diff --git a/jose/jwt.py b/jose/jwt.py
index 1da109ca..156063bf 100644
--- a/jose/jwt.py
+++ b/jose/jwt.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def encode(claims, key, algorithm=None, headers=None):
     return jws.sign(claims, key, headers=headers)
 
 
-def decode(token, key, algorithms=None, options=None, audience=None, issuer=None):
+def decode(token, key, algorithms=None, options=None, audience=None, issuer=None, subject=None):
     """Verifies a JWT string's signature and validates reserved claims.
 
     Args:
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ def decode(token, key, algorithms=None, options=None, audience=None, issuer=None
         issuer (str): The issuer of the token.  If the "iss" claim is
             included in the claim set, then the issuer must be included and must equal
             the provided claim.
+        subject (str): The subject of the token.  If the "sub" claim is
+            included in the claim set, then the subject must be included and must equal
+            the provided claim.
         options (dict): A dictionary of options for skipping validation steps.
 
             defaults = {
@@ -127,7 +130,7 @@ def decode(token, key, algorithms=None, options=None, audience=None, issuer=None
     if not isinstance(claims, Mapping):
         raise JWTError('Invalid payload string: must be a json object')
 
-    _validate_claims(claims, audience=audience, issuer=issuer, options=defaults)
+    _validate_claims(claims, audience=audience, issuer=issuer, subject=subject, options=defaults)
 
     return claims
 
@@ -333,7 +336,7 @@ def _validate_iss(claims, issuer=None):
             raise JWTClaimsError('Invalid issuer')
 
 
-def _validate_sub(claims):
+def _validate_sub(claims, subject=None):
     """Validates that the 'sub' claim is valid.
 
     The "sub" (subject) claim identifies the principal that is the
@@ -346,6 +349,7 @@ def _validate_sub(claims):
 
     Args:
         claims (dict): The claims dictionary to validate.
+        subject (str): The subject of the token.
     """
 
     if 'sub' not in claims:
@@ -354,6 +358,9 @@ def _validate_sub(claims):
     if not isinstance(claims['sub'], string_types):
         raise JWTClaimsError('Subject must be a string.')
 
+    if subject is not None:
+        if claims.get('sub') != subject:
+            raise JWTClaimsError('Invalid subject')
 
 def _validate_jti(claims):
     """Validates that the 'jti' claim is valid.
@@ -377,7 +384,7 @@ def _validate_jti(claims):
         raise JWTClaimsError('JWT ID must be a string.')
 
 
-def _validate_claims(claims, audience=None, issuer=None, options=None):
+def _validate_claims(claims, audience=None, issuer=None, subject=None, options=None):
 
     leeway = options.get('leeway', 0)
 
@@ -403,7 +410,7 @@ def _validate_claims(claims, audience=None, issuer=None, options=None):
         _validate_iss(claims, issuer=issuer)
 
     if options.get('verify_sub'):
-        _validate_sub(claims)
+        _validate_sub(claims, subject=subject)
 
     if options.get('verify_jti'):
         _validate_jti(claims)
diff --git a/tests/test_jwt.py b/tests/test_jwt.py
index 5cd7a86f..8b4a8f67 100644
--- a/tests/test_jwt.py
+++ b/tests/test_jwt.py
@@ -380,6 +380,29 @@ def test_sub_invalid(self, key):
         with pytest.raises(JWTError):
             jwt.decode(token, key)
 
+    def test_sub_correct(self, key):
+
+        sub = 'subject'
+
+        claims = {
+            'sub': sub
+        }
+
+        token = jwt.encode(claims, key)
+        jwt.decode(token, key, subject=sub)
+
+    def test_sub_incorrect(self, key):
+
+        sub = 'subject'
+
+        claims = {
+            'sub': sub
+        }
+
+        token = jwt.encode(claims, key)
+        with pytest.raises(JWTError):
+            jwt.decode(token, key, subject='another')
+
     def test_jti_string(self, key):
 
         jti = 'JWT ID'