Matthew 12:1-22
English Standard Version
Chapter 12
1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath." 3He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."
9He went on from there and entered their synagogue.
10And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" — so that they might accuse him.
11He said to them, "Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?
12Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
13Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.
14But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
15Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all
16and ordered them not to make him known.
17This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
18 "Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope."
22Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw.
