Matthew 12
12At 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.G1722G1565G2540G2424G4198G4521G1223G4702G1161G846G3101G3983G2532G756G5089G4719G2532G20682But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, "Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath."G1161G5330G1492G2036G846G2400G4675G3101G4160G3739G1832G3756G1832G4160G1722G45213Jesus said to them, "Haven't you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?G1161G2036G846G314G3756G314G5101G1138G4160G3753G846G3983G2532G3326G8464He 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.G4459G1525G1519G3624G2316G2532G5315G740G4286G3739G2258G3756G1832G846G5315G3761G3326G846G1508G3441G24095And haven't you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?G2228G314G3756G314G1722G3551G3754G4521G2409G1722G2411G953G4521G2532G1526G3386I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!G1161G3004G5213G3754G5602G2076G3187G24117But 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.'G1161G1487G1097G5101G2076G2309G1656G2532G3756G2378G302G3756G2613G3388For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!"G1063G5207G444G2076G2962G2532G45219Then Jesus went over to their synagogue,G2532G3327G1564G2064G1519G846G486410where 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.)G2532G2400G2258G444G2192G5495G3584G2532G1905G846G3004G1487G1832G2323G4521G2443G2723G84611And 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.G1161G2036G846G5101G444G2071G1537G5216G3739G2192G1520G4263G2532G1437G5124G1706G1519G999G4521G2902G3780G2902G846G2532G145312And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath."G4214G3767G444G1308G4263G5620G1832G4160G2573G452113Then 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!G5119G3004G444G1614G4675G5495G2532G1614G2532G600G5199G5613G24314Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.G1161G5330G1831G2983G4824G2596G846G3704G622G84615But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them,G1161G2424G1097G402G1564G2532G4183G3793G190G846G2532G2323G846G395616but he warned them not to reveal who he was.G2532G2008G846G3363G4160G3363G4160G846G531817This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him.G3704G4137G3588G4483G1223G2268G4396G300418"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.G2400G3450G3816G3739G140G3450G27G1519G3739G3450G5590G2106G5087G3450G4151G1909G846G2532G518G2920G148419He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public.G2051G3756G2051G3761G2905G3761G5100G191G846G5456G1722G411320He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.G4937G2563G2608G3756G2608G2532G5188G3043G4570G3756G4570G2193G302G1544G2920G1519G353421And his name will be the hope of all the world."G2532G1722G846G3686G1679G1484G167922Then 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.G5119G4374G846G1139G5185G2532G2974G2532G2323G846G5620G5185G2532G2974G2532G2980G2532G99123The crowd was amazed and asked, "Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?"G2532G3956G3793G1839G2532G3004G2076G3385G3778G5207G113824But 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."G1161G5330G191G2036G3778G1544G3756G1544G1140G1508G1722G954G758G114025Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, "Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.G1161G2424G1492G846G1761G2036G846G3956G932G3307G2596G1438G2049G2532G3956G4172G2228G3614G3307G2596G1438G2476G3756G247626And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.G2532G1487G4567G1544G4567G3307G1909G1438G4459G2476G3767G846G932G247627And 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.G2532G1487G1473G1722G954G1544G1140G1722G5101G5216G5207G1544G5124G1223G846G2071G5216G292328But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.G1161G1487G1473G1544G1140G1722G4151G2316G686G932G2316G5348G1909G520929For 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.G2228G4459G1410G5100G1525G1519G2478G3614G2532G1283G846G4632G3362G4412G1210G2478G2532G5119G1283G846G361430"Anyone who isn't with me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me.G5607G3361G3326G1700G2076G2596G1700G2532G4863G3361G3326G1700G465031"So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven.G1223G5124G3004G5213G3956G266G2532G988G863G444G1161G988G4151G863G3756G863G44432Anyone 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.G2532G3739G302G2036G3056G2596G5207G444G863G846G3739G1161G302G2036G2596G40G4151G863G3756G863G846G3777G1722G5129G165G3777G1722G319533"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.G2228G4160G1186G2570G2532G846G2590G2570G2228G4160G1186G4550G2532G846G2590G4550G1063G1186G1097G1537G259034You 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.G1081G2191G4459G1410G5607G4190G2980G18G1063G1537G4051G2588G4750G298035A 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.G18G444G1537G18G2344G2588G1544G18G2532G4190G444G1537G4190G2344G1544G419036And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.G1161G3004G5213G3754G3956G692G4487G3739G1437G444G2980G591G3056G4012G846G1722G2250G292037The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you."G1063G1537G4675G3056G1344G2532G1537G4675G3056G261338One 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."G5119G5100G1122G2532G5330G611G3004G1320G2309G1492G4592G575G467539But 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.G1161G611G2036G846G4190G2532G3428G1074G1934G4592G2532G3756G4592G1325G846G1508G4592G4396G249540For 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.G1063G5618G2495G2258G5140G2250G2532G5140G3571G1722G2785G2836G3779G5207G444G2071G5140G2250G2532G5140G3571G1722G2588G109341"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.G435G3536G450G1722G2920G3326G5026G1074G2532G2632G846G3754G3340G1519G2782G2495G2532G2400G4119G2495G560242The 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.G938G3558G1453G1722G2920G3326G5026G1074G2532G2632G846G3754G2064G1537G4009G1093G191G4678G4672G2532G2400G4119G4672G560243"When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.G1161G3752G169G4151G1831G575G444G1330G1223G504G5117G2212G372G2532G2147G375644Then it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.G5119G3004G1994G1519G3450G3624G3606G1831G2532G2064G2147G4980G4563G2532G288545Then 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."G5119G4198G2532G3880G3326G1438G2033G2087G4151G4191G1438G2532G1525G2730G1563G2532G2078G1565G444G1096G5501G4413G3779G2071G2532G5026G4190G107446As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.G2089G846G1161G2980G3793G2400G3384G2532G846G80G2476G1854G2212G2980G84647Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to you."G1161G5100G2036G846G2400G4675G3384G2532G4675G80G2476G1854G2212G2980G467148Jesus asked, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?"G1161G611G2036G2036G846G5101G2076G3450G3384G2532G5101G1526G3450G8049Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "Look, these are my mother and brothers.G2532G1614G846G5495G1909G846G3101G2036G2400G3450G3384G2532G3450G8050Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!"G1063G3748G302G4160G2307G3450G3962G3588G1722G3772G846G2076G3450G80G2532G79G2532G3384
Matthew 13
13Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake.G1161G1722G1565G2250G1831G2424G575G3614G2521G3844G22812A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore.G2532G4183G3793G4863G4314G846G5620G846G1684G1519G4143G2521G2532G3956G3793G2476G1909G1233He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: "Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.G2532G2980G4183G846G1722G3850G3004G2400G4687G1831G46874As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.G2532G1722G846G4687G3739G3303G4098G3844G3598G2532G4071G2064G2532G2719G846G27195Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.G1161G243G4098G1909G4075G3699G2192G3756G4183G1093G2532G2112G1816G1223G2192G3361G899G10936But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots, they died.G1161G2246G393G2739G2532G1223G2192G3361G4491G35837Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.G1161G243G4098G1909G173G2532G173G305G2532G638G8468Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!G1161G243G4098G1909G2570G1093G2532G1325G2590G3739G3303G1540G1161G3739G1835G1161G3739G51449Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand."G3588G2192G3775G191G19110His disciples came and asked him, "Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?"G2532G3101G4334G2036G846G1302G2980G846G1722G385011He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.G611G1161G2036G846G3754G1325G5213G1097G3466G932G3772G1161G1565G1325G3756G132512To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.G1063G3748G2192G846G1325G2532G4052G1161G3748G2192G3756G575G846G142G2532G3739G219213That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really listen or understand.G1223G5124G2980G846G1722G3850G3754G991G991G3756G2532G191G191G3756G3761G492014This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, 'When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.G2532G1909G846G378G4394G2268G3588G3004G189G191G2532G4920G3364G4920G2532G991G991G2532G1492G3364G149215For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.'G1063G5127G2992G2588G3975G2532G3775G917G191G2532G846G3788G2576G3379G1492G3788G2532G191G3775G2532G4920G2588G2532G1994G2532G2390G84616"But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.G1161G3107G5216G3788G3754G991G2532G5216G3775G3754G19117I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn't see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn't hear it.G1063G281G3004G5213G3754G4183G4396G2532G1342G1937G1492G3739G991G2532G1492G3756G1492G2532G191G3739G191G2532G191G3756G19118"Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds.G191G5210G3767G3850G468719The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don't understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.G3956G191G3056G932G2532G4920G3361G2064G4190G2532G726G3588G4687G1722G846G2588G3778G2076G4687G3844G359820The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.G1161G4687G1909G4075G3778G2076G191G3056G2532G2117G3326G5479G2983G84621But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word.G1161G2192G3756G4491G1722G1438G235G2076G4340G1161G2347G2228G1375G1096G1223G3056G2117G462422The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.G1161G4687G1519G173G2076G3778G191G3056G2532G3308G5127G165G2532G539G4149G4846G3056G2532G1096G17523The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!"G1161G4687G1909G2570G1093G2076G3778G191G3056G2532G4920G3739G1211G2592G2532G4160G3739G3303G1540G1161G3739G1835G1161G3739G514424Here is another story Jesus told: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.G243G3850G3908G846G3004G932G3772G3666G444G4687G4687G2570G4690G1722G846G6825But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away.G1161G1722G444G2518G846G2190G2064G2532G4687G2215G303G3319G4621G2532G56526When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.G1161G3753G5528G985G2532G4160G2590G5119G5316G2215G253227"The farmer's workers went to him and said, 'Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?'G1161G1401G3617G4334G2036G846G2962G4687G3780G4687G2570G4690G1722G4674G68G4159G3767G2192G221528"'An enemy has done this!' the farmer exclaimed. "'Should we pull out the weeds?' they asked.G1161G5346G846G2190G444G4160G5124G1161G1401G2036G846G2309G3767G565G4816G846G481629"'No,' he replied, 'you'll uproot the wheat if you do.G1161G5346G3756G3379G4816G2215G1610G4621G260G84630Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.'"G863G297G4885G3360G2326G2532G1722G2540G2326G2046G2327G4816G4412G2215G2532G1210G846G1519G1197G4314G2618G846G1161G4863G4621G1519G3450G59631Here is another illustration Jesus used: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.G243G3850G3908G846G3004G932G3772G2076G3664G2848G4615G3739G444G2983G4687G1722G846G6832It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches."G3739G3303G2076G3398G3956G4690G1161G3752G837G2076G3187G3001G2532G1096G1186G5620G4071G3772G2064G2532G2681G1722G2798G84633Jesus also used this illustration: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough."G243G3850G2980G846G932G3772G2076G3664G2219G3739G1135G2983G1470G1519G5140G4568G224G2193G3650G3739G222034Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables.G3956G5023G2980G2424G3793G1722G3850G2532G5565G3850G2980G3756G84635This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: "I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world."G3704G4137G3588G4483G1223G4396G3004G455G3450G4750G1722G3850G2044G2928G575G2602G288936Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, "Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field."G5119G2424G863G3793G863G2064G1519G3614G2532G846G3101G4334G846G3004G5419G2254G3850G2215G6837Jesus replied, "The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed.G611G1161G2036G846G4687G2570G4690G2076G5207G44438The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.G1161G68G2076G2889G1161G2570G4690G3778G1526G5207G932G1161G2215G1526G5207G419039The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.G1161G2190G4687G846G2076G1228G1161G2326G2076G4930G165G1161G2327G1526G3240"Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world.G5618G3767G2215G4816G2532G2618G4442G3779G2071G1722G4930G5127G16541The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.G5207G444G649G846G32G2532G4816G1537G846G932G3956G4625G2532G4160G45842And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.G2532G906G846G1519G2575G4442G1563G2071G2805G2532G1030G359943Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!G5119G1342G1584G5613G2246G1722G932G846G3962G3588G2192G3775G191G19144"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.G3825G932G3772G2076G3664G2344G2928G1722G68G3739G444G2147G2928G2532G575G5479G846G5217G2532G4453G3956G3745G2192G2532G59G1565G6845"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls.G3825G932G3772G2076G3664G1713G444G2212G2570G313546When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!G3739G2147G1520G3135G4186G565G4097G3956G3745G2192G2532G59G84647"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind.G3825G932G3772G2076G3664G4522G906G1519G2281G2532G4863G1537G3956G108548When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away.G3739G3753G4137G307G1909G123G2532G2523G4816G2570G1519G30G1161G906G4550G185449That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous,G3779G2071G1722G4930G165G32G1831G2532G873G4190G1537G3319G134250throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.G2532G906G846G1519G2575G4442G1563G2071G2805G2532G1030G359951Do you understand all these things?" "Yes," they said, "we do."G2424G3004G846G4920G3956G5023G3956G3004G846G3483G296252Then he added, "Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old."G1161G2036G846G1223G5124G3956G1122G3100G1519G932G3772G2076G3664G444G3617G3748G1544G1537G846G2344G2537G2532G382053When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country.G2532G1096G3753G2424G5055G5025G3850G3332G156454He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, "Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?"G2532G2064G1519G846G3968G1321G846G1722G846G4864G5620G846G1605G2532G3004G4159G5129G3778G4678G2532G141155Then they scoffed, "He's just the carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas.G2076G3756G3778G5045G5207G3004G3780G846G3384G3004G3137G2532G846G80G2385G2532G2500G2532G4613G2532G245556All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?"G2532G846G79G1526G3780G3956G4314G2248G4159G3767G5129G3956G502357And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family."G2532G4624G1722G846G1161G2424G2036G846G4396G2076G3756G820G1508G1722G846G3968G2532G1722G846G361458And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.G2532G4160G3756G4183G1411G1563G1223G846G570
Dublin, OH
G1161
