Matthew 12
New Testament · English Majority Text Version with Greek parallel
Matthew chapter 12 is given here in full, verse by verse, in the English Majority Text Version (EMTV), with the Byzantine Majority Text set beneath each verse. The text follows the Byzantine textual tradition used in the Orthodox Church.
46 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from 3 Fathers — Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Augustine, and Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid.
Matthew 12
1At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. And His disciples became hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.Ἐν ἐκείνῳ τῷ καιρῷ ἐπορεύθη ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοῖς σάββασι διὰ τῶν σπορίμων· οἱ δὲ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπείνασαν, καὶ ἤρξαντο τίλλειν στάχυας καὶ ἐσθίειν.
2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι ἰδόντες εἶπον αὐτῷ, Ἰδού, οἱ μαθηταί σου ποιοῦσιν ὃ οὐκ ἔξεστι ποιεῖν ἐν σαββάτῳ.
3But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and those who were with him:ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Οὐκ ἀνέγνωτε τί ἐποίησε Δαυίδ, ὅτε ἐπείνασεν αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ·
4how they entered the house of God, and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, except only for the priests?πῶς εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ τοὺς ἄρτους τῆς προθέσεως ἔφαγεν, οὓς οὐκ ἐξὸν ἦν αὐτῷ φαγεῖν, οὐδὲ τοῖς μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, εἰ μὴ τοῖς ἱερεῦσι μόνοις;
5Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless?ἢ οὐκ ἀνέγνωτε ἐν τῷ νόμῳ, ὅτι τοῖς σάββασιν οἱ ἱερεῖς ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ τὸ σάββατον βεβηλοῦσι, καὶ ἀναίτιοί εἰσι;
6Yet I say to you that One greater than the temple is here.λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι τοῦ ἱεροῦ μεῖζόν ἐστιν ὧδε.
7But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.εἰ δὲ ἐγνώκειτε τί ἐστιν, Ἔλεον θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν, οὐκ ἂν κατεδικάσατε τοὺς ἀναιτίους.
8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”Κύριος γάρ ἐστι τοῦ σαββάτου ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.
9And having departed from there, He went into their synagogue.Καὶ μεταβὰς ἐκεῖθεν ἦλθεν εἰς τὴν συναγωγὴν αὐτῶν.
10And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.καὶ ἰδού, ἄνθρωπος ἦν τὴν χεῖρα ἔχων ξηράν· καὶ ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτόν, λέγοντες, Εἰ ἔξεστι τοῖς σάββασι θεραπεύειν; ἵνα κατηγορήσωσιν αὐτοῦ.
11Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who shall have one sheep, and if it should fall into a ditch on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Τίς ἔσται ἐξ ὑμῶν ἄνθρωπος, ὃς ἕξει πρόβατον ἕν, καὶ ἐὰν ἐμπέσῃ τοῦτο τοῖς σάββασιν εἰς βόθυνον, οὐχὶ κρατήσει αὐτὸ καὶ ἐγερεῖ;
12How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”πόσῳ οὖν διαφέρει ἄνθρωπος προβάτου. ὥστε ἔξεστι τοῖς σάββασι καλῶς ποιεῖν.
13Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored whole like the other.τότε λέγει τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ, Ἔκτεινον τὴν χεῖρά σου. καὶ ἐξέτεινε, καὶ ἀποκατεστάθη ὑγιὴς ὡς ἡ ἄλλη.
14But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, how they might destroy Him.οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι συμβούλιον ἔλαβον κατ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐξελθόντες, ὅπως αὐτὸν ἀπολέσωσιν.
15But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great crowds followed Him, and He healed them all.Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς γνοὺς ἀνεχώρησεν ἐκεῖθεν· καὶ ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ ὄχλοι πολλοί, καὶ ἐθεράπευσεν αὐτοὺς πάντας,
16And He warned them that they should not make Him known,καὶ ἐπετίμησεν αὐτοῖς, ἵνα μὴ φανερὸν αὐτὸν ποιήσωσιν·
17so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying,ὅπως πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ Ἡσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου, λέγοντος,
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 will announce justice to the Gentiles.Ἰδού, ὁ παῖς μου ὃν ᾑρέτισα· ὁ ἀγαπητός μου εἰς ὃν εὐδόκησεν ἡ ψυχή μου· θήσω τὸ Πνεῦμά μου ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν, καὶ κρίσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἀπαγγελεῖ.
19He will not quarrel nor cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.οὐκ ἐρίσει, οὐδὲ κραυγάσει· οὐδὲ ἀκούσει τις ἐν ταῖς πλατείαις τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ.
20A bruised reed He shall not break, and a smoldering wick He shall not quench, till He bring forth justice to victory;κάλαμον συντετριμμένον οὐ κατεάξει, καὶ λίνον τυφόμενον οὐ σβέσει· ἕως ἂν ἐκβάλῃ εἰς νῖκος τὴν κρίσιν.
21And in His name the nations shall hope.”καὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ ἔθνη ἐλπιοῦσι.
22Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.Τότε προσηνέχθη αὐτῷ δαιμονιζόμενος, τυφλὸς καὶ κωφός· καὶ ἐθεράπευσεν αὐτόν, ὥστε τὸν τυφλὸν καὶ κωφὸν καὶ λαλεῖν καὶ βλέπειν.
23And all the crowds were amazed and said, “This is not the Son of David, is it?”καὶ ἐξίσταντο πάντες οἱ ὄχλοι καὶ ἔλεγον, Μήτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς Δαυίδ;
24But the Pharisees, having heard, said, “This Man does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, ruler of the demons.”οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι ἀκούσαντες εἶπον, Οὗτος οὐκ ἐκβάλλει τὰ δαιμόνια, εἰ μὴ ἐν τῷ Βεελζεβοὺλ ἄρχοντι τῶν δαιμονίων.
25But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is made desolate, and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.εἰδὼς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὰς ἐνθυμήσεις αὐτῶν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Πᾶσα βασιλεία μερισθεῖσα καθ᾽ ἑαυτῆς ἐρημοῦται· καὶ πᾶσα πόλις ἢ οἰκία μερισθεῖσα καθ᾽ ἑαυτῆς οὐ σταθήσεται.
26And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?καὶ εἰ ὁ Σατανᾶς τὸν Σατανᾶν ἐκβάλλει, ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτὸν ἐμερίσθη· πῶς οὖν σταθήσεται ἡ βασιλεία αὐτοῦ;
27And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.καὶ εἰ ἐγὼ ἐν Βεελζεβοὺλ ἐκβάλλω τὰ δαιμόνια, οἱ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν ἐν τίνι ἐκβάλλουσι; διὰ τοῦτο αὐτοὶ ὑμῶν ἔσονται κριταί.
28But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.εἰ δὲ ἐν Πνεύματι Θεοῦ ἐγὼ ἐκβάλλω τὰ δαιμόνια, ἄρα ἔφθασεν ἐφ᾽ ὑμᾶς ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ.
29Or how is one able to enter a strong man's house to plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his household.ἢ πῶς δύναταί τις εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν τοῦ ἰσχυροῦ καὶ τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ διαρπάσαι, ἐὰν μὴ πρῶτον δήσῃ τὸν ἰσχυρόν; καὶ τότε τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ διαρπάσῃ.
30He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.ὁ μὴ ὢν μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ κατ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἐστι· καὶ ὁ μὴ συνάγων μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ σκορπίζει.
31“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men.διὰ τοῦτο λέγω ὑμῖν, Πᾶσα ἁμαρτία καὶ βλασφημία ἀφεθήσεται τοῖς ἀνθρώποις· ἡ δὲ τοῦ Πνεύματος βλασφημία οὐκ ἀφεθήσεται τοῖς ἀνθρώποις.
32And whoever says a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come.καὶ ὃς ἐὰν εἴπῃ λόγον κατὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ἀφεθήσεται αὐτῷ· ὃς δ᾽ ἂν εἴπῃ κατὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος τοῦ Ἁγίου, οὐκ ἀφεθήσεται αὐτῷ, οὔτε ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰῶνι οὔτε ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι.
33“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for a tree is known by its fruit.Ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον καλόν, καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ καλόν, ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον σαπρόν, καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ σαπρόν· ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ καρποῦ τὸ δένδρον γινώσκεται.
34Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν, πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθὰ λαλεῖν, πονηροὶ ὄντες; ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τὸ στόμα λαλεῖ.
35A good man out of his good treasure brings forth good things, and an evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil things.ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος ἐκ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ θησαυροῦ ἐκβάλλει ἀγαθά· καὶ ὁ πονηρὸς ἄνθρωπος ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ θησαυροῦ ἐκβάλλει πονηρά.
36But I say to you, that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment.λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι πᾶν ῥῆμα ἀργόν, ὃ ἐὰν λαλήσωσιν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, ἀποδώσουσι περὶ αὐτοῦ λόγον ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως.
37For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.”ἐκ γὰρ τῶν λόγων σου δικαιωθήσῃ, καὶ ἐκ τῶν λόγων σου καταδικασθήσῃ.
38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from You.”Τότε ἀπεκρίθησάν τινες τῶν γραμματέων καὶ Φαρισαίων, λέγοντες, Διδάσκαλε, θέλομεν ἀπὸ σοῦ σημεῖον ἰδεῖν.
39But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Γενεὰ πονηρὰ καὶ μοιχαλὶς σημεῖον ἐπιζητεῖ· καὶ σημεῖον οὐ δοθήσεται αὐτῇ, εἰ μὴ τὸ σημεῖον Ἰωνᾶ τοῦ προφήτου.
40For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.ὥσπερ γὰρ ἦν Ἰωνᾶς ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ τοῦ κήτους τρεῖς ἡμέρας καὶ τρεῖς νύκτας, οὕτως ἔσται ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ τῆς γῆς τρεῖς ἡμέρας καὶ τρεῖς νύκτας.
41The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.ἄνδρες Νινευῖται ἀναστήσονται ἐν τῇ κρίσει μετὰ τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτήν· ὅτι μετενόησαν εἰς τὸ κήρυγμα Ἰωνᾶ· καὶ ἰδού, πλεῖον Ἰωνᾶ ὧδε.
42The queen of the South shall rise up in the judgment with this generation and she shall condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.βασίλισσα νότου ἐγερθήσεται ἐν τῇ κρίσει μετὰ τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης καὶ κατακρινεῖ αὐτήν· ὅτι ἦλθεν ἐκ τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς ἀκοῦσαι τὴν σοφίαν Σολομῶνος· καὶ ἰδού, πλεῖον Σολομῶνος ὧδε.
43“When an unclean spirit goes out from a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and does not find any.Ὅταν δὲ τὸ ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα ἐξέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, διέρχεται δι᾽ ἀνύδρων τόπων, ζητοῦν ἀνάπαυσιν, καὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκει.
44Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from where I came out.’ And when he comes, he finds it unoccupied, swept, and adorned.τότε λέγει, Ἐπιστρέψω εἰς τὸν οἶκόν μου ὅθεν ἐξῆλθον. καὶ ἐλθὸν εὑρίσκει σχολάζοντα, σεσαρωμένον καὶ κεκοσμημένον.
45Then he goes and takes along with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and entering in they dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Thus it shall also be with this wicked generation.”τότε πορεύεται καὶ παραλαμβάνει μεθ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ ἑπτὰ ἕτερα πνεύματα πονηρότερα ἑαυτοῦ, καὶ εἰσελθόντα κατοικεῖ ἐκεῖ· καὶ γίνεται τὰ ἔσχατα τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκείνου χείρονα τῶν πρώτων. οὕτως ἔσται καὶ τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ πονηρᾷ.
46And while He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.Ἔτι δὲ αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος τοῖς ὄχλοις, ἰδού, ἡ μήτηρ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ εἱστήκεισαν ἔξω, ζητοῦντες αὐτῷ λαλῆσαι.
47Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”εἶπε δέ τις αὐτῷ, Ἰδού, ἡ μήτηρ σου καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοί σου ἔξω ἑστήκασι, ζητοῦντές σοι λαλῆσαι.
48But He answered and said to him that told Him, “Who is My mother? And who are My brothers?”ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπε τῷ εἰπόντι αὐτῷ, Τίς ἐστιν ἡ μήτηρ μου; καὶ τίνες εἰσὶν οἱ ἀδελφοί μου;
49And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold; My mother, and My brothers!καὶ ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ εἶπεν, Ἰδού, ἡ μήτηρ μου καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοί μου.
50For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”ὅστις γὰρ ἂν ποιήσῃ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς, αὐτός μου ἀδελφὸς καὶ ἀδελφὴ καὶ μήτηρ ἐστίν.
The Fathers on Matthew 12
Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Augustine, and Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid comment on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.
On Matthew 12:38–39Saint John ChrysostomCould then anything be more foolish than these men, who after so many miracles, as though none had been wrought, say, “We would see a sign from Thee?”
Read Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew →
On Matthew 12:38Saint AugustineMatthew goes on and relates what followed thus: “Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign of thee;” and so on, down to where we read, “Even so shall it be also unto this...
Read The Harmony of the Gospels →
On Matthew 12:38Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid38. Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from Thee. The evangelist is amazed and so writes the word "then." For when they should have submitted to Him because of His preceding miracles, it was then that they asked for...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 12:39Saint AugustineMatthew continues as follows: “And He sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magedan;” and so on, down to the words, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no...
Read The Harmony of the Gospels →
On Matthew 12:39–40Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid39-40. 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 Jonah: for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, so shall the Son of Man be three...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 12:46–49Saint John ChrysostomThat which I was lately saying, that when virtue is wanting all things are vain, this is now also pointed out very abundantly.
Read Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew →
On Matthew 12:46Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid46. While He yet talked to the people, behold, His mother and His brethren stood without, desiring to speak with Him. Subject to a certain human foible, His mother wanted to show that she had authority over her child, for she did not yet comprehend His greatness. This is why,...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 12:47–50Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid47-50. Then one said unto Him, Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with Thee. But He answered and said unto him that told him, Who is My mother? and who are My brethren? And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples, and said, Behold My...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 12:1Saint John Chrysostom“At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and His disciples were a hungered, and began to pluck the1645ears of corn, and to eat.”
Read Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew →
On Matthew 12:1Saint AugustineMatthew continues his history in the following terms: “At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath-day through the corn; and His disciples were an hungered, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat;” and so forth, on to the...
Read The Harmony of the Gospels →
On Matthew 12:1–4Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid1-4. At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the grain-fields; and His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the heads of grain, and to eat. Setting aside for the while observances of the law, He leads His disciples through the grainfields, so that by eating...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 12:9–10Saint John Chrysostom“And when He was departed thence, He went into their synagogue: and, behold, a man which had his hand withered.”
Read Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew →
On Matthew 12:9–10Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid9-10. And when he was departed thence, He went into their synagogue: and behold, there was a man whose hand was withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse Him. The other evangelists say that Jesus put the question to...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 12:25–26Saint John Chrysostom“And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself shall be brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself, shall not stand: and if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?”
Read Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew →
On Matthew 12:25, 37Saint AugustineMatthew proceeds with his narrative in the following terms: “And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
Read The Harmony of the Gospels →
On Matthew 12:25–26Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid25-26. And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: and if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 12:33Saint John Chrysostom“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.”
Read Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew →
On Matthew 12:33Saint AugustineThe Lord Jesus hath admonished us, that we be good trees, and that so we may be able to bear good fruits.
Read Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament →
On Matthew 12:33Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid33. Either call the tree good, and its fruit good; or else call the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit. Since the Jews were not able to slander the miracles as bad, they blasphemed as demonic the One Who did them, Christ. So He says:...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 12:11Saint AugustineMatthew continues his account thus: “And when He was departed thence, He went into their synagogue: and, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered;” and so on, down to the words, “And it was restored whole, like as...
Read The Harmony of the Gospels →
On Matthew 12:11–12Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid11-12. 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 of it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 12:15Saint AugustineMatthew continues his narrative, connecting it in the following manner with what precedes: “But the Pharisees went out and held a council against Him, how they might destroy Him.
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On Matthew 12:14–15Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid14-15. Then the Pharisees departed, and held a council against Him, how they might destroy Him. But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew Himself from thence. What spite! When good is done to them they become enraged. Jesus withdrew, as it was not yet the time for His Passion, and...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 12:15–16Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid15-16. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all; and charged them that they should not make Him known. He does not want to be made known so that He might soften the spite of the Pharisees, for He was eager to heal them in any way possible.
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 12:22Saint AugustineMatthew then goes on with his recital in the following fashion: “Then was brought unto Him one possessed with a devil, blind and dumb; and He healed him, insomuch that he both spake and saw.” Luke introduces this narrative,...
Read The Harmony of the Gospels →
On Matthew 12:22–23Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid22-23. Then was brought unto Him one possessed with a demon, blind, and dumb: and He healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the Son of David? The demon had stopped up the avenues towards faith,...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 12:32Saint AugustineThere has been a great question raised touching the late lesson of the Gospel, to the solution of which I am unequal by any power of mine own; but “our sufficiency is of God,” to whatever degree we are capable of receiving His aid.
Read Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament →
On Matthew 12:31–32Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid31-32. Wherefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy...
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On Matthew 12:36–37Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid36-37. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement. For by thy words thou shalt be deemed righteous, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Here He strikes fear into our hearts, that we will give an...
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On Matthew 12:50Saint AugustineMatthew then proceeds with his narrative in the following terms: “While He yet talked to the people, behold, His mother and His brethren stood without, desiring to speak to Him;” and so on, down to the words, “For whosoever...
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On Matthew 12:5–6Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid5-6. 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? But I say unto you, That here is one greater than the temple. The law prohibited work on the sabbath; so, then, the priests as they split wood...
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On Matthew 12:7–8Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid7-8. But if ye had known what this meaneth, that I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the sabbath day. He also shows them up as unlearned, not knowing the words of the prophets (Hosea 6:7). For was it...
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On Matthew 12:13Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid13. Then saith He to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. Many, even now, have withered hands, that is, they are merciless and tightfisted. But when the word of the Gospel resounds within them, they...
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On Matthew 12:17–19Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid17-19. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, 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 proclaim judgement to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry;...
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On Matthew 12:20Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid20. A bruised reed shall He not break, and a smoldering wick shall He not quench. He could have crushed the Jews, he says, like a broken reed, and could have quenched their anger like a smoldering wick, but Jesus did not wish to do so until He had fulfilled His dispensation...
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On Matthew 12:20–21Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid20-21. Till He send forth judgement unto victory, and in His name shall the Gentiles hope. So that the Jews would have no excuse, Christ endured all things, so that later He might condemn and overcome those who could say nothing in their own defense. What did He not do to win...
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On Matthew 12:24Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid24. But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons. Although the Lord had departed for their sake, nevertheless they heard of it even from afar and slandered Him as He was doing good to men, and thus...
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On Matthew 12:27Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid27. And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. Let us suppose, He says, that I am such as you say. But by whom do your sons, that is, My disciples, cast them out? Surely they do not also cast them out by...
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On Matthew 12:28Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid28. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. This means, if it is by divine power that I cast out demons, then I am the Son of God, and I have come for your sake, to do good to you. So, then, I have come unto you, and this is...
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On Matthew 12:29Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid29. Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and plunder his goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. I do not, He says, keep demons as friends; just the opposite, I war against them and bind them who were strong men before...
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On Matthew 12:30Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid30. He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad. How, He says, could Beelzebub work with Me, when, on the contrary, he acts against Me? For I teach virtue, but he, evil. How then is he with Me? And I gather men unto salvation, but...
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On Matthew 12:34Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid34. O brood of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? Look, He says, you who are evil trees bear evil fruit when you speak ill of Me. And I also, if I were evil, would bring forth evil fruit and not these miracles. He calls them "brood of vipers" because they...
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On Matthew 12:34–35Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid34-35. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 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. When you see a speaker of obscenities, know that he does not have...
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On Matthew 12:41Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid41. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgement with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and, behold, a greater than Jonah is here. Jonah, He says, after he left the belly of the whale, preached and was believed. But you will...
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On Matthew 12:42Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid42. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgement with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon: and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. The queen, He says, came from a great distance, despite...
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On Matthew 12:43–45Open Matthew 12 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid43-45. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 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. Then goeth he, and taketh...
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