Matthew 12:1–21
Controversy Over Sabbath-Labor
12 At that time aJesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to bpluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”
3 But He said to them, “Have you not read cwhat David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate dthe showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, ebut only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the flaw that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple 1profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6 Yet I say to you that in this place there is gOne greater than the temple. 7 But if you had known what this means, h‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord 2even of the Sabbath.”
Controversy Over Sabbath-Healing
9 iNow when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, j“Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.
11 Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.
Pharisees Plan to Destroy Christ
14 Then kthe Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.
15 But when Jesus knew it, lHe withdrew from there. mAnd great 3multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. 16 Yet He nwarned them not to make Him known, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
18 “Behold! oMy Servant whom I have chosen,
My Beloved pin whom My soul is well pleased!
I will put My Spirit upon Him,
And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel nor cry out,
Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench,
Till He sends forth justice to victory;