Matthew 12:1-14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 12:1-13

The Jewish teachers had corrupted many of the commandments, by interpreting them more loosely than they were intended; a mistake which Christ discovered and rectified (Matt. 5:1-48) in his sermon on the mount: but concerning the fourth commandment, they had erred in the other extreme, and interpreted it too strictly. Note, it is common for men of corrupt minds, by their zeal in rituals, and the external services of religion, to think to atone for the looseness of their morals. But they are... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 12:14-21

As in the midst of Christ's greatest humiliations, there were proofs of his dignity, so in the midst of his greatest honours, he gave proofs of his humility; and when the mighty works he did gave him an opportunity of making a figure, yet he made it appear that he emptied himself, and made himself of no reputation. Here we have, I. The cursed malice of the Pharisees against Christ (Matt. 12:14); being enraged at the convincing evidence of his miracles, they went out, and held a council against... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 12:1-50

In Matthew 12:1-50 we read the history of a series of crucial events in the life of Jesus. In every man's life there are decisive moments, times and events on which the whole of his life hinges. This chapter presents us with the story of such a period in the life of Jesus. In it we see the orthodox Jewish religious leaders of the day coming to their final decision regarding Jesus--and that was rejection. It was not only rejection in the sense that they would have nothing to do with him; it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:1

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn ,.... That is, the corn fields, as the other evangelists express it. It being on a sabbath day, it is very probable, that Christ and his disciples were going to some public place of worship, the way to which lay through some fields of corn, which were now ripe: for Luke says, it was on the "second sabbath after the first", or rather "the first sabbath after the second"; that is, the first sabbath after the second day of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:2

But when the Pharisees saw it ,.... Who went along with him, or followed him, being employed to make observation on his words and actions, they said unto him ; Luke says, "unto them", the disciples: it seems, they took notice of this action both to Christ and his disciples, and first spoke of it to the one, and then to the other, or to both together: behold thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day! they mention it with astonishment, and indignation.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:3

But he said unto them, have ye not read ,.... If they had not read the Scriptures, they were very unfit persons either to be teachers, or censurers of others, and must have been very slothful and negligent; and if they had, they could not but have observed the case of David, which Christ produces in vindication of his disciples: what David did when he was an hungred ; which was the case of the disciples, and is therefore mentioned; it being also the circumstance which could, and did... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:4

How he entered into the house of God ,.... Not the temple, which was not then built; but the tabernacle, which was then at Nob, the city of the priests, and which probably adjoined to Abimelech's house: and did eat the shewbread ; for that this is meant by the hallowed bread, in 1 Samuel 21:6 is certain; though R. Joseph Kimchi F14 Apud R. David Kimchi in 1 Sam. xxi. 6. thinks it was the bread of the thank offering; to which R. Levi ben Getsom F15 In ib. seems to incline:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:5

Or have ye not read in the law ,.... Numbers 28:9 by which law the priests were obliged, every sabbath day, to offer up two lambs for a burnt offering; to which were annexed many servile works, as killing the sacrifice, flaying it, cutting it in pieces, and laying it on the altar, cutting of wood, and putting that in order, and kindling the fire: from all which, it might be observed, how that on the sabbath days, the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless . There... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:6

But I say unto you ,.... Who Christ knew would be ready to object, as above, and therefore prevents them, by saying, that in this place is one greater than the temple ; meaning himself, who was the Lord and Proprietor of the temple, and in his human nature the antitype of it; see John 2:19 and was infinitely more sacred than that. Some copies read μειζον , "something greater"; referring either to the human nature of Christ, in which the Godhead dwells bodily, and so infinitely... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:7

But if ye had known what this meaneth , The passage of Scripture in Hosea 6:6 I will have mercy, and not sacrifice ; of the sense of which, see Gill on Matthew 9:13 . ye would not have condemned the guiltless . Our Lord taxes the Pharisees both with ignorance of the Scriptures, in which they pretended to be very knowing, and took upon them to be the interpreters of; and with inhumanity, for condemning innocent persons, the apostles, for rubbing a few ears of corn, for the... read more

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