Matthew 12:1. The account contained in these verses is also recorded in Mark 2:23, and Luke 6:1. AT THAT TIME - Luke Luke 6:1 fixes the time more particularly. He says that it was “the second Sabbath after the first.” To understand this, it is proper to remark that the “Passover” was observed during... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON THE SABBATH DAY - The Pharisees, doubtless desirous of finding fault with Christ, said that in plucking the grain on the “Sabbath day” they had violated the commandment. Moses had commanded the Hebrews to abstain from all servile work on the Sabbath, Exodus 20:10; Exodus 35:2; Numbers 15:32. On... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE SAID UNTO THEM ... - To vindicate his disciples, he referred them to a similar case, recorded in the Old Testament, and therefore one with which they ought to have been acquainted. This was the case of David. The law commanded that twelve loaves of bread should be laid on the table in the hol... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW HE ENTERED INTO THE HOUSE OF GOD - That is, the “tabernacle,” the temple not being then built. HAVE YE NOT READ IN THE LAW? - In the law, or in the books of Moses. PROFANE THE SABBATH - He referred them to the conduct of the priests also. On the Sabbath days they were engaged, as well as on oth... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE GREATER THAN THE TEMPLE - Here the Saviour refers to himself, and to his own dignity and power. “I have power over the laws; I can grant to my disciples a dispensation from those laws. An act which I command or permit them to do is therefore right.” This proves that he was divine. None but God c... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SON OF MAN IS LORD EVEN OF THE SABBATH DAY - To crown all, Christ says that he was Lord of the Sabbath. He had a right to direct the manner of its observance - undoubted proof that he is divine.... [ Continue Reading ]
The account contained in these verses is recorded also in Mark 3:1, and Luke 6:6. Matthew 12:10 THE VERY HAIRS OF YOUR HEAD ARE ALL NUMBERED - That is, each one has exercised the care and attention of God. He has fixed the number; and, though of small importance, yet he does not think it beneath... [ Continue Reading ]
This account is found also in Mark 3:6. Matthew 12:14 THE PHARISEES ... HELD A COUNCIL ... - Mark adds that the Herodians also took a part in this plot. They were probably a “political” party attached firmly to Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, tetrarch of Galilee. He was the same man who had... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN WAS BROUGHT UNTO HIM ONE POSSESSED WITH A DEVIL - See the notes at Matthew 4:24. The same account, substantially, is found in Mark 3:22, and Luke 11:14. Matthew 12:23 IS NOT THIS THE SON OF DAVID? - That is, Is not this the promised “descendant” of David, the Messiah? They were acquainted with... [ Continue Reading ]
In this place, and in Mark 3:28, Jesus states the awful nature of the sin of which they had been guilty. That sin was the sin against the Holy Spirit. It consisted in charging him with being in league with the devil, or accusing him of working his miracles, not by the “spirit” or “power” of God, but... [ Continue Reading ]
EITHER MAKE ... - The fact asserted in this verse is, that a tree is known, not by its leaves, or bark, or form, but by its fruit. The application to the argument is this: “You are to judge of man’s being in league with Satan by his works. If my doctrines and works be properly the works of Satan, th... [ Continue Reading ]
O GENERATION OF VIPERS! - Christ here applies the argument which he had suggested in the previous verse. They were a wicked race; like poisonous reptiles, with a corrupt and evil nature. They could not be expected to speak good things - that is, to speak favorably of him and his works. As the bad fr... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I SAY UNTO YOU ... - Christ closes this address to his malignant and wicked hearers by a solemn declaration that for these things God would bring them into judgment. Therefore. They who had spoken so malignantly against him, could not escape. IDLE WORD - This literally means a vain, thoughtless... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THY WORDS THOU SHALT BE JUSTIFIED ... - That is, “words” are the indication of the true principles of the heart; by “words” the heart shall be known, as the tree is by its fruit. If they are true, proper, chaste, instructive, pious, they will prove that the heart is right. If false, envious, mali... [ Continue Reading ]
WE WOULD SEE A SIGN FROM THEE - See Luke 11:16, Luke 11:29. A “sign” commonly signifies a miracle - that is, a sign that God was with the person or had sent him. Compare the notes at Isaiah 7:11. Luke adds that this was done “tempting him;” that is, trying him, doubting if he had the power to do it.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT ... - The “general sentiment” which our Saviour here teaches is much more easily understood than the illustration which he uses. The Jews had asked a sign from heaven that should decisively prove that he was the Messiah, and satisfy their unbelief. He replies that, though he... [ Continue Reading ]
See also Mark 3:31; Luke 8:19. HIS BRETHREN - There has been some difference of opinion about the persons who are referred to here, some supposing that they were children of Mary his mother, others that they were the children of Mary, the wife of Cleophas or Alpheus, his “cousins,” and called “bret... [ Continue Reading ]