Matthew 12:2-8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 12:8

For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day - To crown all, Christ says that he was Lord of the Sabbath. He had a right to direct the manner of its observance - undoubted proof that he is divine. 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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 12:5-6

Matthew 12:5-6. Have ye not read in the law, &c. He does not mean that the words following were to be found in the law, but only that they might read in the law, how the priests were obliged, on the sabbath days, to perform such servile work in the temple as, considered separately from the end of it, would have been a profanation of the sabbath, but really was not so, because it was necessary to the public worship of God, on account of which the sabbath was instituted. If it be asked... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 12:7-8

Matthew 12:7-8. But if ye had known what that meaneth If ye had known the intent of that scripture, Hosea 6:6, I will have mercy, &c. That is, I always prefer acts of mercy before matters of positive institution, when in any instance they interfere with each other; and even before all ceremonial institutions whatever; because these being only means of religion, are suspended, of course, if circumstances occur wherein they clash with love, which is the end of it: ye would not have... 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 12:3

Have ye not read. ? This question was asked by the Lord on six different occasions, and referred to seven different books of the O.T., and to ten distinct passages. See App-143 . what David did. Reference to 1 Samuel 21:6 . App-117 . 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 12:5

in the law. See note on Matthew 5:17 . Compare Numbers 28:9 , Numbers 28:10 and App-143 . the sabbath. (Numbers 28:9 , Numbers 28:10 . Compare Nehemiah 13:17 . Ezekiel 24:21 . Joh 7:22 , John 7:23 .) There were more sacrifices on the sabbath than on any other day. profane. Our Eng. word "profane" = far from the temple. The Greek word here = to trample down and thus treat as common. Compare Acts 24:6 . blameless = guiltless, as in Matthew 12:7 . Greek. anaitios. Occurs only here and Matthew... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 12:6

in this place = here. greater than the temple. Compare Matthew 12:41 , a greater prophet; and Matthew 12:42 , a greater king; who can be only God Himself. read more

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