Matthew 12

1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, but his disciples grew hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and eat.

2But the Pharisees saw and said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what isn't lawful on the Sabbath."

3But he said to them, "Haven't you read what David did when he was hungry and those with him?"

4How did he enter the house of God and they eat the presentation loaves, which it was not permitted for him to eat, nor for those with him, except only for the priests?

5Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbaths the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?

6But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.

7But if you had known what this is—“I desire mercy and not sacrifice”—you would not have condemned the innocent.

8For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.

9And leaving that place, he went into their synagogue.

10And look, a man was there with a withered hand. They asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" so they might accuse him.

11But he said to them, "Who among you is a man who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath, won't he seize it and raise it?"

12How much more valuable, then, is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is permitted to do good on the sabbaths.

13Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it was restored sound, like the other.

14But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him about how to destroy him.

15But Jesus, aware of it, went away from there, and many followed him, and he healed them all.

16And he charged them not to make him known.

17so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying

18Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul delights; I will place my Spirit upon him, and he will declare justice to the nations.

19He will not strive, nor cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.

20He will not break a crushed reed or quench a smoldering flax until he brings justice to victory.

21And nations will hope in his name.

22Then a demon-possessed man, blind and mute, was brought to him, and he healed him so that the mute man spoke and saw.

23And all the crowds were astonished and said, "Isn't this the son of David?"

24But the Pharisees, when they heard, said, "This one does not expel the demons except by Beelzebul, ruler of the demons."

25Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is made desolate, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”

26And if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

27And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges.

28But if by God's Spirit I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

29Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and seize his goods unless he first binds the strong man? Then he will plunder his house.

30Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

31Because of this I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

32And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven him—neither in this age nor in the coming one.

33Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten; for by the fruit the tree is known.

34Brood of vipers, how can you who are evil speak good things? For from the heart's abundance the mouth speaks.

35The good man brings forth good things from his good treasure, and the evil man brings forth evil things from his evil treasure.

36But I tell you that every idle word people speak, they will give account for it on the day of judgment.

37For you will be justified by your words, and you will be condemned by your words.

38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees replied to him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."

39But he replied to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign, and no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet."

40For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

41The men of Nineveh will rise in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah's preaching. Behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

42The queen from the south will rise in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon's wisdom; and see, something greater than Solomon is here.

43But when the unclean spirit goes out from the person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finds none.

44Then it says, "I will return to my house from where I came out," and coming back, it finds it empty, swept, and adorned.

45Then it sets out and takes along with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there; that man's final plight becomes worse than the first. Thus it will be for this evil generation too.

46While he was still speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him.

47Someone said to him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."

48But he answered the one who said to him, "Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?"

49And he extended his hand toward his disciples and said, "Look, my mother and my brothers!"

50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, sister, and mother.