Matthew 12:1-20 ▼

1 At that time Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.

2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.”

3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry,

4 how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat?

5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent?

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

7 If you knew what this meant, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned these innocent men.

8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

9 Moving on from there, he went into their synagogue.

10 And behold, there was a man there who had a withered hand. They questioned him, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?” so that they might accuse him.

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

12 How much more valuable a person is than a sheep. So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.”

13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and it was restored as sound as the other.

14 But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him to put him to death.

15 When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many [people] followed him, and he cured them all,

16 but he warned them not to make him known.

17 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet:

18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

19 He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.

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