Matthew 12:1-24 ▼

1 AT that time, Jesus walked on the sabbath through the wheat fields; and his disciples became hungry, and they began to pluck ears of wheat and eat.

2 But when the Pharisees saw them, they said to him, Behold, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.

3 But he said to them, Have you not read what David did, when he and those who were with him were hungry?

4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat bread that was on the table of the Lord, that which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?

5 Or, have you not read in the book of law, that the priests in the temple disregard the sabbath, and yet are blameless?

6 But I say to you, that there is one here, who is greater than the temple.

7 But if you only knew what it means, I want mercy and not sacrifice, you would not condemn those who are blameless.

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

9 And Jesus departed from thence and came to their synagogue.

10 And there was a man there whose hand was withered. And they questioned him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath? that they might accuse him.

11 He said to them, Who is the man among you who has only one sheep, and if it should fall into a pit on the sabbath, would he not take hold of it and lift it up?

12 How much more important is a man than a sheep? It is therefore lawful to do good on the sabbath.

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

14 And the Pharisees went out, and they took counsel concerning him, so as to do away with him.

15 But Jesus knew of it, and departed from thence; and a great many people followed him, and he healed them all.

16 And he charged them not to say where he was,

17 So that what was said by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled, who said,

18 Behold my servant with whom I am pleased, my beloved one, in whom my soul rejoices; I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will preach justice to the peoples.

19 He will not argue, nor will he cry aloud; and no man will hear his voice in the street.

20 He will not break even a bruised reed, and he will not extinguish a flickering lamp, until he brings justice to victory;

21 And in his name will the peoples find hope.

22 Then they brought near to him a lunatic, who was also dumb and blind; and he healed him, so that the dumb and blind man could speak and see.

23 All the people were amazed and said, Perhaps this man is the son of David?

24 But when the Pharisees heard of it, they said, This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebub, the prince of demons.