Matthew 12:1-31

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 12:28

the Spirit . There is no Art. Greek. pneuma. ( App-101 .) = by God's pneuma, put for Divine power. In Luke 11:20 God's "finger" put for the power exercised by it by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause). So in Exodus 8:19 . then = it follows that. the kingdom of God. The second of five occurrences in Matthew. See note on Matthew 6:33 and App-114 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 12:29

strong man's = the strong [one's]. spoil = plunder. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 12:31

Wherefore = On this account. Greek. dia touto, same as "therefore", Matthew 12:27 . blasphemy = impious or evil speaking. against the Holy Ghost = [concerning] the Spirit. Greek. pneuma with Art. See App-101 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 12:1

MATT. 12QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SABBATH; BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT; THE SIGN OF THE PROPHET JONAH; THE EMPTY HOUSE AND THE RETURN OF THE UNCLEAN SPIRITAt that season, Jesus went on the sabbath day through the grain fields; and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck ears to eat. (Matthew 12:1)This action of Jesus' disciples should have been passed over and ignored altogether; but the bitter, hair-splitting Pharisees, finding no genuine fault in the conduct of Jesus and his... 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

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 12:3

But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him; how he entered into the house of God, and ate the showbread which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests?Note that what David and his companions did on that occasion was UNLAWFUL, nor does Jesus say that they were blameless in so doing. That was not the point of bringing up the conduct of David. Some commentators have drawn... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 12:5

Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless?This reference is to the fact than an exception was made for the priests who served in the temple, and who could, therefore, do work on the sabbath that would otherwise have been unlawful. Christ's stress on that exception called attention to an analogy between himself and the temple. He referred to his body as "the temple," stating that he would raise it up in three days... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 12:6

But I say unto you, that one greater than the temple is here.Who but God Himself could be greater than the temple God ordained? Christ again made a statement fixing a gulf between himself and all ordinary men. This is a dramatic reference to the analogy between Christ and the temple, mentioned under the preceding verse, and makes it crystal clear that Jesus' disciples were totally within the law, and were, like the temple priests, GUILTLESS! Those expositors who assume the charge of the... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 12:7

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.Christ said the disciples were guiltless. Therefore, he was not attempting to justify their conduct on the basis that David had also been guilty of sabbath breaking. Christ's quotation from Hosea 6:6 (See more on this under Matthew 9:13) was a plain reference to the corruption and guilt of the Pharisees, and suggests that a proper attitude of mercy in their hearts would have... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 12:8

For the Son of man is Lord of the sabbath.This proclamation of his own authority took the whole matter out of the context of their law, and their interpretations, and their opinions, and even out of the Law of Moses. Christ had the right to set aside all of those; and, in the final analysis, his disciples needed no permission except Christ's to do whatever he permitted. This place has been cited as proof that Christians should keep the sabbath day, but the opposite is taught. The sabbath should... read more

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