Matthew 12:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:1-50

The opposition that our Lord met with read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:2

But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him . The Revised Version ( but the Pharisees , when they saw it , said unto him ) retains the simple order of the Greek, which more vividly represents the Pharisees as a party opposed to him. Behold. They suggest that he had not noticed it. Were the disciples behind him (cf. Matthew 8:23 )? Thy disciples . Notice that all the accusations brought against the disciples in this Gospel concern food: Matthew 9:14 , as regards... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:2

Rigidity in sabbath rules. That which the disciples did was not regarded as a wrong thing in their day. Thomson tells us that, when travelling in harvest-time, his muleteers plucked off the ears of corn, rubbed them in their hands, and ate the grains, just as the apostles did. And this was quite allowable; it was never thought of as stealing. The Pharisees did not object to the thing that was done, but to the infringement of their stiff rule, that this particular act should not be done on... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 12:2

Upon the Sabbath day - The Pharisees, doubtless desirous of finding fault with Christ, said that in plucking the grain on the “Sabbath day” they had violated the commandment. Moses had commanded the Hebrews to abstain from all servile work on the Sabbath, Exodus 20:10; Exodus 35:2-3; Numbers 15:32-36. On any other day this would have been clearly lawful, for it was permitted, Deuteronomy 23:25. 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 12:2

the Pharisees. See App-120 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 12:2

But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do upon the sabbath.This charge was false. God's law did not prohibit the preparation and eating of food on the sabbath day. At the conclusion of the interview, Jesus referred to his disciples as "guiltless" (Matthew 12:5). It is true, however, that the disciples had violated a Pharisaical "interpretation" of the law; and such interpretations were held even more sacred by the Pharisees... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 12:2

Matthew 12:2. When the Pharisees saw it, they said, &c.— The Jews were allowed by the law, when they came into the standing corn of their neighbours, to pluck some ears, and eat them, Deuteronomy 23:25. But as they were by the same law forbid to reap on the sabbath-day, the Pharisees, perversely enough, accounted this action of the disciples to be a kind of reaping. They looked also upon the rubbing the ears of corn in their hands as a breach of the law, because they were not allowed by it... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 12:2

2. 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—The act itself was expressly permitted (Deuteronomy 23:25). But as being "servile work," which was prohibited on the sabbath day, it was regarded as sinful. read more

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