English Standard Version

Christian Standard Bible

1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.

1At that time Jesus passed through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick and eat some heads of grain.

2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”

2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "See, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath."

3He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:

3He said to them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry:

4how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?

4how he entered the house of God, and they ate the bread of the Presence--which is not lawful for him or for those with him to eat, but only for the priests?

5Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?

5Or haven't you read in the law that on Sabbath days the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent?

6I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.

6I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.

7And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.

7If you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent.

8For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

9He went on from there and entered their synagogue.

9Moving on from there, he entered their synagogue.

10And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him.

10There he saw a man who had a shriveled hand, and in order to accuse him they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"

11He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?

11He replied to them, "Who among you, if he had a sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath, wouldn't take hold of it and lift it out?

12Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

12A person is worth far more than a sheep; so it is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath."

13Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.

13Then he told the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out, and it was restored, as good as the other.

14But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

14But the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, how they might kill him.

15Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all

15Jesus was aware of this and withdrew. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them all.

16and ordered them not to make him known.

16He warned them not to make him known,

17This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

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

18“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

18Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

19He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;

19He will not argue or shout, and no one will hear his voice in the streets.

20a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;

20He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick, until he has led justice to victory.

21and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

21The nations will put their hope in his name.

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

22Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to him. He healed him, so that the man could both speak and see.

23And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”

23All the crowds were astounded and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"

24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”

24When the Pharisees heard this, they said, "This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons."

25Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.

25Knowing their thoughts, he told them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.

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

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

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

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

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

28If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

29Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.

29How can someone enter a strong man's house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.

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

30Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.

31Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

31Therefore, I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

32And whoever 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 age to come.

32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come.

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

33"Either make the tree good and its fruit will be good, or make the tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.

34You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

34Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

35The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.

35A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.

36I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

36I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak.

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

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

38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”

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

39But 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 Jonah.

39He answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

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

40For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

41The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

41The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah's preaching; and look--something greater than Jonah is here.

42The 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 behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

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

43“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.

43"When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places looking for rest but doesn't find any.

44Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.

44Then it says, 'I'll go back to my house that I came from.' Returning, it finds the house vacant, swept, and put in order.

45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that person's last condition is worse than the first. That's how it will also be with this evil generation."

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

46While he was still speaking with the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside wanting to speak to him.

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

48But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”

48He replied to the one who was speaking to him, "Who is my mother and who are my brothers?"

49And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!

49Stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!

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

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

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.