The Lord of the Sabbath (1 Samuel 21:1–7; Mark 2:23–28; Luke 6:1–5)
1 WBS At that time Jesus went on the sabbath through the corn, and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 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 WBS But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, Behold, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath. BSB BSB: When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
4 WBS How he entered into the house of God, and ate the show-bread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them who were with him, but only for the priests? 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 WBS Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 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 WBS But I say to you, that in this place is one greater than the temple. BSB BSB: But I tell you that One greater than the temple is here.
7 WBS But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. BSB BSB: If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.
8 WBS For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath. 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 WBS And when he had departed thence, he went into their synagogue. BSB BSB: Moving on from there, Jesus entered their synagogue,
10 WBS And behold, there was a man who had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath? that they might accuse him. 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 WBS And he said to them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it shall fall into a pit on the sabbath, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 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 WBS How much then is a man better than a sheep? wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. BSB BSB: How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13 WBS Then saith he to the man, Stretch out thy hand. And he stretched it out; and it was restored to a sound state like the other. 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 WBS Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. BSB BSB: But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
God’s Chosen Servant (Isaiah 42:1–9)
15 WBS But when Jesus knew it , he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all. BSB BSB: Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all,
16 WBS And charged them that they should not make him known: BSB BSB: warning them not to make Him known.
18 WBS 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 show judgment to the Gentiles. 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 WBS He shall not contend, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. BSB BSB: He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets.
20 WBS A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he shall send forth judgment to victory. BSB BSB: A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory.
21 WBS And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. BSB BSB: In His name the nations will put their hope.”
A House Divided (Mark 3:20–27; Luke 11:14–23)
22 WBS Then was brought to him one possessed with a demon, blind and dumb; and he healed him, so that the blind and dumb both spoke and saw. 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 WBS And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? BSB BSB: The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24 WBS But when the Pharisees heard it , they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons. BSB BSB: But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”
25 WBS And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself, is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself, shall not stand. 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 WBS And if Satan casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? BSB BSB: If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
27 WBS And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your children expel them ? therefore they shall be your judges. 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 WBS But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come to you. BSB BSB: But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 WBS Or else, how can one enter into a strong man's house, and seize his goods, except he shall first bind the strong man? and then he will plunder his house. 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 WBS He that is not with me, is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad. 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 WBS Wherefore I say to you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven to men. 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 WBS And whoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whoever speaketh against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. 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 WBS Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit. 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 WBS O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. 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 WBS 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. 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 WBS But I say to you, That for every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account in the day of judgment. 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 WBS For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. 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 WBS For as Jonah 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. 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 WBS The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here. 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 WBS 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. 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 WBS When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and he findeth none. BSB BSB: When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
44 WBS 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. 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 WBS 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 to this wicked generation. 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 WBS While he was yet speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. BSB BSB: While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him.
47 WBS Then one said to him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. BSB BSB: Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.”
48 WBS But he answered and said to him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? BSB BSB: But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?”
49 WBS And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! BSB BSB: Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers.
50 WBS For whoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. BSB BSB: For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”