Matthew 12

The Pharisees accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath when His disciples pluck grain, and Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. The Pharisees attribute His power to Beelzebub, and Jesus warns that blasphemy against the Holy Ghost will not be forgiven. He declares that His true family are those who do the will of His Father.

v	King James Version	Modern English
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.	At that time Jesus walked through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick heads of grain and eat them.
2	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.	When the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath."
3	But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;	He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who 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?	how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread, which was not lawful for Him to eat, nor for those with Him, but only for the priests?
5	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?	Or have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are guiltless?
6	But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.	I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.
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 had known what this means — 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice' — you would not have condemned the guiltless.
8	For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.	For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
9	And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:	Departing from there, 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.	A man was there with a withered hand. They asked Jesus, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" — so they could 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?	He said to them, "Which of You, if He has one sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of 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.	How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
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.	Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it was restored — as whole as the other.
14	Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.	The Pharisees went out and plotted 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;	Jesus, knowing this, withdrew from there. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all.
16	And charged them that they should not make him known:	He warned them not to make Him known,
17	That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,	so that what was spoken by Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled:
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.	"My servant whom I have chosen, My beloved in whom My soul delights — I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19	He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.	He will not quarrel or cry out. 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.	A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out, until He leads justice to victory.
21	And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.	In His name the Gentiles will hope."
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.	Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Him. He healed him, so that the mute man both spoke and saw.
23	And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?	All the people were amazed and said, "Can this be 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.	But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."
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 knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to ruin. Every city or house 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. How then will 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.	If I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your own sons cast them out? They will be your judges.
28	But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.	But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to 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.	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 rob His house.
30	He 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. Whoever does not 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.	Therefore I tell You, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men. But the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost will not 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 a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Ghost will not be forgiven — not in this age or in the age 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.	Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad. The tree is known by its 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.	You brood of vipers! How can You speak good things when You are evil? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
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.	The good man brings good things out of His good treasure. The evil man brings evil things out of His evil treasure.
36	But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.	I tell You that on the day of judgment, men will give account for every careless word they speak.
37	For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.	By Your words You will be justified, and by Your words You will be condemned."
38	Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.	Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, "Master, we want to see a sign from You."
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:	He answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign. But no sign will be given to it except 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.	For just as Jonas was in the belly of the great fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
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.	The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it. For they repented at the preaching of Jonas, and something 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.	The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it. For she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and something 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.	When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finds 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.	Then it says, 'I will return to my house from where I came.' When it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.
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.	Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there. The final state of that man is worse than the first. So it will be with this evil generation."
46	While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.	While He was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak with Him.
47	Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.	Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak with You."
48	But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?	He replied to the one who told him, "Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?"
49	And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!	Stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Here are My mother and My 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 in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."