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The Blue Letter Bible

Matthew 12 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

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A Discussion about the Sabbath
(Mar 2:23–28; Luk 6:1–5 )

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:1

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:1 - At 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:2

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:2 - But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:3

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:3 - Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:4

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:4 - 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:5

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:5 - And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:6

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:6 - I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:7

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:7 - 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.’[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:8

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:8 - For the Son of Man[fn] is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
(Mar 3:1–6; Luk 6:6–11 )

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:9

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:9 - Then Jesus went over to their synagogue,

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:10

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:10 - where 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.)

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:11

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:11 - And 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:12

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

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:13

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:13 - Then 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!

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:14

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:14 - Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.
Jesus, God’s Chosen Servant

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:15

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:15 - But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them,

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:16

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:16 - but he warned them not to reveal who he was.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:17

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:17 - This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him:

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:18

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:18 - “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.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:19

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:19 - He will not fight or shout
or raise his voice in public.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:20

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:20 - He will not crush the weakest reed
or put out a flickering candle.
Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:21

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:21 - And his name will be the hope
of all the world.”[fn]
Jesus and the Prince of Demons
(Mar 3:22–27; Luk 11:14–23 )

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:22

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:22 - Then 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:23

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:23 - The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?”

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:24

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:24 - But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan,[fn] the prince of demons.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:25

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:25 - Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:26

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:26 - And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:27

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:27 - 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:28

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:28 - But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:29

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:29 - For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:30

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:30 - “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.
(Mar 3:28–30 )

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:31

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:31 - “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:32

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:32 - 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.
(Mat 7:15–20 )

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:33

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:33 - “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.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:34

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:34 - 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:35

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:35 - 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:36

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:36 - And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:37

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:37 - The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
The Sign of Jonah
(Luk 11:29–32 )

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:38

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:38 - One 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.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:39

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:39 - But 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:40

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:40 - 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:41

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:41 - “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.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:42

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:42 - The queen of Sheba[fn] 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.
(Luk 11:24–26 )

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:43

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:43 - “When an evil[fn] spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:44

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:44 - 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:45

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:45 - 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
(Mar 3:31–35; Luk 8:19–21 )

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:46

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:46 - As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:47

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:47 - Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to you.”[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:48

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:48 - Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:49

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:49 - Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 12:50

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 12:50 - Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”
See the NLT Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).
NLT Footnotes
Hos 6:6 (Greek version).
“Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
Isa 42:1-4 (Greek version for 42:4).
Isa 42:1-4 (Greek version for 42:4).
Isa 42:1-4 (Greek version for 42:4).
Isa 42:1-4 (Greek version for 42:4).
Greek Beelzeboul; also in 12:27. Other manuscripts read Beezeboul; Latin version reads Beelzebub.
Greek The queen of the south.
Greek unclean.
Some manuscripts do not include verse 47. Compare Mark 3:32 and Luke 8:20.
NLT

Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Full copyright information is provided here. Visit the New Living Translation website.

For more information on this translation, see the NLT Preface.

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Matthew Chapter 12 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New International Version English Standard Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Morphological Greek New Testament Textus Receptus Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras