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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:4

How he entered into the house of God, and did eat; rather, and they did eat , with Revised Version margin ( ἔφαγον ), the simple plural verb laying the action less at David's door than does the phrase in the parallel passages—"and he gave" them to eat. Observe that the mention of ordinary people, like David's attendants, adds to the force of our Lord's illustration. The shew-bread ( Exodus 25:30 ; Le Exodus 24:5-7 ). Which . Which kind of food ( ὅ ). Was not lawful... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 12:4-5

How he entered into the house of God - That is, the “tabernacle,” the temple not being then built.Have ye not read in the law? - In the law, or in the books of Moses.Profane the Sabbath - He referred them to the conduct of the priests also. On the Sabbath days they were engaged, as well as on other days, in killing beasts for sacrifice, Numbers 28:9-10. Two lambs were killed on the Sabbath, in addition to the daily sacrifice. The priests must be engaged in killing them, and making fires to burn... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 12:2-4

Matthew 12:2-4. The Pharisees said, Thy disciples do what is not lawful The law of Moses so expressly allowed the plucking ears of corn as one passed through a field, that, malignant as they were, they pretended not to find fault with the action itself, (see Deuteronomy 23:25,) but they were perverse enough to think this to be a kind of reaping and dressing the grain, which was indeed forbidden on the sabbath. But he said Have ye not read what, in a case of like necessity, David did, ... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:1-8

34. Picking corn on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5)When the Pharisees criticized Jesus’ disciples for picking a few pieces of corn to eat on the Sabbath, Jesus defended his disciples by referring to two examples from the Old Testament. First, when David and his men were very hungry and urgently needed food, they were rightly allowed to eat the holy bread of the tabernacle, which normally only priests were allowed to eat (Matthew 12:1-4; cf. 1 Samuel 21:1-6). Second, even... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 12:4

into. Greek. eis. App-104 . the house of God: i.e. the tabernacle. the shew bread. See Exodus 25:30 . Leviticus 24:5-8 . which was . . . but only, &c. See Leviticus 24:9 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 12:3-4

Matthew 12:3-4. But he said unto them, &c.— Concerning this transaction see the note on Mark 2:25-26. By the house of God is not meant the temple, for it was not then built; but the court of the tabernacle, which was at that time pitched at Nob, one of the priests' cities in the tribe of Benjamin. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 12:4

4. How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?—No example could be more apposite than this. The man after God's own heart, of whom the Jews ever boasted, when suffering in God's cause and straitened for provisions, asked and obtained from the high priest what, according to the law, it was illegal for anyone save the priests to touch. Mark (Mark 2:26) says this occurred "in... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 12:1-8

The Sabbath and legal observance 12:1-8 (cf. Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5)The immediate connection between this section and what precedes is twofold. The first is the theme of rising opposition (Matthew 11:2 to Matthew 13:53), and the second is the heavy yoke of Pharisaic tradition that made the Israelites weary and heavy laden (Matthew 11:28-30). The aim of the Sabbath was to provide rest, which Jesus said those who took His yoke upon themselves would find. It was not to provide a burden, which... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 12:1-21

1. Conflict over Sabbath observance 12:1-21The first two instances of conflict that Matthew recorded arose over Sabbath observance. Sabbath observance was very important to the Jews. [Note: See Edersheim, The Life . . ., 2:777-87, for discussion of the ordinances and law of the Sabbath as laid down in the Mishnah and the Jerusalem Talmud.] It was a uniquely Israelite institution that commemorated the creation of the cosmos and the creation of Israel. Jewish rules of conduct concerning the... read more

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