Matthew 12:1-21

New Life Version

Jesus Teaches about the Day of Rest ^(A)

12 At that time Jesus walked through the grain-fields on the Day of Rest. His followers were hungry and began to pick off grain to eat. ² The proud religious law-keepers saw this. They said to Jesus, “See! Your followers do what the Law says not to do on the Day of Rest.” ³ He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his men were hungry? ⁴ He went into the house of God and ate the special bread used in worship which was against the Law for him or those with him to eat! Only the Jewish religious leaders were to eat that special bread. ⁵ Have you not read in the Law how the religious leaders do that which is not right to do on the Day of Rest, and yet they are not guilty? ⁶ I tell you that Someone greater than the house of God is here. ⁷ If you had understood what the words mean, ‘I want loving-kindness and not a gift to be given,’ ^(B) you would not say a person is guilty who has done no wrong. ⁸ For the Son of Man is Lord of the Day of Rest.”

Jesus Heals on the Day of Rest ^(C)

⁹ From there Jesus went into their place of worship. ¹⁰ A man was there with a dried-up hand. The proud religious law-keepers asked Jesus, “Does the Law say it is right to heal on the Day of Rest?” They wanted something to say against Him. ¹¹ He said to them, “If one of you has a sheep which falls into a hole on the Day of Rest, will you not take hold of it and pull it out? ¹² How much better is a man than a sheep! So it is right to do good on the Day of Rest.” ¹³ Then He said to the man, “Put out your hand.” He held it out and it was made as well as the other. ¹⁴ The proud religious law-keepers went out and made plans against Him. They planned how they might kill Him.

Jesus Heals Many People ^(D)

¹⁵ Jesus knew this and went away from there. Many people followed Him and He healed all of them. ¹⁶ He told them to tell no one of Him. ¹⁷ It happened as the early preacher Isaiah said it would happen, saying, ¹⁸ “See! My Servant Whom I have chosen! My much Loved, in Whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit in Him. He will say to the nations what is right from wrong. ¹⁹ He will not fight or speak with a loud voice. No man will hear His voice in the streets. ²⁰ He will not break a broken branch. He will not put out a little fire until He makes things right. ²¹ In His name the nations will have hope.” ^(E)