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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Matthew 12 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/matthew/12.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/matthew/12-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > Matthew 12</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../matthew/11.htm" title="Matthew 11">◄</a> Matthew 12 <a href="../matthew/13.htm" title="Matthew 13">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">A Question about the Sabbath</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MRK 2:23-28">Mark 2.23-28</ref>; <ref loc="LUK 6:1-5">Luke 6.1-5</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v40_12_1"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.1" class="v40_12_1">1</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.1!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> One Sabbath, Jesus and his disciples were walking through some wheat fields.<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.1!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> His disciples were hungry and began picking and eating grains of wheat. </span><span class="v40_12_2"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.2" class="v40_12_2">2</span>Some Pharisees noticed this and said to Jesus, “Why are your disciples picking grain on the Sabbath? They are not supposed to do this!”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v40_12_3"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.3" class="v40_12_3">3</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.3!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Jesus answered:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_12_3">You surely must have read what David did when he and his followers were hungry. </span><span class="v40_12_4"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.4" class="v40_12_4">4</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.4!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> He went into the house of God, and then they ate the sacred loaves of bread that only priests are supposed to eat. </span><span class="v40_12_5"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.5" class="v40_12_5">5</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.5!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Haven't you read in the Law of Moses that the priests are allowed to work in the temple on the Sabbath? But no one says they are guilty of breaking the law of the Sabbath. </span><span class="v40_12_6"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.6" class="v40_12_6">6</span>I tell you there is something here greater than the temple. </span><span class="v40_12_7"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.7" class="v40_12_7">7</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.7!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Don't you know what the Scriptures mean when they say, “Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others?” If you knew what this means, you would not condemn these innocent disciples of mine. </span><span class="v40_12_8"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.8" class="v40_12_8">8</span>So the Son of Man is Lord over the Sabbath.</span></p><h3 class="s1">A Man with a Paralyzed Hand</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MRK 3:1-6">Mark 3.1-6</ref>; <ref loc="LUK 6:6-11">Luke 6.6-11</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v40_12_9"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.9" class="v40_12_9">9</span>Jesus left and went into one of their synagogues, </span><span class="v40_12_10"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.10" class="v40_12_10">10</span>where there was a man whose hand was paralyzed. Some Pharisees wanted to accuse Jesus of doing something wrong, so they asked him, “Is it right to heal someone on the Sabbath?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v40_12_11"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.11" class="v40_12_11">11</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.11!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Jesus answered, “If one of your sheep fell into a ditch on the Sabbath, wouldn't you lift it out? </span><span class="v40_12_12"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.12" class="v40_12_12">12</span>People are worth much more than sheep, and so it is right to do good on the Sabbath.” </span><span class="v40_12_13"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.13" class="v40_12_13">13</span>Then Jesus told the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man did, and it became as healthy as the other one.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v40_12_14"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.14" class="v40_12_14">14</span>The Pharisees left and started making plans to kill Jesus.</span></p><h3 class="s1">God's Chosen Servant</h3><p class="par"><span class="v40_12_15"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.15" class="v40_12_15">15</span>When Jesus found out what was happening, he left there and large crowds followed him. He healed all of their sick, </span><span class="v40_12_16"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.16" class="v40_12_16">16</span>but warned them not to tell anyone about him. </span><span class="v40_12_17"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.17" class="v40_12_17">17</span>So God's promise came true, just as Isaiah the prophet had said,</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_12_18"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.18" class="v40_12_18">18</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.18!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> “Here is my chosen servant!</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_12_18">I love him,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_12_18">and he pleases me.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_12_18">I will give him my Spirit,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_12_18">and he will bring justice</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_12_18">to the nations.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_12_19"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.19" class="v40_12_19">19</span>He won't shout or yell</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_12_19">or call out in the streets.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_12_20"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.20" class="v40_12_20">20</span>He won't break off a bent reed</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_12_20">or put out a dying flame,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_12_20">but he will make sure</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_12_20">that justice is done.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_12_21"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.21" class="v40_12_21">21</span>All nations will place</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_12_21">their hope in him.”</span></p><h3 class="s1">Jesus and the Ruler of the Demons</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MRK 3:20-30">Mark 3.20-30</ref>; <ref loc="LUK 11:14-23">Luke 11.14-23</ref>; <ref loc="LUK 12:10">12.10</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v40_12_22"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.22" class="v40_12_22">22</span>Some people brought to Jesus a man who was blind and could not talk because he had a demon in him. Jesus healed the man, and then he was able to talk and see. </span><span class="v40_12_23"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.23" class="v40_12_23">23</span>The crowds were so amazed they asked, “Could Jesus be the Son of David?”<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.23!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="par"><span class="v40_12_24"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.24" class="v40_12_24">24</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.24!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “He forces out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons!”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v40_12_25"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.25" class="v40_12_25">25</span>Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said to them:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_12_25">Any kingdom where people fight each other will end up ruined. And a town or family that fights will soon destroy itself. </span><span class="v40_12_26"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.26" class="v40_12_26">26</span>So if Satan fights against himself, how can his kingdom last? </span><span class="v40_12_27"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.27" class="v40_12_27">27</span>If I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons, whose power do your own followers use to force them out? Your followers are the ones who will judge you. </span><span class="v40_12_28"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.28" class="v40_12_28">28</span>But when I force out demons by the power of God's Spirit, it proves that God's kingdom has already come to you. </span><span class="v40_12_29"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.29" class="v40_12_29">29</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.29!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> How can anyone break into a strong man's house and steal his things, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can take everything.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_12_30"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.30" class="v40_12_30">30</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.30!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> If you are not on my side, you are against me. If you don't gather in the harvest with me, you scatter it. </span><span class="v40_12_31"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.31-Matt.12.32" class="v40_12_31">31-32</span><a href="#Matt.12.31-Matt.12.32!x.1" id="link_Matt.12.31-Matt.12.32!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> I tell you any sinful thing you do or say can be forgiven. Even if you speak against the Son of Man, you can be forgiven. But if you speak against the Holy Spirit, you can never be forgiven, either in this life or in the life to come.</span></p><h3 class="s1">A Tree and Its Fruit</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="LUK 6:43-45">Luke 6.43-45</ref>)</h5><p class="pi"><span class="v40_12_33"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.33" class="v40_12_33">33</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.33!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. You can tell what a tree is like by the fruit it produces. </span><span class="v40_12_34"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.34" class="v40_12_34">34</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.34!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> You are a bunch of evil snakes, so how can you say anything good? Your words show what is in your hearts. </span><span class="v40_12_35"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.35" class="v40_12_35">35</span>Good people bring good things out of their hearts, but evil people bring evil things out of their hearts. </span><span class="v40_12_36"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.36" class="v40_12_36">36</span>I promise you on the day of judgment, everyone will have to account for every careless word they have spoken. </span><span class="v40_12_37"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.37" class="v40_12_37">37</span>On that day they will be told they are either innocent or guilty because of the things they have said.</span></p><h3 class="s1">A Sign from Heaven</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MRK 8:11">Mark 8.11</ref>,<ref loc="MRK 8:12">12</ref>; <ref loc="LUK 11:29-32">Luke 11.29-32</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v40_12_38"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.38" class="v40_12_38">38</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.38!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Some Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a sign from heaven.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v40_12_39"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.39" class="v40_12_39">39</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.39!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> But Jesus replied:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_12_39">You want a sign because you are evil and won't believe! But the only sign you will get is the sign of the prophet Jonah. </span><span class="v40_12_40"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.40" class="v40_12_40">40</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.40!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> He was in the stomach of a big fish for three days and nights, just as the Son of Man will be deep in the earth for three days and nights. </span><span class="v40_12_41"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.41" class="v40_12_41">41</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.41!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> On the day of judgment the people of Nineveh<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.41!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> will stand there with you and condemn you. They turned to God when Jonah preached, and yet here is something far greater than Jonah. </span><span class="v40_12_42"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.42" class="v40_12_42">42</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.42!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> The Queen of the South<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.42!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> will also stand there with you and condemn you. She traveled a long way to hear Solomon's wisdom, and yet here is something much greater than Solomon.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Return of an Evil Spirit</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="LUK 11:24-26">Luke 11.24-26</ref>)</h5><p class="pi"><span class="v40_12_43"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.43" class="v40_12_43">43</span>When an evil spirit leaves a person, it travels through the desert, looking for a place to rest. But when the demon doesn't find a place, </span><span class="v40_12_44"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.44" class="v40_12_44">44</span>it says, “I will go back to the home I left.” When it gets there and finds the place empty, clean, and neat, </span><span class="v40_12_45"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.45" class="v40_12_45">45</span>it goes off and finds seven other evil spirits even worse than itself. They all come and make their home there, and the person ends up in worse shape than before. That's how it will be with you evil people of today.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Jesus' Mother and Brothers</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MRK 3:31-35">Mark 3.31-35</ref>; <ref loc="LUK 8:19-21">Luke 8.19-21</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v40_12_46"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.46" class="v40_12_46">46</span>While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside because they wanted to talk with him. </span><span class="v40_12_47"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.47" class="v40_12_47">47</span>Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to talk with you.”<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.12.47!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="par"><span class="v40_12_48"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.48" class="v40_12_48">48</span>Jesus answered, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” </span><span class="v40_12_49"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.49" class="v40_12_49">49</span>Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “These are my mother and my brothers! </span><span class="v40_12_50"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.12.50" class="v40_12_50">50</span>Anyone who obeys my Father in heaven is my brother or sister or mother.”</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">12.1 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">walking through some wheat fields: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">It was the custom to let hungry travelers pick grains of wheat.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">12.23 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Could Jesus be the Son of David: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “Does Jesus think he is the Son of David?” See the note at 9.27.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">12.41 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Nineveh: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">During the time of Jonah this city was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, which was Israel's worst enemy. But Jonah was sent there to preach, so that the people would turn to the Lord and be saved.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">12.42 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">South: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Sheba, probably a country in southern Arabia.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">12.47 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">with you: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Some manuscripts do not have verse 47.</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Bible text from the Contemporary English Version 2nd Edition (CEV®) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (<a href="http://www.americanbible.org">www.americanbible.org</a>). Learn more at <a href="http://www.cev.bible">www.cev.bible</a>. 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