Matthew 12 Parallel Bible

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	NLT New Living Translation	ESV English Standard Version	NIV New International Version
1	At 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.	At 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.	At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them.
2	But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”	But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”	When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
3	Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?	He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:	He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
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.	how 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?	He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.
5	And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?	Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?	Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent?
6	I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!	I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.	I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.
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.’	And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.	If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.
8	For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”	For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”	For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
9	Then Jesus went over to their synagogue,	He went on from there and entered their synagogue.	Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue,
10	where 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.)	And 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.	and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
11	And 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.	He 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?	He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?
12	And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”	Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”	How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13	Then 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!	Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.	Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.
14	Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.	But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.	But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
15	But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them,	Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all	Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.
16	but he warned them not to reveal who he was.	and ordered them not to make him known.	He warned them not to tell others about him.
17	This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him:	This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:	This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
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.	“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.	“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19	He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public.	He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;	He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20	He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.	a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;	A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.
21	And his name will be the hope of all the world.”	and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”	In his name the nations will put their hope.”
22	Then 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.	Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw.	Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
23	The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?”	And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”	All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24	But 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.”	But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”	But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
25	Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.	Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.	Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
26	And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.	And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?	If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
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.	And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.	And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
28	But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.	But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.	But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
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.	Or 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.	“Or again, 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 plunder his house.
30	“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.	Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.	“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
31	“So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven.	Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.	And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
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.	And 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.	Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
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.	“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.	“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
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.	You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.	You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
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.	The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.	A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
36	And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.	I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,	But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.
37	The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”	for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”	For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
38	One 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.”	Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”	Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
39	But 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.	But 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.	He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
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.	For 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.	For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
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.	The 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.	The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah 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.	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 behold, something greater than Solomon is here.	The 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 listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.
43	“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.	“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.	“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
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.	Then 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.	Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.
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.”	Then 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.”	Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
46	As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.	While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.	While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.
47	Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.”		Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
48	Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”	But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”	He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”
49	Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers.	And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!	Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.
50	Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”	For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”	For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
	Read New Living Translation Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.	Read English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles.	Read New International Version Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.

Matthew 12 Parallel Bible Translations