Matthew 12:6-9

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 12:6

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:8

For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. By "the Son of man" is meant, not any man, as some have thought; for no mere man is lord of any law, moral or ritual, natural or positive; or has a power of disposing of it, and dispensing with it at pleasure; but Christ himself; which is the constant sense of this phrase in the New Testament, and is a character of the Messiah in the old, Daniel 7:13 who, as he was the institutor of the sabbath among the Jews, that being a ritual, and of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:9

And when he was departed thence ,.... From the corn fields, where the disciples had plucked the ears of corn, and this conversation passed between Christ and the Pharisees about the violation of the sabbath, he went into their synagogue; not on the same sabbath day, as one might be led to conclude from the account of this evangelist, but on another sabbath, as Luke expresses it, Luke 6:6 . He might indeed directly go into one of their synagogues the same day, where he and his disciples... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:6

In this place is one greater than the temple - Does not our Lord refer here to Malachi 3:1 ;? Compare this with Hebrews 3:3 . The Jews esteemed nothing greater than the temple, except that God who was worshipped in it. Christ, by asserting he was greater than the temple, asserts that he was God; and this he does, in still more direct terms, Matthew 12:8 , The Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath - is Institutor and Governor of it. Compare this with Genesis 2:3 ; (note), and see the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:7

I will have mercy, etc. - See this explained, Matthew 9:13 . There are four ways in which positive laws may cease to oblige. First, by the natural law of necessity. Secondly, by a particular law, which is superior. Thirdly, by the law of charity and mercy. Fourthly, by the dispensation and authority of the Lawgiver. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:8

The Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath-day - The change of the Jewish into the Christian Sabbath, called the Lord's day, Revelation 1:10 , shows that Christ is not only the Lord, but also the truth and completion of it. For it seems to have been by an especial providence that this change has been made and acknowledged all over the Christian world. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:7

Verse 7 7.But if you knew This Third argument is also mentioned by Matthew alone. Christ conveys an indirect reproof to the Pharisees, for not considering why ceremonies were appointed, and to what object they are directed. This has been a common fault in almost every age; and therefore the prophet Hosea (Hosea 6:6) exclaims against the men of his own age for being too much attached to ceremonies, and caring little about the duties of kindness. But God declares aloud, that he sets a higher... read more

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