Matthew 12:1-21

1Then on a day of rest—a holy day, Jesus walked through the grainfields. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain to eat.

2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing something that is not right to do on the day of rest—a holy day.”

3Jesus asked them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his men were hungry?

4Haven’t you read how he went into the house of God and ate  the bread of the presence? He and his men had no right to eat those loaves. Only the priests have that right.

5Or haven’t you read in Moses’ Teachings that on the day of rest—a holy day, the priests in the temple do things they shouldn’t on the day of rest yet remain innocent?

6I can guarantee that something  greater than the temple is here.

7If you had known what ‘I want mercy, not sacrifices’ means, you would not have condemned innocent people.

8“The Son of Man has authority over the day of rest—a holy day.”

9Jesus moved on from there and went into a synagogue.

10A man with a paralyzed hand was there. The people asked Jesus whether it was right to heal on a day of rest—a holy day, so that they could accuse him of doing something wrong.

11Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you has a sheep. If it falls into a pit on a day of rest—a holy day, wouldn’t you take hold of it and lift it out?

12Certainly, a human is more valuable than a sheep! So it is right to do good on the day of rest—a holy day.”

13Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man held it out, and it became normal again, as healthy as the other.

14The Pharisees left and plotted to kill Jesus.

15He knew about this, so he left that place. Many people followed him, and he cured all of them.

16He also ordered them not to tell people who he was.

17So what the prophet Isaiah had said came true:

18“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, whom I love, and in whom I delight. I will put my Spirit on him, and he will announce justice to the nations.

19He will not quarrel or shout, and no one will hear his voice in the streets.

20He will not break off a damaged cattail. He will not even put out a smoking wick until he has made justice victorious.

21The nations will have hope because of him.”