28Come to me, all you who bear a heavy burden of labor and care, and I will give you rest. 29Take upon you the yoke of my commandments, and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light."

The Question of the Sabbath

12 It came to pass that Jesus was passing through the sown fields on the Sabbath day. His disciples, being hungry, began to pluck the ears of grain and eat the grain. 2The Pharisees saw this and said to him, "Behold, your disciples are doing what you cannot do on the Sabbath."

3He asked them, "Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? 4 How did he enter God's house and eat the bread that is laid before God, bread that was not to be eaten by him or by those who were with him, but only by the priests? 5Or have you not read in the Law that the priests themselves break the Sabbath in the Temple on the Sabbath, but this is not imputed to them? 6But I say to you, there is something more here than the Temple! 7 If you had understood the meaning of the words of the Scriptures, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice,"[121] you would not have condemned the innocent. 8For the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath."

9Jesus left the place and came to their synagogue. 10There was a man with a withered hand. Jesus was asked to accuse Him: "Is it permissible to heal on the Sabbath?"

11He answered: "If one of you has a single sheep falling into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not pull it out? 12Is a man not more precious than a sheep?! Therefore, it is possible to do good on the Sabbath."

E-13 Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand!" 14 And the Pharisees, when they came out of the synagogue, began to decide how they should deal with Jesus.

God's Chosen Servant

15When Jesus became aware of this, he departed, and many followed him. He healed all the sick, 16but strictly commanded them not to tell anyone about Him. 17All this happened in order to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

18"This is my servant whom I have chosen;

My beloved, the joy of my soul;

I will give him my Spirit;

and he will proclaim justice[122] to the nations.

19He will neither argue nor shout;