Matthew 12:5

Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? OR HAVE YE NOT READ IN THE LAW, HOW THAT ON THE SABBATH DAYS THE PRIESTS IN THE TEMPLE PROFANE THE SABBATH (BY DOING "SERVILE WORK,") AND ARE BLAMELESS? The double offerings required on the sabbath day () could not be presented, and the new-baked showbread (; ) could not be prepared and presented every sabbath morning, without a good deal of servile work on the part of the priests; not to speak of circumcision, which, when the child's eighth day happened to fall on a sabbath, had to be performed by the priests on that day. (See the notes at...

5._That on the Sabbaths the priests profane the Sabbath. _This is the _second _argument by which Christ proves that the violation of the Sabbath, of which the Pharisees complained, was free from all blame; because _on the Sabbaths _it is lawful to slay beasts for sacrifice, to circumcise infants, and to do other things relating to the worship of God. Hence it follows, that the duties of piety are in no degree inconsistent with each other. (78) But if _the temple _sanctifies manual operations connected with sacrifices, and with the whole of the outward service, the holiness of the true and spiritual _temple _has greater efficacy, in exempting its worshippers from all blame, while they are discharging the duties of godliness. (79) Now the object which the disciples had in view was, to present to God souls which were consecrated by the Gospel. Matthew

1-8 Being in the corn-fields, the disciples began to pluck the ears of corn: the law of God allowed it, Deuteronomy 23:25. This was slender provision for Christ and his disciples; but they were content with it. The Pharisees did not quarrel with them for taking another man's corn, but for doing it on the sabbath day. Christ came to free his followers, not only from the corruptions of the Pharisees, but from their unscriptural rules, and justified what they did. The greatest shall not have their lusts indulged, but the meanest shall have their wants considered. Those labours are lawful on the sabbath day which are necessary, and sabbath rest is to froward, not to hinder sabbath worship. Needful provision for health and food is to be made; but when servants are kept at home, and families become a scene of hurry and confusion on the Lord's day, to furnish a feast for visitors, or for indul...

Verse Matthew 12:5. _THE PRIESTS - PROFANE THE SABBATH_] _Profane_, i.e. put it to what might be called a _common use_, by _slaying_ and _offering_ up sacrifices, and by doing the _services_ of the temple, as on _common_ days, Exodus 29:38; Numbers 28:9....

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 other days, in killing beasts for sacrifice, Numbers 28:9. Two lambs were killed on the Sabbath, in addition to the daily sacrifice. The priests must be engaged in killing them, and making fires to burn them in sacrifice, whereas to kindle a fire was expressly forbidden the Jews on the Sabbath, Exodus 35:3. They did that which, for other persons to do, would have been “profaning” the Sabbath. Yet they we

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 ...

OR HAVE YE NOT READ IN THE LAW,.... Numbers 28:9 by which law the priests were obliged, every sabbath day, to offer up two lambs for a burnt offering; to which were annexed many servile works, as killing the sacrifice, flaying it, cutting it in pieces, and laying it on the altar, cutting of wood, and putting that in order, and kindling the fire: from all which, it might be observed, HOW THAT ON THE SABBATH DAYS, THE PRIESTS IN THE TEMPLE PROFANE THE SABBATH, AND ARE BLAMELESS. There were many things, which, according to the Jewish canons, the priests might do on the sabbath day; particularly they might slay the sacrifice: it was a rule with them, דחתה שחוטה את שבת, "that slaying drives away the sabbath" u. They might also knead, make, and bake the showbread on the sabbath day: their general rule was, as R. Akiba says, that what was possible to be done on the ev

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

SABBATH OBSERVANCE (Mark 2:23 *, Luke 6:1). The incident shows that the disciples were learning their Master's teaching. Deuteronomy 23:25 allowed the practice, but the Rabbinical objection to it on the Sabbath was that it was reaping. The variations from Mk. are not important, except the omission of the mistaken reference to Abiathar, and the addition of Matthew 12:5 as a further and stronger historic exception. Various kinds of Sabbath work were not only permitted but commanded to the priests. Matthew 12:6 f. perhaps belonged originally to another occasio

HAVE YE, NOT READ... THE PRIESTS... PROFANE THE SABBATH? Christ adds another argument, that every Sabbath the priests in the temple break the ordinary Sabbath law, the Sabbath being their busiest day; and yet it was right, "because the greater duty of temple service set aside the law of Sabbath rest. Compare John 7:22-23....