Matthew — Chapter 12

📖 Matthew — Chapter 12 (KJV)

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Red lettering identifies words spoken by Jesus; it is an editorial reading aid. Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.

Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus ^Rwent on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.

Matthew 12:2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, ^RBehold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

Matthew 12:3 But he said unto them, ^RHave ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

Matthew 12:4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, ^Rbut only for the priests?

Matthew 12:5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple ^Rprofane the sabbath, and are blameless?

Matthew 12:6 ^RBut I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

Matthew 12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, ^RI will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

Matthew 12:8 ^RFor the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

Matthew 12:9 And when he was departed thence, ^Rhe went into their synagogue:

Matthew 12:10 And, behold, there was a man ^Rwhich had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

Matthew 12:11 And he said unto them, ^RWhat man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

Matthew 12:12 How much then ^Ris a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

Matthew 12:13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; ^Rand it was restored whole, like as the other.

Matthew 12:14 Then the Pharisees ^Rwent out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

Matthew 12:15 But when Jesus knew it, ^Rhe withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

Matthew 12:16 ^RAnd charged them that they should not make him known:

Matthew 12:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, ^Rsaying,

Matthew 12:18 Behold ^Rmy servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

Matthew 12:19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

Matthew 12:20 A ^Rbruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

Matthew 12:21 ^RAnd in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

Matthew 12:22 Then ^Rwas brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

Matthew 12:23 And all ^Rthe people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

Matthew 12:24 But ^Rwhen the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

Matthew 12:25 And ^RJesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Matthew 12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then ^Rhis kingdom stand?

Matthew 12:27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, ^Rby whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

Matthew 12:28 But if ^RI cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

Matthew 12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

Matthew 12:30 He ^Rthat is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, ^RAll manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

Matthew 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: ^Rbut whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree good, ^Rand his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

Matthew 12:34 O ^Rgeneration of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Matthew 12:35 A ^Rgood man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That ^Revery idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Matthew 12:37 ^RFor by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Matthew 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, ^RMaster, we would see a sign from thee.

Matthew 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and ^Radulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights ^Rin the heart of the earth.

Matthew 12:41 The ^Rmen of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Matthew 12:42 The ^Rqueen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

Matthew 12:43 When ^Rthe unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

Matthew 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, ^Rhe findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

Matthew 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself ^Rseven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Matthew 12:46 While he ^Ryet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

Matthew 12:47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

Matthew 12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, ^RWho is my mother? and who are my brethren?

Matthew 12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward ^Rhis disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

Matthew 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, ^Rthe same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

📚 Study This Chapter

📖 What We’re Reading

Matthew 12:1–14 — Sabbath disputes reveal mercy and the Son of man’s authority

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Questions about plucked corn and healing lead Jesus to recall David, priestly service, and mercy. He heals a man’s withered hand and teaches the worth of doing good on the sabbath.

Key Truth: Value mercy and restoration over a use of rules that neglects people.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Matthew 12:15–37 — The Spirit’s work is opposed and speech exposes the heart

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Matthew connects Jesus’ quiet ministry with Isaiah’s servant. Accused of casting out devils by Beelzebub, Jesus exposes the accusation’s division and warns about blasphemy, fruit, and accountable words.

Key Truth: Do not call God’s good work evil to protect an accusation.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Matthew 12:38–50 — The sign of Jonas and the family of obedience

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Jesus answers demands for a sign by pointing to Jonas and the queen of the south, warns of an empty return after deliverance, and identifies those doing the Father’s will as his family.

Key Truth: Respond to received light with an enduring obedience.

Check What You Remember

Related Scripture (KJV)

Isaiah 42:1 — Matthew quotes the servant passage when describing Jesus’ ministry.

Isaiah 42:1 (KJV) Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.

Reflect and Apply

How can your speech and treatment of others better reflect mercy and truth?

Notes

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