Matthew 12:1-21

American Standard Version

12 At that season Jesus went on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck ears and to eat. ² But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do upon the sabbath. ³ But he said unto them, ^[a]Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him; ⁴ how he entered into the house of God, and ^[b]ate the showbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests? ⁵ Or have ye not read in the law, ^[c]that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless? ⁶ But I say unto you, that ^[d]one greater than the temple is here. ⁷ But if ye had known what this meaneth, ^[e]I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. ⁸ For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath.

⁹ And he departed thence, and went into their synagogue: ¹⁰ and behold, a man having a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? that they might accuse him. ¹¹ And he said unto them, What man shall there be of you, that shall have one sheep, and if this 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 of more value than a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day. ¹³ Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, as the other. ¹⁴ But the Pharisees went out, and took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.

¹⁵ And Jesus perceiving it withdrew from thence: and many 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 through Isaiah the prophet, saying,