New Living Translation NLT
Common English Bible CEB
1 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.
1
At that time Jesus went through the wheat fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry so they were picking heads of wheat 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.”
2
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are breaking the Sabbath law."
3 Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
3
But he said to them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and those with him 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.
4
He went into God's house and broke the law by eating the bread of the presence, which only the priests were 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?
5
Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple treat the Sabbath as any other day and are still innocent?
6 I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!
6
But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.
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.’
7
If you had known what this means, I want mercy and not sacrifice, you wouldn't have condemned the innocent.
8 For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”
8
The Human One is Lord of the Sabbath."
9 Then Jesus went over to their synagogue,
9
Jesus left that place and went into 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.)
10
A man with a withered hand was there. Wanting to bring charges against Jesus, they asked, "Does the Law allow a person to heal on the Sabbath?"
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.
11
Jesus replied, "Who among you has a sheep that falls into a pit on the Sabbath and will not take hold of it and pull it out?
12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”
12
How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! So the Law allows a person to do what is 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!
13
Then Jesus said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he did and it was made healthy, just like the other one.
14 Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.
14
The Pharisees went out and met in order to find a way to destroy Jesus.
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,
15
Jesus knew what they intended to do, so he went away from there. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them all.
16 but he warned them not to reveal who he was.
16
But he ordered them not to spread the word about him,
17 This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him:
17
so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:
18 “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.
18
Look, my Servant whom I chose, the one I love, in whom I find great pleasure. I'll put my Spirit upon him, and he'll announce judgment to the Gentiles.
19 He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public.
19
He won't argue or shout, and nobody will hear his voice in the streets.
20 He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.
20
He won't break a bent stalk, and he won't snuff out a smoldering wick, until he makes justice win.
21 And his name will be the hope of all the world.”
21
And the Gentiles will put their hope in his name.
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.
22
They brought to Jesus a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak. Jesus healed him 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?”
23
All the crowds were amazed and said, "This man couldn't be the Son of David, could he?"
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.”
24
When the Pharisees heard, they said, "This man throws out demons only by the authority of Beelzebul, the ruler of the 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.
25
Because Jesus knew what they were thinking, he replied, “Every kingdom involved in civil war becomes a wasteland. Every city or house torn apart by divisions will collapse.
26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.
26
If Satan throws out Satan, he is at war with himself. How then can his kingdom endure?
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.
27
And if I throw out demons by the authority of Beelzebul, then by whose authority do your followers throw them out? Therefore, they will be your judges.
28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.
28
But if I throw out demons by the power of God's Spirit, then God's kingdom has already overtaken you.
29 For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.
29
Can people go into a house that belongs to a strong man and steal his possessions, unless they first tie up the strong man? Then they can rob his house.
30 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.
30
Whoever isn't with me is against me, and whoever doesn't gather with me scatters.
31 “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven.
31
“Therefore, I tell you that people will be forgiven for every sin and insult to God. But insulting the Holy Spirit won't 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.
32
And whoever speaks a word against the Human One will be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit won't be forgiven, not in this age or in the age that is coming.
33 “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.
33
"Either consider the tree good and its fruit good, or consider the tree rotten and its fruit rotten. A tree is known by its fruit.
34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.
34
Children of snakes! How can you speak good things while you are evil? What fills the heart comes out of the mouth.
35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.
35
Good people bring out good things from their good treasure. But evil people bring out evil things from their evil treasure.
36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.
36
I tell you that people will have to answer on Judgment Day for every useless word they speak.
37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
37
By your words you will be either judged innocent or condemned as guilty."
38 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.”
38
At that time some of the legal experts and the Pharisees requested of Jesus, "Teacher, we would like to see a sign from you."
39 But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.
39
But he replied, “An evil and unfaithful generation searches for a sign, but it won't receive any sign except Jonah's sign.
40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
40
Just as Jonah was in the whale's belly for three days and three nights, so the Human One will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
41 “The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.
41
The citizens of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it as guilty, because they changed their hearts and lives in response to Jonah's preaching. And look, someone greater than Jonah is here.
42 The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.
42
The queen of the South will be raised up by God at the judgment with this generation and condemn it because she came from a distant land to hear Solomon's wisdom. And look, someone greater than Solomon is here.
43 “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.
43
"When an unclean spirit leaves a person, it wanders through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn't find any.
44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.
44
Then it says, ‘I'll go back to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the place vacant, cleaned up, and decorated.
45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.”
45
Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself. They go in and make their home there. That person is worse off at the end than at the beginning. This is the way it will be also for this evil generation."
46 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.
46
While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers stood outside trying to speak with him.
47 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.”
47
Someone said to him, "Look, your mother and brothers are outside wanting to speak with you."
48 Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”
48
Jesus replied, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?"
49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers.
49
He stretched out his hand toward his disciples and said, "Look, here are my mother and my brothers.
50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”
50
Whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven is my brother, sister, and mother."