Matthew 12:14

Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. THEN THE PHARISEES WENT OUT, AND HELD A COUNCIL AGAINST HIM, HOW THEY MIGHT DESTROY HIM. This is the first explicit mention of their murderous designs against our Lord. Luke () says "they were filled with madness, and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus." But their doubt was not, whether to get rid of Him, but how to compass it. Mark (), as usual, is more definite: "The Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him." These Herodians were supporters of Herod's dynasty, created by Caesar-a political rather than religious party. The Pharisees regarded them as untrue to their religion and country. But here we see them combining...

Matthew 12:14._Then the Pharisees took counsel. _How obstinate is the rage which drives the wicked to oppose God! Even after having been convinced, they pour out their venom more and more. It is truly monstrous and shocking, that the most distinguished teachers of the Law, who were entrusted with the government of the Church, are engaged, like robbers, in contriving murder. But this must happen, whenever the malice of men reaches such a height, that they wish to destroy every thing that is opposed to their fancy, even though it may be from God. The circumstance of Christ’s making his escape by flight must not be ascribed to fear; for he did not become more courageous by the lapse of time, but was endued with the same fortitude of the Spirit at the time when he fled, as when, at a later period, he voluntarily presented himself to die. And this was a part of that emptying of h

14-21 The Pharisees took counsel to find some accusation, that Jesus might be condemned to death. Aware of their design, as his time was not come, he retired from that place. Face does not more exactly answer to face in water, than the character of Christ drawn by the prophet, to his temper and conduct as described by the evangelists. Let us with cheerful confidence commit our souls to so kind and faithful a Friend. Far from breaking, he will strengthen the bruised reed; far from quenching the smoking flax, or wick nearly out, he will rather blow it up into a flame. Let us lay aside contentious and angry debates; let us receive one another as Christ receives us. And while encouraged by the gracious kindness of our Lord, we should pray that his Spirit may rest upon us, and make us able to copy his example....

Verse Matthew 12:14. _HELD A COUNCIL AGAINST HIM_] Nothing sooner leads to utter blindness, and hardness of heart, than _envy_. There are many who abandon themselves to _pleasure-taking_ and _debauchery_ on the Sabbath, who condemn a poor man whom necessity obliges to _work_ on what is termed a _holiday_, or a _national fast_....

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 imprisoned and beheaded John the Baptist, and to whom the Saviour, when arraigned, was sent by Pilate. See the notes at Luke 3:1. He was under Roman authority, and was a strong advocate of Roman power. All the friends of the family of Herod were opposed to Christ, and ever ready to join any plot against his life. They remembered, doubtless, the attempts of Herod the Great

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 12:1 The opposition that our Lord met with (1) from his enemies (Matthew 12:1); (2) from his relations (Matthew 12:46-40); ,and the manner in which he dealt with it. MATTHEW 12:1 (1) _Opposition from his enemies._ (A) Conscious and wilful opposition (Matthew 12:1). (α) As regards the sabbath ...

THEN THE PHARISEES WENT OUT,.... Of the synagogue, being, as Luke says, filled with madness, at the unanswerableness of his arguments; and because of the violation of the sabbath, as they thought; and most of all, because of the miracle wrought by him; and which was so glaringly a proof of his being Lord of the sabbath, and could not fail of creating him esteem among the people: and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. Mark says, the council was held by them with the Herodians; of whom, Matthew 22:16 who, though they differed from them both in religion and politics, yet might be thought very proper persons to advise with about this matter; and especially, as they might have a greater interest at court, than they had. Nor did they scruple to enter into such a consultation, though on the sabbath day, and about the taking away of the life of an innocent person;

9. THE REJECTION CONSUMMATED AND THE BROKEN RELATIONSHIP. CHAPTER 12 1. The Hungry Disciples and the Accusing Pharisees. (Matthew 12:1 .) 2. The Man with the Withered Hand Healed.(Matthew 12:10 .) 3. The Hatred of the Pharisees.(Matthew 12:14 .) 4. The King in Rejection. (Matthew 12:15 .) 5. The Demon Possessed Man Healed. (Matthew 12:22 .) 6. The Blasphemy of the Pharisees and the King's Answer. (Matthew 12:24 .) 7. The Sign of Jo

THE SABBATH HEALING WHICH DETERMINED PHARISAIC HOSTILITY (Mark 3:1 *, Luke 6:6). Mt. makes the Pharisees utter their question, and Jesus to reply, in words found in another connexion in Lk. (Luke 14:5). Matthew 12:12_ a_ is peculiar to Matthew 12:12_ b_ elevates and broadens the Pharisees-' question in Matthew 12:10. We may note that the Rabbis allowed that every case where life is in jeopardy supersedes the Sabbath, and that under certain conditions animals might be rescued

THEN THE PHARISEES... HELD. COUNCIL... DESTROY HIM. These hypocrites, who, in their superstitious zeal for the Sabbath, were unwilling that our Lord should work. cure on that day, had no scruple whatever to take counsel for the murder of the innocent, and with that view to form. league with the declared enemies of God's people. Their real motive was hatred of the Lord; while their pretext was that he had broken the Sabbath. While professing to be very religious they were really the servants of the evil one. PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE. Forms are of no avail, except as they express the right spirit. We are not to do away with forms; but they are not unchangeable, and they must ever be adopted to express the living spirit of the gospel. An intolerant and censorious spirit in religion is one of the greatest curses. man can well fall under. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabb...