Matthew 12 · KJV
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Matthew 12

Lord of the Sabbath

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

When Jesus' hungry disciples pick and eat grain on the Sabbath, Pharisees object that this is unlawful. Jesus cites David eating the sacred bread when he was hungry and priests working in the temple on the Sabbath, says that something greater than the temple is here, and calls the Son of Man lord of the Sabbath.

What does this mean?

The Sabbath, the seventh day (from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset), was a day of rest commanded in the Ten Commandments. 'Corn' (KJV) means grain, probably wheat or barley. The 'shewbread' (KJV) was the bread of the Presence, twelve loaves set in the sanctuary and eaten only by priests.

Historical context

Picking grain by hand from a neighbour's field was allowed (Deuteronomy 23:25); the question was whether plucking counted as reaping, one of the kinds of work forbidden on the Sabbath. David's story is in 1 Samuel 21:1–6.

Why does it matter?

Sabbath observance was a mark of Jewish identity, and its limits were debated among Jewish teachers. This scene and the next lead to the first plot against Jesus' life (12:14).

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Healing on the Sabbath

And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:

And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

In a synagogue, Jesus is asked whether it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath, a question meant to trap him. He points out that anyone would pull a sheep out of a pit on the Sabbath, and a person is worth far more. He heals the man's withered hand, and the Pharisees go out and plot how to destroy him.

What does this mean?

'Withered' means shrunken or paralysed.

Historical context

Jewish teachers generally agreed that saving a life overrode the Sabbath; the debate concerned less urgent cases. Some groups were stricter: the Damascus Document, known from the Dead Sea Scrolls, forbids lifting an animal out of a pit on the Sabbath.

Why does it matter?

'It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath' puts into practice the mercy Jesus has just spoken of (12:7). The decision to destroy him marks a turning point in his conflict with the Pharisees.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

God's chosen servant

But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; And charged them that they should not make him known: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

Aware of the plot, Jesus withdraws. Large crowds follow and he heals them all, ordering them not to make him known. Matthew sees this as fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy of God's chosen servant.

  • Scripture connection · Quotation · presented as fulfilled

    Matthew 12:17–21 quotes Isaiah 42:1–4

    Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
    Isaiah 42:1–4 · KJV

    The longest Old Testament quotation in Matthew: Isaiah's gentle servant who brings justice to the nations.

What does this mean?

'Smoking flax' (KJV) is a smouldering lamp wick about to go out. 'Judgment' (KJV) and 'justice' (WEB) translate the same word, as do 'Gentiles' (KJV) and 'nations' (WEB).

Why does it matter?

The quotation interprets Jesus' withdrawal and secrecy: he does not seek confrontation or publicity, and he cares for the 'bruised reed', the weak and fragile. 'My beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased' echoes the voice at the baptism (3:17).

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Is Jesus working with Satan?

Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Jesus heals a blind and mute man possessed by a demon. When the crowds wonder whether he is the son of David, the Pharisees claim he drives out demons by Beelzebul. Jesus replies that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, that his exorcisms show God's kingdom has arrived, and warns about blasphemy against the Spirit and about careless words.

What does this mean?

The 'strong man' is Satan, whose 'house' is plundered as people are set free. 'Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit' is not defined; many interpreters take it to mean persistently calling God's work evil, as the critics have just done. 'Idle word' means careless or useless speech.

Historical context

Other Jewish exorcists were active ('your children' or 'your sons'), so Jesus turns the accusation back on his critics. 'Beelzebul' may derive from Baal-zebub, a Philistine god (2 Kings 1:2).

Why does it matter?

The image of a tree known by its fruit repeats earlier warnings (3:10; 7:16–20). The 'unforgivable sin' has caused many readers anxiety; Christian teachers have often pointed out that the warning concerns hardened opposition like that of the critics here.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

The sign of Jonah

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Scribes and Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign. He refuses, except for the sign of Jonah, and says that the people of Nineveh, who repented at Jonah's preaching, and the Queen of the South, who travelled to hear Solomon, will condemn this generation, since someone greater is here. He adds a warning story about an evil spirit returning with seven others.

  • Scripture connection · Reference

    Matthew 12:40 refers to Jonah 1:17

    Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
    Jonah 1:17 · KJV

    Jesus points to Jonah's three days inside the great fish as a sign of his own coming death and resurrection.

What does this mean?

'Adulterous' is a prophetic image for unfaithfulness to God. The 'Queen of the South' is the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10), from southern Arabia or East Africa. 'Three days and three nights' need not mean seventy-two hours; Jewish reckoning could count part of a day as a whole day.

Historical context

Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, Israel's ancient enemy; in the book of Jonah its people repent at the prophet's warning.

Why does it matter?

The returning spirit pictures a generation swept clean but filled with nothing better. 'Greater than Jonah' and 'greater than Solomon' continue 12:6 ('greater than the temple'): Jesus is presented as greater than temple, prophet and king.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Jesus' true family

While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

While Jesus is teaching, his mother and brothers stand outside wanting to speak with him. Pointing to his disciples, he says that whoever does his Father's will is his brother, sister and mother.

What does this mean?

Christian traditions understand Jesus' 'brothers' differently: as later children of Mary and Joseph (common among Protestants), as Joseph's children from an earlier marriage (Orthodox tradition), or as cousins (Catholic tradition, following Jerome).

Historical context

In the ancient Mediterranean world family was the primary source of identity and loyalty; publicly redefining one's family around a teacher would have been startling.

Why does it matter?

The scene closes a chapter of rising opposition by defining who belongs to Jesus. Matthew does not say why the family came; Mark says they thought he was out of his mind (Mark 3:21).

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Translation

KJVTraditional biblical languageWEBContemporary English

Chapters

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  17. 17
  18. 18
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  20. 20
  21. 21
  22. 22
  23. 23
  24. 24
  25. 25
  26. 26
  27. 27
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Reading

Translation

KJVTraditional biblical languageWEBContemporary English

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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