| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. | 1At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. |
| 2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” | 2But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.” |
| 3Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? | 3Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? |
| 4He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests. | 4 He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. |
| 5Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent? | 5 And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? |
| 6But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. | 6 I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! |
| 7If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. | 7 But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ |
| 8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” | 8 For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!” Jesus Heals on the Sabbath |
| 9Moving on from there, Jesus entered their synagogue, | 9Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, |
| 10and a man with a withered hand was there. In order to accuse Jesus, they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” | 10where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.) |
| 11He replied, “If one of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? | 11And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. |
| 12How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” | 12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.” |
| 13Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored to full use, just like the other. | 13Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! |
| 14But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. | 14Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus. Jesus, God’s Chosen Servant |
| 15Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all, | 15But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, |
| 16warning them not to make Him known. | 16but he warned them not to reveal who he was. |
| 17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: | 17This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him: |
| 18“Here is 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 nations. | 18“Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. |
| 19He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets. | 19He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public. |
| 20A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory. | 20He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious. |
| 21In His name the nations will put their hope.” | 21And his name will be the hope of all the world.” Jesus and the Prince of Demons |
| 22Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed the man so that he could speak and see. | 22Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. |
| 23The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?” | 23The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?” |
| 24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.” | 24But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” |
| 25Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. | 25Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. |
| 26If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? | 26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. |
| 27And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. | 27 And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. |
| 28But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. | 28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. |
| 29Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. | 29 For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house. |
| 30He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. | 30 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. |
| 31Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. | 31 “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. |
| 32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come. | 32 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come. |
| 33Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. | 33 “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. |
| 34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. | 34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. |
| 35The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. | 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. |
| 36But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. | 36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. |
| 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” | 37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” The Sign of Jonah |
| 38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” | 38One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.” |
| 39Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. | 39But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. |
| 40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. | 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. |
| 41The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here. | 41 “The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent. |
| 42The Queen of the South will rise 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 now One greater than Solomon is here. | 42 The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen. |
| 43When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. | 43 “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. |
| 44Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ On its return, it finds the house vacant, swept clean, and put in order. | 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. |
| 45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there; and the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.” | 45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.” The True Family of Jesus |
| 46While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. | 46As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. |
| 47Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.” | 47Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.” |
| 48But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” | 48Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” |
| 49Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers. | 49Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. |
| 50For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” | 50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” |
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