The Lord of the Sabbath

1AT that time Jesus went through the corn on the sabbath: and his disciples being hungry, began to pluck the ears, and to eat. 2And the Pharisees seeing them, said to him: Behold thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days. 3But he said to them: Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and they that were with him: 4How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the loaves of proposition, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for them that were with him, but for the priests only? 5Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple break the sabbath, and are without blame? 6But I tell you that there is here a greater than the temple. 7And if you knew what this meaneth: I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: you would never have condemned the innocent.

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

Healing on the Sabbath

9And when he has passed from thence, he came into their synagogues. 10And behold there was a man who had a withered hand, and they asked him, saying: Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 11But he said to them: What man shall there be among you, that hath one sheep: and if the same fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not take hold on it and lift it up? 12How much better is a man than a sheep? Therefore it it lawful to do a good deed on the sabbath days. 13Then he saith to the man: Stretch forth thy hand; and he stretched it forth, and it was restored to health even as the other. 14And the Pharisees going out made a consultation against him, how they might destroy him.

God's Chosen Servant

15But Jesus knowing it, retired from thence: and many followed him, and he healed them all. 16And he charged them that they should not make him known. 17That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaias the prophet, saying:

18Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul hath been well pleased. I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

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

20The bruised reed he shall not break: and smoking flax he shall not extinguish: till he send forth judgment unto victory.

21And in his name the Gentiles shall hope.

A House Divided

22Then was offered to him one possessed with a devil, blind and dumb: and he healed him, so that he spoke and saw. 23And all the multitudes were amazed, and said: Is not this the son of David? 24But the Pharisees hearing it, said: This man casteth not out the devils but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

25And Jesus knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself shall be made desolate: and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. 26And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself: how then shall his kingdom stand? 27And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28But if I by the Spirit of God cast out devils, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. 29Or how can any one enter into the house of the strong, and rifle his goods, unless he first bind the strong? and then he will rifle his house.

30He that is not with me, is against me: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth.

The Unpardonable Sin

31Therefore I say to you: Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but the blasphemy of the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but he that shall speak against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in the world to come.

A Tree and its Fruit

33Either make the tree good and its fruit good: or make the tree evil, and its fruit evil. For by the fruit the tree is known. 34O generation of vipers, how can you speak good things, whereas you are evil? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35A good man out of a good treasure bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of an evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment. 37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

The Sign of Jonah

38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying: Master we would see a sign from thee. 39Who answering said to them: An evil and adulterous generation seeketh a sign: and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. 40For as Jonas was in the whale's belly three days and three nights: so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. 41The men of Ninive shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they did penance at the preaching of Jonas. And behold a greater than Jonas here. 42The queen of the south shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold a greater than Solomon here.

43And when an 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 coming he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45Then he goeth, and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man in made worse than the first. So shall it be also to this wicked generation.

Jesus' Mother and Brothers

46As he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold his mother and his brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him. 47And one said unto him: Behold thy mother and thy brethren stand without, seeking thee. 48But he answering him that told him, said: Who is my mother, and who are my brethren? 49And stretching forth his hand towards his disciples, he said: Behold my mother and my brethren. 50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father, that is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.