Limitless Word
But the Pharisees went out, and conspired against him, how they might destroy him.
Matthew 12:14 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
  • BSB But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
  • NKJV Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.
  • NASB But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.
  • NLT Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The Pharisees respond not with repentance but by plotting to destroy Jesus.

Overview

Confronted with undeniable goodness and power, the religious leaders harden into murderous intent. Their hostility shows that the conflict is not really about Sabbath law but about Jesus himself. This plotting marks a turning point that will ultimately lead to the cross, where their schemes serve God's saving purpose.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 8

  • John 11:53So from that day forward they took counsel that they might put him to death.
  • Mark 3:6The Pharisees went out, and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
  • John 5:18For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
  • John 10:39They sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand.
  • Luke 6:11But they were filled with rage, and talked with one another about what they might do to Jesus.
  • Matt 26:4They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him.
  • Matt 27:1Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
  • John 11:57Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had commanded that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it, that they might seize him.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Matthew videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Matthew 12:14YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on MatthewMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'

How Matthew 12:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.