English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.

1At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them.

2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”

2But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”

3He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:

3Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

4how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?

4 He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat.

5Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?

5 And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?

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

6 I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!

7And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.

7 But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’

8For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

8 For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!” Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

9He went on from there and entered their synagogue.

9Then Jesus went over to their synagogue,

10And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him.

10where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.)

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

11And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would.

12Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”

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

13Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one!

14But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

14Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus. Jesus, God’s Chosen Servant

15Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all

15But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them,

16and ordered them not to make him known.

16but he warned them not to reveal who he was.

17This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

17This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him:

18“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

18“Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

19He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;

19He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public.

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

20He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.

21and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

21And his name will be the hope of all the world.” Jesus and the Prince of Demons

22Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw.

22Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see.

23And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”

23The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?”

24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”

24But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.”

25Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.

25Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.

26And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.

27And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.

27 And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said.

28But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.

29Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.

29 For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

30Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

30 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

31Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

31 “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven.

32And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

32 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.

33“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.

33 “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.

34You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.

35The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.

35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.

36I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.

37for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” The Sign of Jonah

38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”

38One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.”

39But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

39But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.

40For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.

41The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

41 “The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.

42The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

42 The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.

43“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.

43 “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.

44Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.

44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.

45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.” The True Family of Jesus

46While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.

46As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.

47	47Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.”

48But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”

48Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”

49And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!

49Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers.

50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.