Matthew 12

1 At that time [in that season, during that period] Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] went through [passed through, walked among] the grainfields [planted fields, corn] on the Sabbath [day of rest, seventh day of the week]. His disciples [learners, followers] were hungry [in need of food, feeling a strong craving] and began [commenced, started] to pick [pluck, gather] the heads of grain [ears of corn, top part of a grain plant] and eat [consume, take in] them. word study 2 When the Pharisees [a Jewish sect that followed strict religious rules] saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples [learners or pupils, followers of Jesus] are doing [performing or carrying out] what is [considered to be] unlawful [not permitted or forbidden] on the Sabbath [a day of rest and worship, the seventh day of the week].” word study 3 Jesus replied, “Have you not [ever] read [studied or known] what David [the king of Israel] did when he and his companions [those who were with him] were hungry [in need of food, experiencing hunger]? word study 4 He entered [went into, stepped into] the house [temple, dwelling place] of God [the one true deity, Creator], and he and his companions [those with him, his followers] ate [partook of, consumed] the consecrated [show, sacred] bread [loaves, food], which was not lawful [permitted, allowed] for them to eat [consume, partake], but only [exclusively, solely] for the priests [spiritual leaders, those set apart]. word study 5 Or haven’t you read [or is it not written] in the Law [the Mosaic law, the Torah] that on the Sabbath [the seventh day of rest, a day of worship] the priests [spiritual leaders, those who serve God] in the temple [a sacred place, the house of God] break [profane, treat as common] the Sabbath [a day of rest, a day of worship] and yet are innocent [guiltless, blameless, without fault]? word study 6 But I tell [say unto] you that something [one] greater [more significant, of higher importance] than the temple [the sacred place] is here [in this place]. word study 7 If only you had known [understood, recognized] the meaning of ‘I desire [will, intentionally choose] mercy [compassion, pity], not [but rather] sacrifice [offerings, gifts to God],’ you would not have condemned [judged, found guilty] the innocent [blameless, guiltless, without fault]. word study 8 For the Son [a human] of Man [a human being] is Lord [God, master] of the Sabbath [a day of rest and worship, the seventh day].” word study 9 Moving on [having departed, left] from there [that place, thence], Jesus [the Messiah, Savior] entered [went into, came to] their [belonging to them, their own] synagogue [a gathering place, house of worship], word study 10 and a man [with a crippled or shriveled] with a withered hand [a symbol of power or ability] was there [present, in their midst]. In order to accuse [to charge with wrongdoing] Jesus, they asked Him, “Is it lawful [permitted or righteous] to heal [to serve or cure] on the Sabbath [a day of rest and worship]?” word study 11 He replied, “If one of you [who is a human being, a person] has a sheep [a literal animal or a person who follows a leader] and it falls [to fall into, to be overwhelmed] into a pit [a hole or ditch in the ground] on the Sabbath [the seventh day of the week, a day of rest and worship], will he not take hold of it [to grasp or seize, to use strength to take hold] and lift it out [to raise or lift up, to bring to a higher position]? word study 12 How much [to what extent, in what degree] more valuable is a man [a human being, anthropology] than a sheep [a literal animal or a person who follows a leader]! Therefore [then, as a result] it is lawful [permitted, allowed] to do [perform, accomplish] good [well, rightly, with a moral tone] on the Sabbath [a day of rest, the seventh day of the week].” word study 13 Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out [extend, reach out] your hand [the instrument of power and action].” So he stretched it out [held it forth, extended it], and it was restored [made whole, healed] to full use [complete functionality], just like [similar to, as healthy as] the other [the unaffected hand]. word study 14 But the Pharisees [a Jewish sect that followed strict religious rules] went out [exited, departed] and plotted [held a council, took counsel] how they might [in order to, with the purpose of] kill [destroy, put to death] Jesus [the Messiah, the Savior]. word study 15 Aware of this [having knowledge of their plot], Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] withdrew [left or departed] from that place [from there, thence]. Large crowds [great multitudes, many people] followed Him [accompanied Him as disciples], and He healed [served, cured] them all [every single one of them, completely], word study 16 warning [charging, instructing firmly] them not to [lest they would] make Him [manifest, clearly known] known [visible, apparent to all]. word study 17 This was to fulfill [make complete, satisfy] what was spoken [said, uttered] through [by means of, because of] the prophet [one who speaks for God, messenger] Isaiah [a prophet of God, writer of Scripture]: word study 18 “Here is My Servant [My chosen one, the Messiah], whom I have chosen [selected, elected], My beloved [dearly loved], in whom My soul [the seat of emotions] delights [is well pleased, takes great pleasure]. I will put My Spirit [the vital principle] on Him, and He will proclaim [declare, announce] justice [righteous judgment] to the nations [Gentiles, non-Jewish people]. word study 19 He will not [strive or] quarrel [argue with people] or cry out [shout loudly]; no one [any person, anyone] will hear His voice [sound, noise] in the streets [wide roads, public squares]. word study 20 A bruised [crushed, damaged] reed He will not break [shatter, crush completely], and a smoldering [smoking, barely burning] wick He will not extinguish [put out, quench], till He leads [guides, brings forth] justice [righteous judgment, verdict] to victory [triumph, conquest]. word study 21 In His [divine, authoritative] name [character, reputation, authority] the nations [Gentiles, non-Jewish people, foreigners] will put their [confident, hopeful] hope [trust, expectation, confidence].” word study 22 Then a [under the power of an evil spirit] demon-possessed man who was [physically and spiritually] blind [unable to see or perceive] and mute [deaf, unable to hear or speak] was brought to Jesus, and He healed [restored to health, made whole] the man so that he could speak [utter words, communicate] and see [perceive, understand, have spiritual insight]. word study 23 The crowds [all the multitudes, large groups of people] were astounded [amazed, shocked] and asked, “Could [surely not, is it possible that] this [this specific person] be [exist as, have the identity of] the [this particular] Son [a child or descendant] of David [King David of Israel]?” word study 24 But when the Pharisees [a Jewish sect that followed strict religious rules] heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul [the Lord of the flies, Satan], the prince [ruler or leader] of demons [evil spirits or unclean beings], does this man drive out [expel or cast out] demons [evil spirits].” word study 25 Knowing their thoughts [being aware of their reflections], Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom [domain, reign] divided against itself [in conflict with its own nature] will be laid waste [desolated, brought to destruction], and every city [town, community] or household [family, home] divided against itself [in discord with its own members] will not stand [endure, remain stable]. word study 26 If Satan [the accuser, adversary] drives out [expels, casts out] Satan [the enemy of God], he is [has become] divided [split, fragmented] against himself [his own kingdom]. How [in what way] then can his kingdom [domain, reign] stand [endure, remain]? word study 27 And if I [by the power of] drive out demons [evil spirits, unclean beings] by Beelzebul [the Lord of the flies, Satan], by whom [which authority, what power] do your sons [children, disciples] drive them out? So then, they will be your judges [those who will condemn or vindicate you, authorities]. word study 28 But if I [by the power of, through the agency of] drive out [expel, cast out, send out] demons [evil spirits, unclean beings] by the Spirit [the vital principle, divine breath] of God [the one true deity, Creator], then [as a result, consequently] the kingdom [God’s royal power and dominion] of God [the supreme ruler, sovereign] has come [arrived, preceded] upon [to, against, towards] you. word study 29 Or again [how is it possible], how can anyone [a person, someone] enter a strong man’s [powerful, mighty] house [home, dwelling] and steal [plunder, rob] his possessions [goods, belongings], unless he first [before anything else] ties up [binds, restrains] the strong man [the powerful one]? Then he can [is able to] plunder [rob, seize] his house [home, dwelling]. word study 30 He who is not [opposed to, against] with Me [in alliance, in harmony] is against Me, and he who does not gather [collect, assemble] with Me [in unity, as a disciple] scatters [disperse, drive away]. word study 31 Therefore I tell you, every [all manner of] sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards] and blasphemy [speaking badly of God or others] will be forgiven [released, let go] men, but the blasphemy [evil speaking] against the Spirit [the vital principle, mental disposition] will not be forgiven [released, let go]. word study 32 Whoever speaks a word [a message or utterance] against the Son of Man [the Messiah, Jesus Christ] will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit [the divine Helper, Breath of God] will not be forgiven, either in this age [the present time, this world] or in the one to come [the future, eternal realm]. word study 33 Make a tree [either decide it is] good [fair and beautiful] and its fruit [the product of its nature] will be good [fair and beautiful], or make a tree [consider it] bad [rotten and worthless] and its fruit [the result of its character] will be bad [rotten and worthless]; for a tree [by its very nature] is known [to understand and recognize] by its fruit [the visible evidence of its inner quality]. word study 34 You brood [offspring, generations] of vipers [poisonous snakes], how can you who are [being, characterized as] evil [morally wrong, harmful] say anything good [beneficial, righteous]? For out of the [abundance] overflow of the heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions], the mouth [the symbol of speech and communication] speaks [utters words, expresses thoughts]. word study 35 The [morally upright, righteous] good man brings [forth, produces] good things out of his [inner, spiritual] good store of treasure, and the [wicked, sinful] evil man brings [forth, produces] evil things out of his [inner, spiritual] evil store of treasure. word study 36 But I tell you [declare to you, say unto you] that men [human beings, people] will give an account [render a reckoning, pay the penalty] on the day [the time, the hour] of judgment [divine verdict, final decision] for every careless [idle, useless] word [message, utterance] they have spoken [said, uttered]. word study 37 For [as a reason, because of this] by your words [spoken messages, logos] you will be acquitted [justified, declared righteous], and by your words [spoken messages, logos] you will be condemned [judged guilty, found unrighteous].” word study 38 Then [at that specific point in time] some of the scribes [scholars of the law] and Pharisees [members of a strict Jewish sect] said to Him, “Teacher [instructor, rabbi], we want [desire, intentionally seek] to see [perceive, experience] a sign [supernatural indication, token] from You [directly from your actions, presence].” word study 39 Jesus replied, “A [evil and false] wicked and [morally unfaithful, spiritually adulterous] adulterous generation demands [seeks after, looks for] a sign, but none will be given it except the sign [token, indication] of the prophet [one who speaks forth God’s will, messenger] Jonah [who was swallowed by a whale]. word study 40 For as Jonah [a prophet, a messenger of God] was three days [a period of time, a span of 72 hours] and three nights [times of darkness, periods of rest] in the belly [the stomach, the interior] of the great fish [a sea monster, a huge aquatic creature], so the Son of Man [the Messiah, the representative of humanity] will be three days and three nights [times of darkness, periods of waiting] in the heart [the center, the core] of the earth [the world, the physical realm]. word study 41 The men [inhabitants, people] of Nineveh [a city in ancient Assyria] will stand [rise, arise] at the judgment [day of reckoning, divine verdict] with this generation [people living at the same time, contemporaries] and condemn [judge against, find guilty] it; for they repented [turned from sin, changed their minds] at the preaching [proclamation, message] of Jonah [a prophet, messenger of God], and now One [a Person, the Messiah] greater [more powerful, superior] than Jonah [the prophet] is here [present, among them]. word study 42 The Queen [ruler, monarch] of the South [the southern region, the ends of the earth] will rise [be raised, stand up] at the judgment [divine verdict, decision] with this generation [people living at the same time] and condemn [judge against, give a negative verdict] it; for she came [traveled, went] from the ends [limits, boundaries] of the earth [the world, the land] to hear [listen to, understand] the wisdom [spiritual understanding, insight] of Solomon [the son of King David, a wise king], and now One [a person, someone] greater [more superior, excellent] than Solomon [the king of Israel] is here [present, in this place]. word study 43 When an unclean [morally impure] spirit [the vital principle] comes out of a man, it passes through [waterless, dry] arid places [arid areas] seeking [looking for, trying to find] rest [a state of cessation from activity] and does not find [fails to discover, cannot locate] it. word study 44 Then [at that specific point in time] it says, ‘I will return [turn back, revert] to the house [home, dwelling place] I left [came out from, departed].’ On its return [coming back], it finds [discovers, comes across] the house [home, abode] vacant [empty, unoccupied], swept [cleaned, cleared] clean [pure, free from dirt], and put [arranged, decorated] in order [tidy, organized]. word study 45 Then it goes [to travel, journey through life] and brings with it [takes alongside] seven other spirits [breath, vital principle] more wicked [evil, morally wrong] than itself, and they go in [enter, come into] and dwell [reside, make their home] there; and the final [last, utmost] plight [condition, state] of that man is worse [more evil, harmful] than the first [initial, beginning]. So will it be [thus, in this way] with this wicked [evil, bad] generation [people living at the same time].” word study 46 While Jesus was still [yet, ongoing, continuing] speaking [talking, uttering words] to the crowds [multitudes, large groups of people], His mother [parent, female guardian] and brothers [male siblings, fellow believers] stood [were standing, in an upright position] outside [outwardly, in a physical location], wanting [desiring, seeking] to speak [talk, communicate] to Him [Jesus, the Messiah]. word study 47 Someone [a certain person, an individual] told Him, “Look [behold, see], Your [belonging to You] mother [the female parent, a nurturer] and brothers [male siblings, fellow believers] are standing [in an upright position, waiting] outside [outwardly, in a physical location], wanting [desiring, seeking] to speak [to communicate, to converse] to You [directly, personally].” word study 48 But Jesus replied, “Who [the specific one] is My mother [a female parent], and who [which ones] are My brothers [male siblings or fellow believers]?” word study 49 Pointing [stretching out his hand, extending his arm] to His disciples [learners, pupils], He said, “Here are [behold, see] My mother [the one who gave me birth, a maternal figure] and My brothers [fellow believers, spiritual siblings, those who do the will of God]. word study 50 For whoever [does the pleasure of, obeys] does the will [desire, intention] of My Father in heaven is My brother [male sibling, fellow believer] and sister [female sibling, sister in faith] and mother [female parent, nurturer].” word study