Matthew 12:1-13
Matthew 12:1-13. The Observance of the Sabbath 1. The disciples pluck ears of corn on the Sabbath. 2. A man with a withered hand cured on the Sabbath. St Mark 2:23-28; Mark 3:1-5; St Luke 6:1-11.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 12:1-13. The Observance of the Sabbath 1. The disciples pluck ears of corn on the Sabbath. 2. A man with a withered hand cured on the Sabbath. St Mark 2:23-28; Mark 3:1-5; St Luke 6:1-11.... [ Continue Reading ]
_began to pluck the ears of corn_ The Pharisees, who seem to have been watching their opportunity, make the objection as soon as the disciples _began_what by Pharisaic rules was an unlawful act.... [ Continue Reading ]
_that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day_ This prohibition is a Pharisaic rule not found in the Mosaic Law. It was a principle with the Pharisees to extend the provisions of the Law and make minute regulations over and beyond what Moses commanded, in order to avoid the possibility of tra... [ Continue Reading ]
Ahimelech, the priest at Nob, GAVE David and HIS companions five loaves of the shewbread (1 Samuel 21:1-7).... [ Continue Reading ]
_the shewbread_ Literally, BREAD OF SETTING FORTH, i. e. bread that was set forth in the sanctuary. It was also called "continual bread" as being set forth perpetually before the Lord, hence the Hebrew name, "bread of the presence." Twelve loaves or cakes were placed in two "piles" (rather than "row... [ Continue Reading ]
_the priests in the temple profane the sabbath_ by labour in removing the shewbread, preparing fire for the sacrifice, and performing the whole temple service. "Not merely does the sacred _history_relate exceptional instances of _necessity_, but the _Law_itself ordains labour on the Sabbath as a dut... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will have mercy, and not sacrifice_ Quoted a second time, SEE ch. Matthew 9:13. There is something more binding than the Law, and that is the principle which underlies the Law. The Law rightly understood is the expression of God's love to man. That love allowed the act of David, and the labour of... [ Continue Reading ]
_his hand withered_ i. e. paralysed or affected by atrophy. St Luke has "his _right_hand.... [ Continue Reading ]
In the other Synoptic Gospels the argument is different. "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life or to kill? St Matthew states the argument that bears specially on the Jewish Law. St Luke, however, mentions the application of the same argument by our Lord on a diffe... [ Continue Reading ]
_How much then is a man better than a sheep?_ Cp. "ye are of more value than many sparrows," ch. Matthew 10:31.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Pharisees plot against Jesus, who retires Mark 3:6-12; Luke 6:11-12. 14. _held a council against him_ St Mark adds that the Herodians joined the Pharisees. _how they might destroy him_ By argument and other means, if necessary by force.... [ Continue Reading ]
_he withdrew himself from thence_ See ch. Matthew 10:23. Jesus follows the principle which He laid down for His disciples" guidance.... [ Continue Reading ]
_spoken by Esaias the prophet_ Isaiah 42:3. The original is not accurately followed; the words are probably quoted from memory.... [ Continue Reading ]
_my servant_ Israel as a nation is called the servant of Jehovah, Isaiah 41:8. Here the same title is given to Jesus, as the representative of the nation. _judgment_ The Hebrew word is used in a wider sense to denote "religion as the rule of life;" hence _judgment_may mean (1) "the law of Christ,... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses describe the gentleness and forbearance of Christ. He makes no resistance or loud proclamation like an earthly prince. The bruised reed and the feebly-burning wick may be referred to the failing lives which Jesus restores and the sparks of faith which He revives.... [ Continue Reading ]
_till he send forth judgment unto victory_ Until He shall make (1) the Gospel or (2) His judgment victorious.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in his name_ The original Hebrew has "in his law." _shall … trust_ Rather, SHALL HOPE.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cure of a Blind and Dumb Man Luke 11:14-16.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Charge, "He casteth out devils by Beelzebub." The Answer of Jesus Mark 3:22-27; Luke 11:17. 24. _Beelzebub_ See ch. Matthew 10:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation_ Not that civil disputes destroy a nation, but a nation disunited, rent by factions, in the presence of a common enemy must fall. Here Satan's kingdom is regarded as warring against the kingdom of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
_by whom do your children cast them out?_ The children are the disciples of the Pharisees, who either really possessed the power of casting out evil spirits, or pretended to have that power. In either case the argument of Jesus was unanswerable.... [ Continue Reading ]
_is come unto you_ Literally, SURPRISED YOU BY COMING, CAME UPON YOU UNAWARES.... [ Continue Reading ]
Not only is Satan not an ally, but he is an enemy and a vanquished enemy.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that is not with me is against me_ The thought of the contest between Christ and Satan is continued. Satan is not divided against himself, neither can Christ be. Neutrality is impossible in the Christian life. It must be for Christ or against Christ. The metaphor of gathering and scattering may... [ Continue Reading ]
Blaspheming against the Holy Ghost 31. _Wherefore_ The conclusion of the whole is you are on Satan's side, and _knowingly_on Satan's side, in this decisive struggle between the two kingdoms, and this is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost an unpardonable sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
_whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost_ To speak against the Holy Ghost is to speak against the clear voice of the Holy Ghost within the heart wilful sin against knowledge. Jesus, who saw the heart, knew that the Pharisees were insincere in the charge which they brought against Him. They were at... [ Continue Reading ]
_Either make the tree good_, &c. The meaning and connection are; "Be honest for once; represent the tree as good, and its fruit as good, or the tree as evil and its fruit as evil; either say that I am evil and that my works are evil, or, if you admit that my works are good, admit that I am good also... [ Continue Reading ]
_generation of vipers_ Cp. ch. Matthew 3:7. _abundance_ The same Greek word is translated, "that which was left," Mark 8:8. Words are, as it were, the overflow of the heart.... [ Continue Reading ]
_treasure_ Rather, TREASURY or STOREHOUSE: for a similar use of the Greek word see ch. Matthew 2:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
_idle_ Rather, USELESS, ineffectual for good. Words must be not only not evil, but they must be actively good. The same principle rules the decisionat the final judgment (ch. Matthew 25:45).... [ Continue Reading ]
_by thy words_ i. e. thy words shall be the _ground_of thy acquittal or condemnation. Character shews itself by words. We often say of a friend, "We know what he will _say_when he hears this or that.... [ Continue Reading ]
_we would see a sign from thee_ This is the second expedient taken by the Pharisees after their resolution to destroy Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Pharisees ask for a Sign St Luke 11:16; Luke 11:29-32. St Luke omits, or at least does not state explicitly, the special application of the sign given in Matthew 12:40, to understand which required a knowledge of the Jewish prophets which would be lacking to St Luke's readers.... [ Continue Reading ]
_adulterous_ estranged from God; a figure often used by the Prophets to express the defection of Israel from Jehovah.... [ Continue Reading ]
Jonah is a sign (1) as affording a type of the Resurrection, (2) as a preacher of righteousness to a people who needed repentance as this generation needs it. _the whale's belly_ The Greek word translated "whale" means "a sea monster." The O. T. rendering is more accurate "the fish's belly" (Jonah... [ Continue Reading ]
_in judgment with_ More exactly, STAND UP IN THE JUDGMENT, i. e. in the day of judgment, BESIDE. When on the day of judgment the Ninevites stand side by side with the men of that generation, they will by their penitence condemn the impenitent Jews.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The queen of the south_ So correctly and not _a_queen of the South as some translate. The absence of the definite article in the original is due to the influence of the Hebrew idiom. The queen of Sheba, Southern Arabia, 1 Kings 10:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
_dry places_ The waterless desert uninhabited by man was regarded by the Jews as the especial abode of evil spirits.... [ Continue Reading ]
A Figure to illustrate the surpassing Wickedness of the day Luke 11:24-26, where the connection is different. St Luke, as usual, omits the direct application to Israel. The connection is not clearly marked. It seems to be this: Christ has been speaking of "this generation;" He now contrasts it wit... [ Continue Reading ]
_empty_ Properly, AT LEISURE. To have cast out a sin does not make a man safe from sin, there must be no leisure in the Christian life.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation_ Israel had cast forth the demon of idolatry the sin of its earlier history, but worse demons had entered in the more insidious and dangerous sins of hypocrisy and hardness of heart.... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus is sought by His Mother and Brethren. The true Mother and Brethren of Jesus Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21 The account is given with very slight variation by the three Synoptists. But see Mark 3:21; Mark 3:30-31, where a _motive_is suggested "When his friends heard of it, they went out to lay ho... [ Continue Reading ]
_thy brethren_ It is a point of controversy whether these were (1) the own brothers of Jesus, sons of Joseph and Mary, or (2) sons of Joseph by a former marriage, or (3) cousins, sons of a sister of Mary. Their names are given ch. Matthew 13:55, where see note.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold my mother and my brethren_ The new life subverts the old relationships. By the spiritual birth new ties of kindred are established.... [ Continue Reading ]
_whosoever shall do the will of my Father_ "These which hear the word of God and do it" (Luke 8:21).... [ Continue Reading ]