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Matthew 12:1-50 (NIRV)

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1 One Sabbath day Jesus walked through the grainfields. His disciples were hungry. So they began to break off some heads of grain and eat them. 2 The Pharisees saw this. They said to Jesus, "Look! It is against the Law to do this on the Sabbath. But your disciples are doing it anyway!" 3 Jesus answered, "Haven't you read about what David did? He and his men were hungry. 4 So he entered the house of God. He and his men ate the holy bread. Only priests were allowed to eat it. 5 Haven't you read the Law? It tells how every Sabbath day the priests in the temple have to do their work on that day. But they are not considered guilty. 6 "I tell you that one who is more important than the temple is here. 7 8 The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath day." 9 Going on from that place, Jesus went into their synagogue. 10 A man with a weak and twisted hand was there. The Pharisees were trying to find fault with Jesus. So they asked him, "Does the Law allow us to heal on the Sabbath day?" 11 He said to them, "What if one of your sheep falls into a pit on the Sabbath? Won't you take hold of it and lift it out? 12 A man is worth more than sheep! So the Law allows us to do good on the Sabbath day." 13 Then Jesus said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out. It was as good as new, just as good as the other hand. 14 But the Pharisees went out and planned how to kill Jesus. 15 Jesus knew all about the Pharisees' plans. So he left that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick people. 16 But he warned them not to tell who he was. 17 This was to make what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah come true. It says, 18 "Here is my servant. I have chosen him. He is the one I love. I am very pleased with him. I will put my Spirit on him. He will announce to the nations that everything will be made right. 19 He will not argue or cry out. No one will hear his voice in the streets. 20 He will not break a bent twig. He will not put out a dimly burning flame. He will make everything right. 21 22 A man controlled by demons was brought to Jesus. The man was blind and could not speak. Jesus healed him. Then the man could speak and see. 23 All the people were amazed. They said, "Could this be the Son of David?" 24 The Pharisees heard this. So they said, "This fellow drives out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons." 25 Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, "Every kingdom that fights against itself will be destroyed. Every city or family that is divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he fights against himself. Then how can his kingdom stand? 27 You say I drive out demons by the power of Beelzebub. Then by whose power do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But suppose I drive out demons by the Spirit of God. Then God's kingdom has come to you. 29 "Or think about this. How can you enter a strong man's house and just take what the man owns? You must first tie him up. Then you can rob his house. 30 "Anyone who is not with me is against me. Anyone who does not gather sheep with me scatters them. 31 So here is what I tell you. Every sin and every evil word spoken against God will be forgiven. But speaking evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. A person like that won't be forgiven either now or in days to come. 33 "If you make a tree good, its fruit will be good. If you make a tree bad, its fruit will be bad. You can tell a tree by its fruit. 34 "You nest of poisonous snakes! How can you who are evil say anything good? Your mouths say everything that is in your hearts. 35 A good man says good things. These come from the good that is put away inside him. An evil man says evil things. These come from the evil that is put away inside him. 36 But here is what I tell you. On judgment day, people will have to account for every careless word they have spoken. 37 By your words you will be found guilty or not guilty." 38 Some of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law came to Jesus. They said, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you." 39 He answered, "Evil and unfaithful people ask for a miraculous sign! But none will be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 Jonah was in the stomach of a huge fish for three days and three nights. Something like that will happen to the Son of Man. He will spend three days and three nights in the grave. 41 "The men of Nineveh will stand up on judgment day with the people now living. And the Ninevites will prove that those people are guilty. The men of Nineveh turned away from their sins when Jonah preached to them. And now one who is more important than Jonah is here. 42 "The Queen of the South will stand up on judgment day with the people now living. And she will prove that they are guilty. She came from very far away to listen to Solomon's wisdom. And now one who is more important than Solomon is here. 43 "What happens when an evil spirit comes out of a man? It goes through dry areas looking for a place to rest. But it doesn't find it. 44 Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives there, it finds the house empty. The house has been swept clean and put in order. 45 Then the evil spirit goes and takes with it seven other spirits more evil than itself. They go in and live there. That man is worse off than before. That is how it will be with the evil people of today." 46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside. They wanted to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside. They want to speak to you." 48 Jesus replied to him, "Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?" 49 Jesus pointed to his disciples. He said, "Here is my mother! Here are my brothers! 50 Anyone who does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother or sister or mother."


This passage relates to the following topic(s):
(v. 25) Unity - Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined
(v. 33) Goodness / Good - Tree is recognized by its fruit
(v. 34) Heart - Overflow of the heart the mouth speaks
(v. 36) Speaking / Gossip / Lying / Slander - Man will have to give account on every word spoken
(v. 36) Responsibility / Excuses - Man will have to give account on every word spoken
(v. 37) Speaking / Gossip / Lying / Slander - Man will have to give account on every word spoken
(v. 37) Responsibility / Excuses - Man will have to give account on every word spoken

This passage relates to the following question(s):
(v. 1) Should work be done or not on the Sabbath? Disciples picked some heads of grain
(v. 40) How many nights was Jesus in the grave? The Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth

This passage is referenced in the following quiet time(s):
(v. 1) Jesus - The Lord (part 2) (2010-06-28)
(v. 2) Jesus - The Lord (part 2) (2010-06-28)
(v. 3) Jesus - The Lord (part 2) (2010-06-28)
(v. 4) Jesus - The Lord (part 2) (2010-06-28)
(v. 5) Jesus - The Lord (part 2) (2010-06-28)
(v. 6) Jesus - The Lord (part 2) (2010-06-28)
(v. 7) Jesus - The Lord (part 2) (2010-06-28)
(v. 8) Jesus - The Lord (part 2) (2010-06-28)
(v. 9) Jesus - The Lord (part 2) (2010-06-28)
(v. 10) Jesus - The Lord (part 2) (2010-06-28)
(v. 11) Jesus - The Lord (part 2) (2010-06-28)
(v. 12) Jesus - The Lord (part 2) (2010-06-28)
(v. 13) Jesus - The Lord (part 2) (2010-06-28)
(v. 14) Jesus - The Lord (part 2) (2010-06-28)
(v. 24) Names of Satan (part II) (2011-05-15)
(v. 24) Names of Satan (part V) (2011-05-18)
(v. 25) Jesus with People - Devil in Disguise (2009-02-21)
(v. 33) Mind of Christ - Intro (part III) (2011-06-10)
(v. 33) Waking Dead - Life to the Full (2010-08-23)
(v. 34) Mind of Christ - Intro (part III) (2011-06-10)
(v. 34) Purpose Driven Life - Sharing Your Message (Godly Passions) (2008-07-14)
(v. 34) First the Kingdom - Trees (part 1) (2010-02-08)
(v. 35) Mind of Christ - Intro (part III) (2011-06-10)
(v. 36) A Man Recognizes His Accountability (2013-09-24)
(v. 36) Mind of Christ - Intro (part III) (2011-06-10)
(v. 36) Raising Awesome Kids - Repect: Eliminate Critical, Harsh Talk (2009-01-11)
(v. 37) Raising Awesome Kids - Repect: Eliminate Critical, Harsh Talk (2009-01-11)
(v. 37) Mind of Christ - Intro (part III) (2011-06-10)
(v. 43) Names of Satan (part VI) (2011-05-19)
(v. 49) Believers is Jesus (2015-06-05)
(v. 50) Master Plan - Proof of Love (part 2) (2009-12-04)

This passage is referenced in the following study note(s):
(v. 1) Devotional: Bible Study (2008-12-12)
(v. 2) Devotional: Bible Study (2008-12-12)
(v. 3) Devotional: Bible Study (2008-12-12)
(v. 4) Devotional: Bible Study (2008-12-12)
(v. 5) Devotional: Bible Study (2008-12-12)
(v. 6) Devotional: Bible Study (2008-12-12)
(v. 7) Devotional: Bible Study (2008-12-12)
(v. 8) Devotional: Bible Study (2008-12-12)
(v. 9) Sermon: God calls Man to do the Impossible (2012-01-14)
(v. 36) Devotional: Taming the Tougue (2008-12-12)
(v. 37) Devotional: Taming the Tougue (2008-12-12)
(v. 43) Devotional: Hard Work and Rest (2008-12-12)
(v. 44) Devotional: Hard Work and Rest (2008-12-12)
(v. 45) Devotional: Hard Work and Rest (2008-12-12)

Definition(s):
David (Deh-vidd): well-beloved, dear
Isaiah (Eye-zeh-a): the salvation of the Lord
Isaiah (Eye-zy-a): the salvation of the Lord
Jesus (Jeez-us): savior; deliverer
Jonah (Joh-na): or Jonas, a dove; he that oppresses; destroyer
Nineveh (Nin-e-ve): handsome; agreeable
Pharisees (Fehr-iss-ees): set apart
Satan (Seh-tan): contrary; adversary; enemy; accuser
Solomon (Sol-om-on): peaceable; perfect; one who recompenses
On (Onn):
So (Soh):