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BOOK 40 OF 66 · GOSPELS · KING JAMES BIBLE

Matthew 12

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Matthew 12 Overview

Conflict intensifies as Jesus defends His disciples plucking grain on the sabbath, heals a man with a withered hand, and is accused of casting out devils by Beelzebub. He answers with kingdom logic, warns about blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, teaches that words reveal the heart, refuses sign-demanding unbelief except for the sign of Jonah, and redefines true family around doing the Father’s will.

MatthewBook
12Chapter
50Verses
GospelsDivision

Before you read Matthew 12

Coming from

Matthew 11 established the immediate context: John the Baptist, imprisoned, sends disciples to ask whether Jesus is the coming One.

In this chapter

Matthew 12 exposes the growing divide between Jesus and opponents who can see His works yet interpret them with hardened hostility.

Leads into

Matthew 13 continues the account: Jesus teaches a series of kingdom parables by the sea: the sower, wheat and tares, mustard seed, leaven, hidden treasure, pearl, and net.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Jesus does not reject the sabbath Scriptures; He challenges interpretations that elevate human rule-making above mercy and the identity of the Lord of the sabbath.

The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost occurs in a context where opponents knowingly attribute Spirit-empowered messianic works to Satan. It should not be casually applied to every frightened person who fears having said the wrong words.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Mercy reveals the purpose of God’s law

Jesus exposes legalism that would leave suffering untouched to protect a rule-system.

A divided kingdom cannot explain Jesus’ authority over demons

His works signal the kingdom of God confronting Satan’s domain.

Persistent hostile interpretation of clear light is spiritually dangerous

The blasphemy warning grows out of deliberate rejection, not accidental speech.

Words expose the heart

Speech matters because it reveals the moral source within a person.

Jesus is greater than Jonah and Solomon

His presence creates greater accountability than earlier revelation.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

1 Samuel 21:1–6

Jesus appeals to David eating the shewbread when answering sabbath accusations.

Hosea 6:6

For the second time Matthew records Jesus using the mercy-over-sacrifice text.

Jonah 1–3

Jesus uses Jonah’s three-day experience and Nineveh’s response as the sign and comparison.

Isaiah 42:1–4

Matthew explicitly identifies Jesus’ quiet healing ministry with Isaiah’s Servant prophecy.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not use the unpardonable-sin passage to terrify tender consciences without context

The warning addresses hardened opponents attributing the Spirit’s work in Christ to Satan.

Do not teach that good works or words create a saved heart

Jesus uses fruit and speech diagnostically; the New Testament teaches salvation by faith.

Do not interpret doing the Father’s will in the family saying as earning kinship

The statement describes identification with Jesus’ true followers in a discipleship context.

Read Matthew 12 watching for…

The sabbath controversies.

Matthew’s Servant fulfillment citation.

The logic Jesus uses against the Beelzebub accusation.

The relation of words and heart.

The sign of Jonah.

The final redefinition of family around Jesus.

TWBC REVIEW STANDARD

Plain language. Scripture first. Fact distinguished from inference. No filler. No fake certainty. Designed to help you read the Bible itself.

Chapter outline5 sections
1-14Jesus answers Sabbath accusations about plucking grain and healing15-21Jesus withdraws, heals many, and fulfills Isaiah’s description of the chosen servant22-37Jesus casts out a devil and answers the charge that he works by Beelzebub38-45Jesus gives the sign of Jonah and warns about an unclean spirit returning46-50Jesus identifies those who do the Father’s will as his family
1

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

2

But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

3

But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

4

How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

5

Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

6

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

7

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

8

For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

9

And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:

10

And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

11

And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

12

How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

13

Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

14

Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

15

But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

16

And charged them that they should not make him known:

17

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

18

Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

19

He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

20

A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

21

And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

22

Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

23

And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

24

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

25

And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

26

And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

27

And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

28

But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

29

Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

30

He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

31

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

32

And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

33

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

34

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

35

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

36

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

37

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

38

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

39

But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

40

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

41

The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

42

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

43

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

44

Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

45

Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

46

While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

47

Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

48

But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

49

And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

50

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

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Matthew 12:2

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