Matthew 11
16To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17‘We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”
Woe to the Unrepentant
20Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.22But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.23And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.24But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
Rest for the Weary
25At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.26Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.27All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
28Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 12
The Lord of the Sabbath
1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
3Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?4He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.5Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent?6But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.7If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
9Moving on from there, Jesus entered their synagogue,10and a man with a withered hand was there. In order to accuse Jesus, they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
11He replied, “If one of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out?12How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”13Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored to full use, just like the other.14But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
God’s Chosen Servant
15Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all,16warning them not to make Him known.17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
18“Here is My Servant,
whom I have chosen,
My beloved,
in whom My soul delights.
I will put My Spirit on Him,
and He will proclaim justice to the nations.
19He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear His voice in the streets.
20A bruised reed He will not break,
and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish,
till He leads justice to victory.
21In His name the nations will put their hope.”
A House Divided
22Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed the man so that he could speak and see.23The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?”24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”
25Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.26If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?27And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.28But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.29Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
30He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.