HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1242
MAT T H EW 1 2
will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let
me teach you, because I am humble and gentle
at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I
give you is light.”
— promises —
from God
“Come to me, all of you
who are weary and carry
heavy burdens, and
I will give you rest.”
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Jesus, God’s Chosen Servant
15 But Jesus knew what they were planning. So
he left that area, and many people followed
him. He healed all the sick among them, 16 but
he warned them not to reveal who he was.
17 This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him:
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M AT T H EW 11:2 8
A Discussion about the Sabbath
At 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. 2 But some Pharisees saw them
do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are
breaking the law by harvesting grain on the
Sabbath.”
3 Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in
the Scriptures what David did when he and
his companions were hungry? 4 He 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.
5 And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that
the priests on duty in the Temple may work
on the Sabbath? 6 I tell you, there is one here
who is even greater than the Temple! 7 But 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.’* 8 For the Son of Man* is Lord, even
over the Sabbath!”
12
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
9 Then Jesus went over to their synagogue,
10 where 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.)
11 And 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. 12 And
how much more valuable is a person than a
sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good
on the Sabbath.”
13 Then 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! 14 Then the
Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill
Jesus.
21
“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.
He will not fight or shout
or raise his voice in public.
He will not crush the weakest reed
or put out a flickering candle.
Finally he will cause justice to
be victorious.
And his name will be the hope
of all the world.”*
Jesus and the Prince of Demons
22 Then 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. 23 The crowd was amazed and asked,
“Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the
Messiah?”
24 But 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.”
25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied,
“Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed.
A town or family splintered by feuding will fall
apart. 26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is
divided and fighting against himself. His own
kingdom will not survive. 27 And 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. 28 But if I am
casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then
the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.
29 For who is powerful enough to enter the house
of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only
someone even stronger—someone who could tie
him up and then plunder his house.
30 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me,
and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.
31 “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy
can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the
Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. 32 Anyone 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.
12:7 Hos 6:6 (Greek version). 12:8 “Son of Man” is a title
Jesus used for himself. 12:18-21 Isa 42:1-4 (Greek version
for 42:4). 12:24 Greek Beelzeboul; also in 12:27. Other
manuscripts read Beezeboul; Latin version reads Beelzebub.