Matthew 12:4-13:23

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

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 12:4

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:3-4

Have ye not read what David did - The original history is in 1 Samuel 21:1-6 . When he was an hungered - Here hearken to Kimchi, producing the opinion of the ancients concerning this story in these words: "Our rabbins of blessed memory say, that he gave him the shew-bread, etc. The interpretation also of the clause, Yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel, is this: It is a small thing to say, that it is lawful for us to eat These Loaves, taken from before the Lord, when... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:1-8

The sabbath in relation to the preparation of food. Parallel passages: Mark 2:23-28 ; Luke 6:1-5 . St. Matthew here returns to the Framework, which he left at Matthew 9:26 or 34. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:1-8

The sabbath made for man. Note in introduction that the chiefest interest of this passage centres in the last verses of it, and in their combined moral aspects. The occasion of these must be esteemed, with certain other passages of the Gospel, as one of no lesser import, recorded as it is by all of the three evangelists. That occasion arose not out of the direct course and tenor of the conduct of Christ, but out of that of his disciples. Nevertheless, his own use of the sabbath day for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:1-8

Ritual and morals. The Pharisaic Jews are, in the previous chapter, upbraided for their obstinate impenitence. We find the same people here condemning the disciples of Christ as sabbath-breakers because they plucked ears of corn to satisfy their hunger. The manner in which Jesus defends his disciples shows— I. THAT RITUAL IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR MORALS . 1 . The Pharisees were stringent ritualists. 2 . But they were lax in morals. 3 . They inverted the order... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:1-13

The sabbath. Six times was our Lord, either directly or through his disciples, charged with sabbath-breaking. In considering the manner in which he met the accusation, we must bear in mind that he was in a different relation to the Jewish sabbath from that which we hold to it. Indeed, we could not, from his observance of the day, argue that a day was to be similarly observed in the Christian Church, because many important observances ceased at his death, and remain to us only in their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:1-14

Christ the Lord of the sabbath. I. NECESSARY WORK MAY BE DONE ON THE SABBATH . 1 . The accusation of the Pharisees. The Lord's disciples were hungry; they gathered the ears of corn. This was allowed by the Law ( Deuteronomy 23:25 ). But it was the sabbath day, and there were Pharisees in attendance, some of them rulers of the neighbouring synagogue, some perhaps spies, sent from Jerusalem to watch our Lord. After the healing of the impotent man at the pool of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:1-45

(1) Opposition from his enemies. (a) Conscious and wilful opposition ( Matthew 12:1-37 ). ( α ) As regards the sabbath ( Matthew 12:1-14 ). ( β ) An interlude. The evangelist sees in our Lord's behaviour the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy (verses 15-21). ( γ ) The opposition carried to the extreme of accusing him of alliance with Beelzebub. Christ shows the monstrous character of such an accusation, and the absence which it discloses of all spirituality of mind... read more

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