Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 12:38-45
3. Conflict over Jesus’ sign 12:38-45The fourth incident and the third type of conflict concerned a sign that Jesus’ critics requested. read more
3. Conflict over Jesus’ sign 12:38-45The fourth incident and the third type of conflict concerned a sign that Jesus’ critics requested. read more
By referring to Jonah the same way He referred to the Queen of the South, Jesus strongly supported the view that Jonah was a historical person. The Queen of the South was the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1-13). She came from the Arabian Peninsula that for the Jews was the end of the earth (cf. Jeremiah 6:20; Joel 3:8). She visited Jerusalem because of reports about Solomon’s great wisdom that had reached her ears. The something greater than Solomon was Messiah, the embodiment of divine wisdom.... read more
Plucking Corn on the Sabbath. Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost1-8. Plucking the corn on the sabbath (Mark 2:23; Luke 6:1). This chapter begins the period of active conflict with the Pharisees. It is characteristic of the pedantry of the Pharisees that their opposition turned more upon minute points of legal observance than upon broad principles. The Fourth Gospel agrees with the synoptists in making the sabbath controversy of leading importance in the development of hostility to Christ (John... read more
(42) The queen of the south.—Literally, a queen of the south, as before, men of Nineveh, the Greek having no article. Rhetorically, the absence of the article is in this case more emphatic than its presence. read more
Matthew 12:19-20 'Not strive,' not 'cry,' not lift up His voice 'in the streets,' not break 'the bruised reed,' not quench 'the smoking flax'! These are some of the rarest and finest features of a character that is altogether lovely. They are negative characteristics. The character of the Christ is no less unique in its striking absences than in its majestic presences. Its valleys are as conspicuous as its mountains. The Holy Ghost works in the way of a certain exclusion. His handiwork is... read more
Chapter 10The Shadow of the Cross - Matthew 11:1-30; Matthew 12:1-50I-DISCOURAGEMENTS. {Matthew 11:1-30}HITHERTO almost everything has been hopeful and encouraging in our Evangelist’s record of the Saviour’s ministry. It began like daybreak on the shores of the sea of Galilee. Great multitudes followed Him wherever He went; and those whom He called to be with Him cheerfully responded to the summons. When He preached the Gospel of the kingdom, the people were astonished at His doctrine, and... read more
9. The Rejection Consummated and the Broken Relationship. CHAPTER 12 1. The Hungry Disciples and the Accusing Pharisees. (Matthew 12:1-9 .) 2. The Man with the Withered Hand Healed.(Matthew 12:10-13 .) 3. The Hatred of the Pharisees.(Matthew 12:14 .) 4. The King in Rejection. (Matthew 12:15-21 .) 5. The Demon Possessed Man Healed. (Matthew 12:22-23 .) 6. The Blasphemy of the Pharisees and the King's Answer. (Matthew 12:24-37 .) 7. The Sign of Jonas and his Warning Prediction. (Matthew... read more
12:42 The queen of the {g} south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the {h} uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon [is] here.(g) He means the Queen of Sheba: whose country is south in respect to the land of Israel; 1 Kings 10:1-13 .(h) For Sheba is situated in the farthest coast of Arabia at the mouth of the Arabian Sea. read more
We have seen that Matthew groups events with a dispensational end in view, and chapter 12 shows a building up on Israel's part to a state of utter rejection of their Messiah. The expression "at that time" does not mean that this event took place at the some time chronologically, but "is a general term embracing connected events" (William Kelly). For the event actually took place some time earlier (Mark 2:23). But this is chosen by God to be recorded here in order to show that Israel's... read more
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 12:1-50
B. Specific instances of Israel’s rejection of Jesus ch. 12Matthew has shown that opposition to Jesus came from two main sources: the animosity of the religious leaders, and the indifference of the common Israelites. In this chapter he presented five instances in which opposition manifested itself and increased. In each situation the approach to Jesus was negative, but Jesus responded positively. [Note: Toussaint, Behold the . . ., p. 158.] "Central to the plot of Matthew’s story is the element... read more