Matthew12

Jesus confronts the Pharisees over Sabbath observance, defending his disciples and healing a withered hand, declaring himself Lord of the Sabbath. He then heals a demon-possessed man, leading to accusations of casting out devils by Beelzebub, which Jesus refutes, warning against blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. He refuses to give a sign, offering only the sign of Jonas, and redefines his true family as those who do God's will.

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

1
One Shabbat during that time, Yeshua was walking through some wheat fields. His talmidim were hungry, so they began picking heads of grain and eating them. ​
2
On seeing this, the P'rushim said to him, "Look! Your talmidim are violating Shabbat!" ​
3
But he said to them, "Haven't you ever read what David did when he and those with him were hungry? ​
4
He entered the House of God and ate the Bread of the Presence!" -- which was prohibited, both to him and to his companions; it is permitted only to the cohanim. ​
5
"Or haven't you read in the Torah that on Shabbat the cohanim profane Shabbat and yet are blameless?
6
I tell you, there is in this place something greater than the Temple! ​
7
If you knew what `I want compassion rather than animal-sacrifice' meant, you would not condemn the innocent. ​
8
For the Son of Man is Lord of Shabbat!" ​

Healing on the Sabbath

9
Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue.
10
A man there had a shriveled hand. Looking for a reason to accuse him of something, they asked him, "Is healing permitted on Shabbat?" ​
11
But he answered, "If you have a sheep that falls in a pit on Shabbat, which of you won't take hold of it and lift it out?
12
How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore, what is permitted on Shabbat is to do good." Then to the man he said, "Hold out your hand." As he held it out, it ​
13
became restored, as sound as the other one.
14
But the P'rushim went out and began plotting how they might do away with Yeshua. ​

Jesus the Humble Servant

15
Aware of this, he left that area. Many people followed him; and he healed them all ​
16
but warned them not to make him known.
17
This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Yesha`yahu the prophet, ​
18
"Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will announce justice to the Gentiles.
19
He will not fight or shout, no one will hear his voice in the streets;
20
he will not snap off a broken reed or snuff out a smoldering wick until he has brought justice through to victory. ​
21
In him the Gentiles will put their hope."

The Beelzebul Controversy and Blasphemy

22
Then some people brought him a man controlled by demons who was blind and mute; and Yeshua healed him, so that he could both speak and see.
23
The crowds were astounded and asked, "This couldn't be the Son of David, could it?" ​
24
But when the P'rushim heard of it, they said, "It is only by Ba`al-Zibbul" -- the ruler of the demons -- "that this man drives out demons." ​
25
However, knowing what they were thinking, Yeshua said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not survive. ​
26
If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself; so how can his kingdom survive?
27
Besides, if I drive out demons by Ba`al-Zibbul, by whom do your people drive them out? So, they will be your judges!
28
But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you! ​
29
"Or again, how can someone break into a strong man's house and make off with his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? After that he can ransack his house. ​
30
"Those who are not with me are against me, and those who do not gather with me are scattering.
31
Because of this, I tell you that people will be forgiven any sin and blasphemy, but blaspheming the Ruach HaKodesh will not be forgiven. ​
32
One can say something against the Son of Man and be forgiven; but whoever keeps on speaking against the Ruach HaKodesh will never be forgiven, neither in the `olam hazeh nor in the `olam haba. ​
33
"If you make a tree good, its fruit will be good; and if you make a tree bad, its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. ​
34
You snakes! How can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what overflows from the heart.
35
The good person brings forth good things from his store of good, and the evil person brings forth evil things from his store of evil.
36
Moreover, I tell you this: on the Day of Judgment people will have to give account for every careless word they have spoken; ​
37
for by your own words you will be acquitted, and by your own words you will be condemned."

The Demand for a Sign

38
At this some of the Torah-teachers said, "Rabbi, we want to see a miraculous sign from you." ​
39
He replied, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign? No! None will be given to it but the sign of the prophet Yonah. ​
40
For just as Yonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea-monster,f so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the depths of the earth. ​
41
The people of Ninveh will stand up at the Judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they turned from their sins to God when Yonah preached, but what is here now is greater than Yonah. ​
42
The Queen of the South will stand up at the Judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Shlomo, but what is here now is greater than Shlomo.

The Return of the Unclean Spirit

43
"When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it travels through dry country seeking rest and does not find it. ​
44
Then it says to itself, `I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house standing empty, swept clean and put in order.
45
Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they come and live there -- so that in the end, the person is worse off than he was before. This is how it will be for this wicked generation." ​

Who Is Jesus' True Family?

46
He was still speaking to the crowd when his mother and brothers appeared outside, asking to talk with him.
47
Not present in the manuscripts this translation follows.
48
But to the one who had informed him he replied, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" ​
49
Pointing to his talmidim, he said, "Look! Here are my mother and my brothers!
50
Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants, that person is my brother and sister and mother." ​

Study Notes for Matthew 12

Verse 1

The disciples were exercising their legal right to eat grain from a neighbor’s field (Deut 23:25), but the Pharisees considered the act of plucking and rubbing the grain to be 'harvesting' and 'threshing,' thus violating their strict interpretation of Sabbath labor laws.

Verse 2

The Pharisees accused Jesus indirectly by challenging the actions of his disciples. This confrontation marks a growing hostility between Jesus and the religious establishment.

Verse 3

Jesus defends his disciples by appealing to the Old Testament precedent of David (1 Sam 21:1-6), showing that human necessity and mercy supersede ritual law.

Verse 4

The ‘shewbread’ (or bread of the Presence) was holy bread placed in the Temple, reserved only for priests (Lev 24:5-9). David and his men ate it out of necessity, demonstrating that God prioritizes life over ritual.

Verse 6

By stating he is 'one greater than the temple,' Jesus claims ultimate divine authority, suggesting that his presence and mission supersede the requirements of the Temple system itself.

Verse 7

Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6, emphasizing that God values compassion and justice ('mercy') more than strict adherence to ritual laws ('sacrifice'). If the Pharisees understood this, they would not have condemned the disciples.

Verse 8

This climactic statement affirms Jesus’ authority not just to interpret the Sabbath, but to rule over it. The Son of Man is the divine Messiah and ultimate lawgiver.

Verse 10

The Pharisees asked this question not seeking guidance, but setting a legal trap. They hoped to accuse Jesus of working on the Sabbath, which was punishable by death.

Verse 12

Jesus establishes the ethical principle that human need is far more valuable than animal necessity, proving that 'doing well' (performing acts of kindness and mercy) is always lawful on the Sabbath.

Verse 14

The healing, an act of mercy, confirms the Pharisees' murderous intent. Their strict adherence to the law paradoxically led them to plot murder, the ultimate violation of God’s law.

Verse 15

Jesus withdrew to avoid premature confrontation while continuing his ministry of healing, demonstrating wisdom and fulfilling prophecy regarding the nature of his mission.

Verse 17

This citation from Isaiah 42:1-4 is the third of Matthew’s four major 'fulfillment' passages, clearly identifying Jesus as the Suffering Servant described by the prophet.

Verse 20

This verse highlights the gentleness of Jesus’ ministry. He does not crush the weak ('bruised reed') or extinguish the flickering hope ('smoking flax'), but ministers with compassion until justice prevails.

Verse 23

The crowd’s question uses the title 'son of David,' a clear reference to the promised Messiah. The power of the miracle led them to recognize Jesus' messianic identity.

Verse 24

Beelzebub is a derogatory name for Satan, possibly meaning 'Lord of the flies.' The Pharisees’ accusation is a profound act of spiritual blindness, attributing God's work to the devil.

Verse 25

Jesus uses logic to refute the charge: Satan cannot cast out his own demons, as a divided kingdom cannot survive. This shows that Jesus’ power must come from a source opposed to Satan.

Verse 28

If Jesus casts out demons by the Spirit of God, it confirms that the long-awaited Kingdom of God has arrived and is actively at work through him.

Verse 29

The 'strong man' is Satan. Jesus asserts that he is the one who has entered Satan’s domain, bound him, and is now plundering his goods (rescuing those under demonic control).

Verse 31

The 'blasphemy against the Holy Ghost' is the unforgivable sin. It is not a single accidental word, but the willful, settled, and final rejection of the clear evidence of God’s Spirit working through Christ (as the Pharisees just did in V. 24).

Verse 32

Speaking against the 'Son of Man' (Jesus in his human ministry) can be forgiven, but speaking against the Spirit (attributing God’s undeniable work to Satan) is unforgivable because it represents a complete hardening of the heart against divine truth.

Verse 33

This analogy teaches that integrity is holistic; the inner nature (the tree) determines the outward expression (the fruit). The evil words of the Pharisees reveal their corrupt hearts.

Verse 36

Jesus warns that even seemingly trivial or 'idle' words will be examined in judgment, as they are direct indicators of the condition of the heart.

Verse 38

Despite witnessing powerful miracles, the leaders demanded a spectacular sign from heaven (a 'sign from thee') to prove his authority, revealing their deep skepticism and lack of faith.

Verse 39

An 'evil and adulterous generation' refers to Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness to God. The only sign given will be the 'sign of the prophet Jonas' (Jonah).

Verse 40

The 'sign of Jonah' is a direct prophecy of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection (three days and three nights), which would serve as the ultimate, undeniable proof of his messianic claim.

Verse 41

The Gentile city of Nineveh repented at the mere preaching of Jonah. Their faith will condemn the Jewish leaders who reject Jesus, who is 'a greater than Jonas.'

Verse 43

This parable warns the current generation of Israel. Exorcism or temporary repentance (the spirit leaving) is not enough; the spiritual void must be filled with God’s presence.

Verse 45

If a person is cleansed but does not fill the void with the Holy Spirit and true discipleship, they risk a spiritual relapse much worse than their initial state. This applies to the generation that rejected Jesus after witnessing his power.

Verse 48

Jesus uses this moment to redefine familial bonds. He is not rejecting his mother, but prioritizing the superior claims of spiritual kinship over biological ties.

Verse 50

The true basis for belonging to Jesus' community is radical obedience ('do the will of my Father'), establishing a new covenant family founded on spiritual commitment rather than physical lineage.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Options