American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Matthew 12
1
At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungered, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.
Reference
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 23:25
2
But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, Behold, your disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath day.
Reference
3
But he said to them, Have you not read what David did, when he was an hungered, and they that were with him;
Reference
Parallel theme
Mark 12:10
Matthew 21:16
Mark 12:26
Matthew 22:31
Matthew 12:5
Matthew 19:4
Luke 10:26
References David
Luke 6:3
4
How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the show bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 25:30
5
Or have you not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
6
But I say to you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Chronicles 6:18
7
But if you had known what this means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless.
Reference
9
And when he was departed there, he went into their synagogue:
10
And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 13:14
John 9:16
John 8:6
Luke 11:54
Isaiah 32:6
John 5:3
Luke 23:2
Word
John 5:10
Zechariah 11:17
Matthew 12:2
11
And he said to them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
Reference
12
How much then is a man better than a sheep? Why it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
Reference
13
Then said he to the man, Stretch forth your hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 13:13
14
Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
Reference
15
But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from there: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
Reference
18
Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit on him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles.
Reference
Judgment
Isaiah 42:1
Parallel theme
Isaiah 52:13
1 Peter 2:4
Spirit
Luke 4:18
Acts 10:38
John 3:34
Isaiah 11:2
19
He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 11:29
20
A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment to victory.
Reference
Judgment
Ezekiel 34:16
Kingdom
2 Kings 18:21
Parallel theme
Luke 4:18
Psalm 147:3
Revelation 6:2
Isaiah 57:15
Psalm 51:17
2 Corinthians 2:7
22
Then was brought to him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, so that the blind and dumb both spoke and saw.
Reference
24
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow does not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Reference
25
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
Reference
Parallel theme
Galatians 5:15
Jeremiah 17:10
1 Corinthians 2:11
Isaiah 9:21
Revelation 16:19
Hebrews 4:13
Psalm 139:2
Revelation 2:23
References Jesus
Matthew 9:4
Mark 2:8
26
And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
Reference
27
And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
Reference
29
Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
Reference
31
Why I say to you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven to men.
Reference
32
And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
Reference
Holy
Mark 3:29
John 7:39
Matthew 12:31
Luke 12:10
Parallel theme
Job 36:13
Ephesians 1:21
1 Timothy 1:13
Acts 3:19
Mark 10:30
Matthew 11:19
33
Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
Reference
34
O generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Reference
Evil
Luke 6:45
1 Samuel 24:13
1 John 3:10
Matthew 12:35
John 8:44
Good
Ephesians 4:29
Parallel theme
Matthew 15:18
Isaiah 32:6
Matthew 23:33
Isaiah 59:14
35
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
Reference
Evil
Proverbs 15:28
Matthew 12:34
Proverbs 12:6
Good
Ephesians 4:29
Proverbs 15:23
Parallel theme
Colossians 4:6
Proverbs 15:4
Colossians 3:16
Matthew 13:52
36
But I say to you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Reference
37
For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.
Reference
Parallel theme
Proverbs 13:3
38
Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from you.
Reference
39
But he answered and said to them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Reference
40
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Reference
Parallel theme
Jonah 1:17
John 2:19
Matthew 17:23
Matthew 27:40
Matthew 16:21
Psalm 63:9
Matthew 8:20
41
The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
Reference
Judgment
Matthew 12:42
Romans 2:27
Isaiah 54:17
Parallel theme
Hebrews 11:7
Jeremiah 3:11
Matthew 12:6
John 3:31
Matthew 23:36
Matthew 16:4
Resurrection
Jonah 1:2
42
The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
Reference
Judgment
1 Kings 3:9
Parallel theme
Matthew 17:5
John 1:14
Isaiah 7:14
Matthew 3:17
John 1:18
1 Kings 5:12
1 Kings 10:24
1 Kings 4:29
Resurrection
1 Kings 3:12
43
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
Reference
44
Then he said, I will return into my house from where I came out; and when he is come, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished.
Reference
45
Then goes he, and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also to this wicked generation.
Reference
46
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood without, desiring to speak with him.
Reference
47
Then one said to him, Behold, your mother and your brothers stand without, desiring to speak with you.
48
But he answered and said to him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brothers?
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 10:37
49
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brothers!
Reference
Parallel theme
Mark 3:34
Summary of Matthew 12
Matthew 12 presents a decisive escalation in the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders, beginning with disagreements over Sabbath observance and eventually reaching accusations that Jesus' miraculous authority comes from Satan.
The chapter opens with Jesus' disciples picking and eating grain on the Sabbath, which the Pharisees interpret as unlawful work, but Jesus responds by referring to David, the priests serving in the Temple, and God's desire for mercy rather than sacrifice.
Jesus then declares that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath, establishing that the Sabbath was intended to serve God's purposes rather than become a rigid system that ignores legitimate human need and compassion.
The conflict becomes more direct when Jesus enters a synagogue and heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, explaining that doing good and saving life are consistent with the purpose of God's law.
Instead of celebrating the man's restoration, the Pharisees begin planning how they might destroy Jesus, showing that their opposition has moved from disagreement over interpretation toward a deliberate attempt to eliminate Him.
Matthew then connects Jesus with Isaiah's description of God's gentle and faithful servant, emphasizing that Jesus does not establish His kingdom through aggressive political force but through compassion, justice, healing, and patient restoration.
When Jesus heals a demon-oppressed man who is blind and unable to speak, the crowds begin wondering whether He is the Son of David, but the Pharisees respond by accusing Him of casting out demons through Satan's power.
Jesus exposes the contradiction in their accusation by explaining that a divided kingdom cannot stand, and He declares that His authority to drive out demons demonstrates that God's kingdom has already arrived among them.
The chapter then contains Jesus' serious warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which in this context concerns the deliberate and hardened rejection of God's clearly demonstrated work by calling it demonic, rather than simply an ordinary moment of doubt or confusion.
Jesus also teaches that a tree is known by its fruit, explaining that people's words and actions reveal the condition of their hearts and that they will ultimately be accountable before God for what they say.
When the religious leaders demand another miraculous sign despite having already witnessed Jesus' works, Jesus points to the sign of Jonah, using Jonah's experience to anticipate His own death and resurrection.
Jesus emphasizes that the people of Nineveh repented when Jonah preached, and the Queen of the South traveled to hear Solomon's wisdom, while Jesus' generation is confronted with someone greater than Jonah and Solomon yet continues to resist Him.
The chapter concludes with Jesus explaining that spiritual transformation must be genuine, because simply removing an old problem without filling one's life with God's truth leaves a person vulnerable to an even worse condition.
Finally, when Jesus' mother and brothers arrive, He points toward His disciples and declares that whoever does the will of His Father is His true brother, sister, and mother, redefining family around faithful obedience to God.
The central message is that Matthew 12 presents Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath, God's compassionate servant, the victorious authority over evil, and the One greater than the prophets and kings of Israel, while warning that religious knowledge without mercy, repentance, and obedience can lead people to reject God's work even when it is clearly before them.
The chapter ultimately contrasts two responses to Jesus: humble faith that recognizes God's work and responds with mercy and obedience, and hardened religious resistance that values rules, reputation, and personal expectations more than the transforming presence of God's kingdom.
The chapter opens with Jesus' disciples picking and eating grain on the Sabbath, which the Pharisees interpret as unlawful work, but Jesus responds by referring to David, the priests serving in the Temple, and God's desire for mercy rather than sacrifice.
Jesus then declares that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath, establishing that the Sabbath was intended to serve God's purposes rather than become a rigid system that ignores legitimate human need and compassion.
The conflict becomes more direct when Jesus enters a synagogue and heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, explaining that doing good and saving life are consistent with the purpose of God's law.
Instead of celebrating the man's restoration, the Pharisees begin planning how they might destroy Jesus, showing that their opposition has moved from disagreement over interpretation toward a deliberate attempt to eliminate Him.
Matthew then connects Jesus with Isaiah's description of God's gentle and faithful servant, emphasizing that Jesus does not establish His kingdom through aggressive political force but through compassion, justice, healing, and patient restoration.
When Jesus heals a demon-oppressed man who is blind and unable to speak, the crowds begin wondering whether He is the Son of David, but the Pharisees respond by accusing Him of casting out demons through Satan's power.
Jesus exposes the contradiction in their accusation by explaining that a divided kingdom cannot stand, and He declares that His authority to drive out demons demonstrates that God's kingdom has already arrived among them.
The chapter then contains Jesus' serious warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which in this context concerns the deliberate and hardened rejection of God's clearly demonstrated work by calling it demonic, rather than simply an ordinary moment of doubt or confusion.
Jesus also teaches that a tree is known by its fruit, explaining that people's words and actions reveal the condition of their hearts and that they will ultimately be accountable before God for what they say.
When the religious leaders demand another miraculous sign despite having already witnessed Jesus' works, Jesus points to the sign of Jonah, using Jonah's experience to anticipate His own death and resurrection.
Jesus emphasizes that the people of Nineveh repented when Jonah preached, and the Queen of the South traveled to hear Solomon's wisdom, while Jesus' generation is confronted with someone greater than Jonah and Solomon yet continues to resist Him.
The chapter concludes with Jesus explaining that spiritual transformation must be genuine, because simply removing an old problem without filling one's life with God's truth leaves a person vulnerable to an even worse condition.
Finally, when Jesus' mother and brothers arrive, He points toward His disciples and declares that whoever does the will of His Father is His true brother, sister, and mother, redefining family around faithful obedience to God.
The central message is that Matthew 12 presents Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath, God's compassionate servant, the victorious authority over evil, and the One greater than the prophets and kings of Israel, while warning that religious knowledge without mercy, repentance, and obedience can lead people to reject God's work even when it is clearly before them.
The chapter ultimately contrasts two responses to Jesus: humble faith that recognizes God's work and responds with mercy and obedience, and hardened religious resistance that values rules, reputation, and personal expectations more than the transforming presence of God's kingdom.