Matthew 12:12-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:20

The bruised reed. According to his custom, St. Matthew here applies an ancient prophecy to Jesus Christ. The ideal that was never realized before now finds its fulfilment. It is one peculiarly appropriate to the character of Christ and to his saving mission. I. CHRIST BRINGS GOOD TIDINGS TO THE FEEBLE AND FAILING . He comes as the Physician for the sick. He is the good Shepherd who leaves the safe flock of ninety and nine to seek the one lost sheep. He has little for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:20

The rarest of gentleness. The verse is a quotation from Isaiah 42:1-3 . It was not among the least wonders of Christ's earthly life that while his untiring step paced the flinty path of duty often so anguished, and always so hard. with reality, that step made the plants of a date earlier by far reappear and blossom, and yield their sweet fragrance at his feet. The Old Testament may be said to be continually flowering and fruiting in the New. St. Matthew here tells us where Christ now was,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:21

And in his Name shall the Gentiles trust; hope (Revised Version). The evangelist thus completes the parallelism with the end of the first stanza ( Matthew 12:18 ) However Jews treat Messiah, Gentiles shall place their hope in his Name, which, in fact, sums up for man all that can be known of God ( Matthew 6:9 , note). In his Name. So even the LXX . But the Hebrew, "in his Law." ὀνόματι is possibly due to a confusion with νόμῳ , but is more probably merely a paraphrase... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22

Then was brought . So Westcott and Herr margin, but text, "then they brought," as in Matthew 9:32 . Unto him one possessed with a devil, blind (this fact is not mentioned by Luke), and dumb . "The devil had shut up each entrance by which be might come to faith, his sight and his hearing, yet Christ opened each" (Chrysostom). And he healed him , insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. The case was worse than even that of Matthew 9:32 , where the man was not blind. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-32

The healing of a man blind and dumb, and the consequent blasphemy of the Pharisees. The miracle leads them to the extreme of spiritual opposition. (On the assimilation to our Matthew 12:22-24 , found in Matthew 9:32-34 , see notes there.) The parallel passages are Luke 11:14-23 and, for the blasphemy and our Lord's consequent defence only, Mark 3:22-30 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-32

The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. Many persons have been tempted to believe that they had committed this dreadful sin, and thereby put themselves beyond the reach of mercy. Correct judgment upon this very important subject may best be attained by considering the more fearfully emphatic words of our Lord in their connection. I. THE NATURE OF THE BLASPHEMY MAY BE GATHERED FROM THE STORY . 1 . Our Lord had wrought a notable miracle. 2 . The people were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-37

The blasphemy of the Pharisees. I. ITS CAUSE . 1 . The demoniac. The poor man was blind and dumb, and that not from natural causes, but by the cruel agency of an evil spirit. Like the dumb man ( Matthew 9:32 ), he was brought to Christ. He was helpless; he could not see his way; he could not express his wants. The Lord healed him at once; he both spake and saw. We must do our part to bring the helpless to the Lord. There are many, alas! whose eyes the God of this world has... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-37

The bathos of detracting blasphemy. In introduction, note the unity of this passage of sixteen verses. While the linking of one portion of the accounts contained in the Gospels to another is very often exceedingly evident, and that, link by link, a oneness of a different and complete kind marks this marvellous episode. Observe also upon the fact that the criticism of all the ages from the earliest Christian writings of the centuries has fastened upon these verses with no mistaken instinct.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-37

Casting out devils, and blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. The opposition of the Pharisees on this occasion much less excusable than when charging the Lord with sabbath-breaking. Contrasts with honest amazement of the people, exclaiming," Is not this," etc.? Pharisees felt evidence of miracle as much as common people, but refused to follow their own convictions. Make what they know to be a flimsy and insufficient explanation. Our Lord makes a threefold reply. 1 . It is absurd to suppose... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:23

And all the people ; the multitudes (Revised Version); i.e. the various concourses of people that formed themselves at different times of the day and in different parts of the town (cf. Matthew 8:1 ; Matthew 14:15 , notes). Were amazed ( ἐξίσταντο ); here only in Matthew, but cf. Mark 2:12 . And said, Is this ( μήτι οὗτός ἐστιν ). The form of the question suggests that it seemed altogether too wonderful to allow of an affirmative answer being returned. The American... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-32

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-32

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-37

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-37

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-37

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:23

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