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Matthew 12

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

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?

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:

And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

And charged them that they should not make him known:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

What does Matthew 12:1 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 12:1 depicts a scene in which Jesus and His disciples are traveling through a grainfield on the Sabbath, the day of rest according to Jewish law. The disciples are hungry and begin to pluck ears of grain to eat.

This verse sets the stage for a teaching moment about the interpretation and intent behind Sabbath observance.

While the literal action is simple, the disciples are satisfying their hunger, the deeper meaning of the verse challenges the prevailing legalism of the time and questions the rigid application of the Sabbath laws.

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Historical Context

The historical context of this verse is important for understanding the controversy that arises from it.

During the time of Jesus, Jewish life was governed by the Torah, which included laws regarding the Sabbath.

The Sabbath was commanded as a day of rest, and there were strict rules about what constituted work, which was prohibited on that day.

By plucking the grain, the disciples' actions could be interpreted as "reaping," which was one form of work prohibited on the Sabbath.

Jesus’ response to the criticism they face is significant as it addresses the broader issue of how religious laws should be followed.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse raises several insights:

Lord of the Sabbath: The verse prepares readers for one of Jesus' key pronouncements found in later verses, that He is "Lord even of the Sabbath" (Matthew 12:8).
Mercy over Sacrifice: Jesus emphasizes the value of mercy and human need over strict adherence to the Sabbath laws, a theme found throughout His ministry.
Sabbath Purpose: Jesus suggests that the Sabbath was made for man's benefit and well-being, not to impose undue burdens.

Different Christian denominations may interpret these insights in varied ways.

While some may see it as a call to flexibility in religious observance, others might focus on the divine authority of Jesus to reinterpret the laws.

Practical Applications

This verse encourages believers to prioritize human need and mercy over legalistic interpretations of religious rules. In daily life, it can be applied by:

Exercising compassion: Choosing to help others even when it might conflict with strict interpretations of religious or secular laws.
Pursuing the spirit of the law: Looking for the intent behind rules and acting according to its purpose.
Balancing ritual with reality: Recognizing when tradition or ritual should give way to immediate practical needs.

Cross-References

Mark 2:23-28: A parallel account where Jesus states, "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath."
Luke 6:1-5: Another parallel account where Jesus asks the Pharisees about doing good on the Sabbath.
Exodus 20:8-11: The commandment to keep the Sabbath day and make it holy.
Deuteronomy 23:25: Permission for a person to pluck ears of grain with their hand, but not to harvest it with a sickle.

Language Study

The original Greek language of the New Testament includes words and phrases that carry significant meaning:

"Sabbath" (σάββατον, sabbaton): Refers to the seventh day of the week, a day of rest and religious observance for the Jews.
"An hungred" (επεινασαν, epeinasan): Strong's G3983, meaning they were hungry; this indicates a human need that takes precedence over ritualistic law.
"Ears of corn" (στάχυς, stachus): Although translated as "ears of corn," this most likely refers to heads of grain, such as wheat or barley.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The Jewish Sabbath and its laws can be compared to other ancient practices.

Many ancient cultures had rituals and days of rest or festivity, but the Hebrew Sabbath was unique in its regularity and its grounding in the creation narrative and the Exodus.

Other religious traditions often have their own rites, but the theological implications of Jesus' actions challenge the understanding of religious law that is not common in all faiths.

Scientific Perspectives

The act of eating grain directly from the field has agricultural implications. Scientifically, this act is an example of resource utilization in its most immediate form.

From a biological perspective, the grain provides essential nutrients and carbohydrates needed for survival, which is consistent with addressing human needs over ritual prescriptions.

Commentaries

Various biblical commentaries offer differing perspectives on Matthew 12:1.

Traditionalist commentators often emphasize the importance of Jesus' divinity and authority, explaining His right to redefine or reinterpret the Sabbath rules.
Historical-criticism scholars may focus on the sociocultural context of the verse and how it reflects the tension between Jesus and the Pharisaic interpretation of Jewish law.
Humanitarian-focused commentators use this as an example of Jesus' teaching that compassion should outweigh legalistic observance.
Modern legal scholars may view this as an example of a principle in religious and secular law where essential human needs defer formal rules.

Each tends to agree, however, that Jesus uses this incident to teach a central message about the purpose of religious laws and the priority of human welfare.

Matthew 12

Matthew 12

What does Matthew 12:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 12:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?