Matthew 12:1–21

The Question about the Sabbath

12^*Not long afterwards Jesus was walking through some cornfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began to pick ears of corn and eat the grain. ²When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Jesus, “Look, it is against our Law for your disciples to do this on the Sabbath!”

^3*Jesus answered, “Have you never read what David did that time when he and his men were hungry? ^4*He went into the house of God, and he and his men ate the bread offered to God, even though it was against the Law for them to eat it—only the priests were allowed to eat that bread. ^5*Or have you not read in the Law of Moses that every Sabbath the priests in the Temple actually break the Sabbath law, yet they are not guilty? ⁶I tell you that there is something here greater than the Temple. ^7*The scripture says, ‘It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices.’ If you really knew what this means, you would not condemn people who are not guilty; ⁸for the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

The Man with a Paralysed Hand

⁹Jesus left that place and went to a synagogue, ¹⁰where there was a man who had a paralysed hand. Some people were there who wanted to accuse Jesus of doing wrong, so they asked him, “Is it against our Law to heal on the Sabbath?”

^11*Jesus answered, “What if one of you has a sheep and it falls into a deep hole on the Sabbath? Will you not take hold of it and lift it out? ¹²And a human being is worth much more than a sheep! So then, our Law does allow us to help someone on the Sabbath.” ¹³Then he said to the man with the paralysed hand, “Stretch out your hand.”

He stretched it out, and it became well again, just like the other one. ¹⁴Then the Pharisees left and made plans to kill Jesus.

God’s Chosen Servant

¹⁵When Jesus heard about the plot against him, he went away from that place; and large crowds followed him. He healed all those who were ill ¹⁶and gave them orders not to tell others about him. ¹⁷He did this so as to make what God had said through the prophet Isaiah come true:

^18*“Here is my servant, whom I have chosen,

the one I love, and with whom I am pleased.

I will send my Spirit upon him,

and he will announce my judgement to the nations.

¹⁹He will not argue or shout,

or make loud speeches in the streets.

²⁰He will not break off a bent reed,

or put out a flickering lamp.

He will persist until he causes justice to triumph,

^21*and in him all peoples will put their hope.”