:1-4

12 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.

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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.

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?

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

13 Then 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.

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

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

17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias 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.

19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man 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.

21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

22 Then 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.

23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not 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.

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:

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

34 O 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.

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

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

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

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 Jonas:

40 For as Jonas 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.

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

42 The 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.

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

44 Then 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.

45 Then 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.

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

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

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

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

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