Matthew 12 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Matthew 12

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

A Man with a Withered Hand

9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

God’s Chosen Servant

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

18   “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
    my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
  I will put my Spirit upon him,
    and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19   He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
    nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20   a bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
  until he brings justice to victory;
21     and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

The Sign of Jonah

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

Return of an Unclean Spirit

43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers¹ stood outside, asking to speak to him.² 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Footnotes

[1] 12:46 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 48, 49
[2] 12:46 Some manuscripts insert verse 47: Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak to you”

Commentary

v1-2: The incident revealing the hypocrisy and legalism of the Pharisees. They claim the disciples' actions to be "unlawful." They use man-made laws as the basis for their decision.

v3-5: The OT illustrations, neglected by the Pharisees. The Lord Jesus draws attention to the 'hard'aspects of the OT, explaining their real meaning, and applying the principles.

It was accepted that the priests' temple service superseded any Sabbath observance; hence Christ's comment in v5.

v6: The Lord is greater than the temple;

by the Pharisees'standards, the priests desecrated the Sabbath day;
by the Pharisees'standard, David had acted wrongly.

The Lord teaches that there are new priorities, which are the true message of the OT.

v7: Mercy and devotion, the real meaning of the law. The Pharisees fail to understand its real meaning; and Jesus spent time with His disciples teaching them the real meaning, and thus they are blameless in their actions.

Thus the original command at creation concerning the Sabbath, and later the fourth commandment, are simply that the day be kept holy, and do not provide a list of dos and don'ts.

The Pharisees are seeking to establish their own righteousness, but ultimately their rules keep them from doing any good, v9-14.

v8: The underlying principle; Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

v9-10: Jesus honoured synagogue worship. The Pharisees'question is irrelevant, for they healed on no days! The Lord thus exposes the impotence and folly of legalism.

v11-12: Everyday tasks are best avoided, it seems, but some things are clearly necessary. Jesus adds a further principle, that a man is of more value than a sheep.

In Luke 13.14-15, the synagogue ruler criticised Jesus'actions, and earns for himself a stinging rebuke.

v13-14: The Lord, having explained the truth, heals the man. He is not kept waiting.

The Pharisees use this incident as a reason to kill Jesus.

v15-16: Many follow Jesus for the wrong reasons; He teaches them the real reasons.

v17-21: The character of the servant of God;

Avoiding fame and attention;
Chosen and anointed by God;
Compassionate and caring;
Faithful and diligent and consistent.

v22-24: A further miracle, again exposing the Pharisees'real attitude.

v25-28: There is something illogical in the statement that Jesus drives out demons by the prince of demons. The Pharisees did believe in the 'supernatural,'Acts 23.8.

v29: The devil is the "strong man," and all are under his control until Jesus Christ sets us free; we are His plunder, Is 53.12.

v30: It is easier to scatter than to gather; for gathering requires effort, commitment, diligence.

v31-32: It seems that, given the context, the Pharisees are in danger of this unforgivable sin, since their blasphemy attributes to the devil the power of Jesus Christ. Christ does not seem to be describing words spoken in ignorance or even an extreme angry outburst. Rather this is an attitude of heart. In v25, we read, 'Jesus knew their hearts.' His analysis of their heart attitudes in v25-28 seems to describe the sin of blasphemy against the Spirit.

v33-37: We are accountable for our words; this wider principle comes from the discussion. The fruit of our lips reveals the true nature of our heart; 10.32-33; 15.10-20. We will therefore be judged by what we say.

v38-42: The wicked and adulterous generation, seeking a sign, yet rejecting the Saviour who would do the miracle. There is a sign, that of resurrection, after three days and nights in "the heart of the earth."

Jesus, having already declared Himself the stronger man who defeats the devil, now declares Himself greater than Jonan and Solomon. Jonah preached the message of repentance, and Solomon delivered great wisdom; Jesus brings both, and with authority, yet many reject.

v43-45: There is no doubt that the ministry of both John and Jesus had a great impact; the unclean spirit of hypocrisy and arrogance was driven out, but the people did not truly believe, and their lives left "unoccupied, swept clean, and put in order," but not occupied by the Spirit of God. The end result is that the enemy re-enters, and the last state is worse than the first; Heb 6.5; they taste the word of God, but do not embrace it.

The response of the people of Nineveh, and the Queen of Sheba are commended, and contrasted with those who listened to Jesus.

Jonathan Edwards applies these verses to the generation to which Christ was speaking; ‘who being awakened by John the Baptist’s preaching and brought to a reformation of their former licentious courses, whereby the unclean spirit was as it were turned out, and the house swept and garnished; yet, being empty of God and of grace, became full of themselves, and were exalted in an exceeding high opinion of their own righteousness and eminent holiness. And became habituated to an answerably self-exalting behaviour; so changing the sins of publicans and harlots, for those of the Pharisees,; and in issue, had seven devils, worse than themselves.’ (Religious Affections)

v46-50: Again, an 'everyday'event provides an opportunity for teaching. The lesson is clear, that those who are obedient, who do "the will of my Father," are pleasing to Jesus; He identifies with such as these.