The Lord of the Sabbath (1 Samuel 21:1–7; Mark 2:23–28; Luke 6:1–5)
1 UST Some time later, Jesus{ and his apprentices} were walking through grain fields during one of the Jewish days of rest. His apprentices became hungry, so they started to pick some grain and eat it. BSB BSB: At 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.
2 UST Some Pharisees saw{ the apprentices picking grain}. They said to Jesus,“Look! Your apprentices are working on the Jewish day of rest. Our law forbids us to do that.” BSB BSB: When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
4 UST As you know, David entered the sacred tent. He ate some of the bread that had been on display before God, even though the law prohibited him and the men who were with him from doing that. Only priests could eat that bread. BSB BSB: He 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.
5 UST Likewise, consider the laws in the Scriptures that permit priests to work during the Jewish days of rest because they are serving in the Jewish sanctuary. BSB BSB: Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent?
6 UST However, I want you to know that there is now something even more important than the Jewish sanctuary. BSB BSB: But I tell you that One greater than the temple is here.
7 UST Suppose that you truly understood what God has said in the Scriptures:‘What I most want is that people treat each other mercifully, not that people present offerings to me.’ Then, you would not have declared{ my apprentices} guilty when they have actually not disobeyed{ the laws about the Jewish day of rest}. BSB BSB: If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.
8 UST { I say those things} because I, the Son of Man, can decide{ what is right for people to do} during the Jewish day of rest!” BSB BSB: For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1–6; Luke 6:6–11)
9 UST Then Jesus left the grain fields and visited one of the Jewish meeting places. BSB BSB: Moving on from there, Jesus entered their synagogue,
10 UST Now there was a man there who could not move his hand. The Pharisees wanted to accuse Jesus{ of disobeying the laws about not working on the Sabbath}. So, they asked Jesus,“Does our law allow us to cure{ people from their diseases} during Jewish days of rest?” BSB BSB: and a man with a withered hand was there. In order to accuse Jesus, they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
11 UST Jesus replied,“Suppose that one of you had a single sheep. Also suppose that this sheep fell into a deep hole on a Jewish day of rest. You would certainly pull it out of the hole{, even though this would be doing work on the Jewish day of rest}! BSB BSB: He 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?
12 UST Therefore,{ since} people are more important than sheep{, you should help others even more than you help sheep on Jewish days of rest}. So then, the laws that God gave Moses allow people to do what is good on Jewish days of rest.” BSB BSB: How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13 UST After{ saying that}, Jesus commanded the man,“Extend the hand{ that you cannot move}!” The man extended his hand, and he could move it just as well as his other hand. BSB BSB: Then 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.
14 UST Then the Pharisees left{ the Jewish meeting place}. They started planning how they could kill Jesus. BSB BSB: But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
God’s Chosen Servant (Isaiah 42:1–9)
15 UST Jesus knew{ that the Pharisees were planning to kill him}. So, he left that area. Many people went with him, and he cured all of them{ who were sick}. BSB BSB: Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all,
16 UST Jesus commanded them strongly that they should not tell other people about him. BSB BSB: warning them not to make Him known.
18 UST “Consider the one who serves me, whom I selected. I love him, and what he does pleases me. I will empower him with the Holy Spirit. He will declare to the non- Jews that I do what is right. BSB BSB: “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.
19 UST He will not quarrel with people. He will not shout loudly. He will not speak to many people in public areas. BSB BSB: He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets.
20 UST He will be gentle with weak people. He will be kind to feeble people.{ He will do those things} until he successfully completes doing what is right. BSB BSB: A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory.
21 UST Non- Jewish people will confidently trust in him.” BSB BSB: In His name the nations will put their hope.”
A House Divided (Mark 3:20–27; Luke 11:14–23)
22 UST After that, some people brought a man to Jesus. A demon was controlling him and keeping him from seeing or speaking. Jesus cured the man, and he was able to speak and see. BSB BSB: Then 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.
23 UST What Jesus had done impressed all the large groups of people{ who were nearby}. They declared{ to each other},“Perhaps this man is the special descendant of King David.” BSB BSB: The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24 UST However, the Pharisees heard{ them saying that}. They responded,“This man forces out demons only because Beelzebul, who rules the demons, enables him to do so.” BSB BSB: But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”
25 UST Jesus realized what they were thinking. So he said to them,“When the people in one nation fight against each other, they will destroy their nation. When people who live in the same town or household fight against each other, that town or household will not last. BSB BSB: Knowing 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.
26 UST Suppose that Satan enabled people to force out his own demons. In that case, he would be fighting against himself. So, he would soon cease to rule over the demons! BSB BSB: If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
27 UST Further, suppose that Beelzebul is enabling me to force out demons. Then, it must also be true that he is enabling your apprentices to force out demons.{ But you know that is not true.} So your own apprentices prove that you are wrong. BSB BSB: And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
28 UST Actually, the Holy Spirit enables me to force out demons. That means that God is establishing his kingdom among you. BSB BSB: But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 UST Before thieves can break into the home of a strong man and take his belongings, they must first tie up the strong man. After that, they can take the belongings from his home. BSB BSB: Or 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.
30 UST Anyone who is not supporting me is opposing me. Anyone who is not bringing people to me is sending them away from me. BSB BSB: He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
The Unpardonable Sin (Mark 3:28–30)
31 UST So then, here is what I want to tell you: God will forgive many people who sin in many ways or say bad things{ about God or others}. However, God will not forgive people who say bad things about the Holy Spirit. BSB BSB: Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 UST Further, God will forgive people who say bad things about me, the Son of Man. However, God will not forgive people who say bad things about the Holy Spirit.{ He will} not{ forgive them} right now or at any later time. BSB BSB: Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.
Good and Bad Fruit (Luke 6:43–45)
33 UST You must decide either that both a tree and its fruit are healthy or that both a tree and its fruit are unhealthy.{ I say that} because you can tell if a tree is healthy or unhealthy by what kind of fruit it produces. Similarly, you can tell what people are really like by the things that they do. BSB BSB: Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is known by its fruit.
34 UST You people are sneaky and dangerous like poisonous snakes! Because you are wicked, you cannot say anything good.{ I say that} because people speak based on what they are thinking about. BSB BSB: You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 UST Good people say good things because they think good things. Evil people say evil things because they think evil things. BSB BSB: The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.
36 UST Here is what I want you to know: when God judges everyone, he will hold people responsible for all the useless things that they have said. BSB BSB: But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
37 UST In fact, God will declare that you are either innocent or guilty based on what you have said.” BSB BSB: For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
The Sign of Jonah (Jonah 3:1–10; Luke 11:29–32)
40 UST { A huge fish swallowed Jonah, and} he was inside this fish for three whole days.{ Then, God had the fish spit him out.} Similarly, people will bury me, the Son of Man, and I will be in a tomb for three whole days.{ Then, I will live again.} BSB BSB: For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 UST The people who lived in the ancient city of Nineveh stopped sinning when Jonah preached to them. And now there is something even more important than{ the prophet} Jonah.{ However, you have not stopped sinning.} Therefore, when God judges everyone, the people who lived in Nineveh will stand up and condemn the people who are alive right now. BSB BSB: The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.
42 UST Long ago the Queen of Sheba traveled a great distance to listen to the wise things that King Solomon said. And now there is something even more important than Solomon.{ However, you have not really listened to what I say.} Therefore, when God judges everyone, she will stand up and condemn the people who are alive right now. BSB BSB: The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
An Unclean Spirit Returns (Luke 11:24–26)
43 UST Listen to this story: an evil spirit leaves someone and wanders around in desolate areas looking for someone else to live in. However, it does not find anyone there. BSB BSB: When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
44 UST After that, it says{ to itself},‘I am going to go back to the person I used to live in!’ So it goes back and finds that the person is like a house that someone has cleaned and organized, but no one is living in it. BSB BSB: Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ On its return, it finds the house vacant, swept clean, and put in order.
45 UST Then this evil spirit goes and gets seven other spirits that are even more evil than it is. They all enter that person and begin living in him. That person experienced bad things before, but now he will experience worse things. Something like that is what you wicked people who are alive right now will experience.” BSB BSB: Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers (Mark 3:31–35; Luke 8:19–21)
46 UST As Jesus was saying those things to the large groups of people, his mother and his{ younger} brothers{ arrived and} waited outside{ where he was}. They wanted to talk with him. BSB BSB: While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him.
47 UST A person told him,“Your mother and your{ younger} brothers are waiting outside. They want to talk with you.” BSB BSB: Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.”
48 UST Jesus replied,“I will tell you whom I consider to be my mother and my brothers.” BSB BSB: But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?”
49 UST He pointed to his apprentices and said,“These are the people whom I consider to be my mother and my brothers! BSB BSB: Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers.
50 UST In fact, when a person does what God my Father, who rules from heaven, wants, I consider that person to be my brother or sister or mother.” BSB BSB: For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”