Matthew 12:1-13 ▼

1 AT that time Jesus walked through corn-fields on a sabbath-day; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, Behold, thy disciples do a thing that it is not lawful to do on the sabbath.

3 And he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they who were with him?

4 how they went into the house of God, and did eat the loaves of shew-bread, of which it was not lawful for him or those who were with him to eat, but for the priests alone?

5 Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbaths the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are not culpable?

6 Now I tell you, That one greater than the temple is here.

7 But if ye had known what that meant, I desire mercy and not sacrifice; ye would not have condemned the innocent.

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

9 And going on from thence, he came into their synagogue;

10 and, behold a man was there who had a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

11 Then he said to them; What man of you is there who hath one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath, doth he not lay hold on him, and lift him out?

12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath days.

13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch out thy hand; and he stretched it out, and it was restored, sound as the other.