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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 12:10 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 12:10 presents an incident where Jesus encounters a man with a withered hand in a synagogue.

The verse captures the tension between Jesus and the Pharisees concerning the interpretation and practice of the Sabbath law.

The Pharisees pose a question to Jesus, asking if it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath, which was a day set apart for rest and worship according to Jewish law.

Their question is not an innocent inquiry for understanding but rather a trap to accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath law.

The verse highlights the Pharisees' strict legalism and Jesus' approach to the law, emphasizing mercy and compassion over rigid adherence to tradition.

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Historical Context

At the time of this event, Jewish society was governed by religious laws, including strict observance of the Sabbath, which lasted from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday.

The Pharisees were a religious sect known for their detailed interpretations of the Torah and firm enforcement of those interpretations.

They believed that healing, unless it was a case of life or death, constituted work and thus should not be performed on the Sabbath.

As Jesus' ministry grew, his teachings and actions often brought him into conflict with the established religious authority, particularly on issues of law and tradition.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse can be seen as an illustration of Jesus' teaching on the purpose of the law.

While the Pharisees view the Sabbath as a strict rule, Jesus views it differently. Various Christian denominations may interpret this incident in diverse ways, but common theological insights might include:

Jesus prioritizes human need and well-being over ritualistic adherence to law.
He challenges legalistic interpretations that do not fulfill the underlying spirit of the law - love and compassion.

This verse demonstrates Jesus’ divine authority to interpret and fulfill the Law by going beyond its literal meaning.

Practical Applications

Enacting the teachings of this verse in daily life could involve several facets:

Prioritizing the well-being of others and acts of kindness over strict rules or traditions. 2.

Re-evaluating religious and cultural practices that might be more about form than substance. 3.

Balancing respect for religious observances with an understanding of their underlying purpose - to love and care for others.

Cross-References

Mark 3:1-6 (parallel account of the healing).
Luke 13:14-16, where Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath, challenging the legalistic approach.
Luke 14:1-6, where Jesus heals a man with dropsy and asks a similar question regarding the Sabbath.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the term "withered" is translated from "ξηράν" (xēran), which means dried up or shriveled.

The phrase "is it lawful" in Greek is "ἔξεστιν" (exestin), which means "is it permitted" or "is it allowed." The precision of these words is important for understanding the literal situation and the legal question posed by the Pharisees.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparisons to other ancient myths or religious interpretations are not directly relevant to this particular verse, as its focus is on a specific interaction within a Jewish context.

However, in broader terms, many religions and mythologies grapple with the tension between divine law and human interpretation, emphasizing themes of mercy, compassion, or the spirit of the law over the letter.

Scientific Perspectives

While the verse does not directly intersect with scientific understandings, it can foster discussion on the historical understanding of disabilities and medical conditions.

Modern medicine would view the withered hand as a condition likely in need of physical therapy or surgery, which reflects a shift from viewing sickness as a spiritual or divine issue to a medical one.

Commentaries

Commentary interpretations on this verse vary but commonly emphasize Christ's authority and the principle of compassionate use of the Sabbath. For example:

Matthew Henry's Commentary notes that Christ aimed to correct the misapplication of the Sabbath law and highlighted the law's intention for doing good.
The Pulpit Commentary discusses the hardness of heart of the Pharisees and contrasts it with the tenderness of Jesus.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges underscores the question of the Pharisees as a planned entrapment, reflecting their continuous search for a reason to accuse Jesus.

Matthew 12

Matthew 12

What does Matthew 12:10 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 12:10 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?