Bible Commentaries
Matthew 12

Verse 1

His disciples plucked the ears of corn, and ate - Just what sufficed for present necessity: dried corn was a common food among the Jews. Mark 2:23 ; Luke 6:1 .

Verse 3

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

Have ye not read what David did — And necessity was a sufficient plea for his transgressing the law in a higher instance.

Verse 4

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?

He entered into the house of God — Into the tabernacle. The temple was not yet built.

The show bread — So they called the bread which the priest, who served that week, put every Sabbath day on the golden table that was in the holy place, before the Lord. The loaves were twelve in number, and represented the twelve tribes of Israel: when the new were brought, the stale were taken away, but were to be eaten by the priests only1Samuel21:6.

Verse 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?

The priests in the temple profane the Sabbath — That is, do their ordinary work on this, as on a common day, cleansing all things, and preparing the sacrifices.

A greater than the temple — If therefore the Sabbath must give way to the temple, much more must it give way to me.

Verse 7

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

I will have mercy and not sacrifice — That is, when they interfere with each other, I always prefer acts of mercy, before matters of positive institution: yea, before all ceremonial institutions whatever; because these being only means of religion, are suspended of course, if circumstances occur, wherein they clash with love, which is the end of it. Matthew 9:13.

Verse 8

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

For the Son of man — Therefore they are guiltless, were it only on this account, that they act by my authority, and attend on me in my ministry, as the priests attended on God in the temple: is Lord even of the Sabbath - This certainly implies, that the Sabbath was an institution of great and distinguished importance; it may perhaps also refer to that signal act of authority which Christ afterward exerted over it, in changing it from the seventh to the first day of the week. If we suppose here is a transposition of the7th and8th verses, then the8th verse is a proof of the6th. Matthew 12:7-8; Matthew 12:6.

Verse 9

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

Mark 3:1; Luke 6:6.

Verse 12

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

It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day — To save a beast, much more a man.

Verse 18

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 show judgment to the heathens — That is, he shall publish the merciful Gospel to them also: the Hebrew word signifies either mercy or justice. Isaiah 42:1, etc.

Verse 19

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

He shall not strive, nor clamour; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets — That is, he shall not be contentious, noisy, or ostentatious: but gentle, quiet, and lowly. We may observe each word rises above the other, expressing a still higher degree of humility and gentleness.

Verse 20

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

A bruised reed — A convinced sinner: one that is bruised with the weight of sin: smoking flax - One that has the least good desire, the faintest spark of grace: till he send forth judgment unto victory - That is, till he make righteousness completely victorious over all its enemies.

Verse 21

And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

In his name — That is, in him.

Verse 22

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.

A demoniac, blind and dumb — Many undoubtedly supposed these defects to be merely natural. But the Spirit of God saw otherwise, and gives the true account both of the disorder and the cure. How many disorders, seemingly natural, may even now be owing to the same cause? Luke 11:14.

Verse 23

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

Is not this the son of David — That is, the Messiah.

Verse 24

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

Mark 3:22.

Verse 25

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:

Jesus knowing their thoughts — It seems they had as yet only said it in their hearts.

Verse 26

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

How shall his kingdom be established — Does not that subtle spirit know thin is not the way to establish his kingdom?

Verse 27

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

By whom do your children — That is, disciples, cast them out - It seems, some of them really did this; although the sons of Sceva could not.

Therefore shall they be your judge — Ask them, if Satan will cast out Satan: let even them be judges in this matter. And they shall convict you of obstinacy and partiality, who impute that in me to Beelzebub, which in them you impute to God. Beside, how can I rob him of his subjects, till I have conquered him? The kingdom of God is come upon you - Unawares; before you expected: so the word implies.

Verse 29

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.

How can one enter into the strong one’s house, unless he first bind the strong one — So Christ coming into the world, which was then eminently the strong one’s, Satan’s house, first bound him, and then took his spoils.

Verse 30

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

He that is not with me is against me — For there are no neuters in this war. Every one must be either with Christ or against him; either a loyal subject or a rebel. And there are none upon earth, who neither promote nor obstruct his kingdom. For he that does not gather souls to God, scatters them from him.

Verse 31

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.

The blasphemy against the Spirit — How much stir has been made about this? How many sermons, yea, volumes, have been written concerning it? And yet there is nothing plainer in all the Bible. It is neither more nor less than the ascribing those miracles to the power of the devil, which Christ wrought by the power of the Holy Ghost. Mark 3:28; Luke 12:10.

Verse 32

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.

Whosoever speaketh against the Son of man — In any other respects: It shall be forgiven him - Upon his true repentance: But whosoever speaketh thus against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven, neither in this world nor in the world to come - This was a proverbial expression among the Jews, for a thing that would never be done. It here means farther, He shall not escape the punishment of it, either in this world, or in the world to come. The judgment of God shall overtake him, both here and hereafter.

Verse 33

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.

Either make the tree good and its fruit good: or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt — That is, you must allow, they are both good, or both bad. - For if the fruit is good, so is the tree; if the fruit is evil, so is the tree also.

For the tree is known by its fruit — As if he had said, Ye may therefore know me by my fruits. By my converting sinners to God, you may know that God hath sent me. Matthew 7:16; Luke 6:43.

Verse 34

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

In another kind likewise, the tree is known by its fruit - Namely, the heart by the conversation.

Verse 36

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

Ye may perhaps think, God does not so much regard your words.

But I say to you — That not for blasphemous and profane words only, but for every idle word which men shall speak - For want of seriousness or caution; for every discourse which is not conducive to the glory of God, they shall give account in the day of judgment.

Verse 37

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

For by thy words (as well as thy tempers and works) thou shalt then be either acquitted or condemned. Your words as well as actions shall he produced in evidence for or against you, to prove whether you was a true believer or not. And according to that evidence you will either be acquitted or condemned in the great day.

Verse 38

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

We would see a sign — Else we will not believe this. Matthew 16:1; Luke 11:16; Luke 11:29.

Verse 39

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:

An adulterous generation — Whose heart wanders from God, though they profess him to be their husband. Such adulterers are all those who love the world, and all who seek the friendship of it.

Seeketh a sign — After all they have had already, which were abundantly sufficient to convince them, had not their hearts been estranged from God, and consequently averse to the truth.

The sign of Jonah — Who was herein a type of Christ.

Verse 40

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.

Three days and three nights — It was customary with the eastern nations to reckon any part of a natural day of twenty-four hours, for the whole day. Accordingly they used to say a thing was done after three or seven days, if it was done on the third or seventh day, from that which was last mentioned. Instances of this may be seen, 1 Kings 20:29; and in many other places. And as the Hebrews had no word to express a natural day, they used night and day, or day and night for it. So that to say a thing happened after three days and three nights, was with them the very same, as to say, it happened after three days, or on the third day. See Esther 4:16; Esther 5:1; Genesis 7:4; Genesis 7:12; Exodus 24:18; Exodus 34:28. Jonah 2:1.

Verse 42

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.

She came from the uttermost parts of the earth — That part of Arabia from which she came was the uttermost part of the earth that way, being bounded by the sea1Kings10:1.

Verse 43

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

But how dreadful will be the consequence of their rejecting me? When the unclean spirit goeth out - Not willingly, but being compelled by one that is stronger than he.

He walketh — Wanders up and down; through dry places - Barren, dreary, desolate; or places not yet watered with the Gospel: Seeking rest, and findeth none - How can he, while he carries with him his own hell? And is it not the case of his children too? Reader, is it thy case? Luke 11:24.

Verse 44

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.

Whence he came out — He speaks as if he had come out of his own accord: See his pride! He findeth it empty - of God, of Christ, of his Spirit: Swept - from love, lowliness, meekness, and all the fruits of the Spirit: And garnished - With levity and security: so that there is nothing to keep him out, and much to invite him in.

Verse 45

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.

Seven other spirits — That is, a great many; a certain number being put for an uncertain: More wicked than himself - Whence it appears, that there are degrees of wickedness among the devils themselves: They enter in and dwell - For ever in him who is forsaken of God.

So shall it be to this wicked generation — Yea, and to apostates in all ages.

Verse 46

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

His brethren — His kinsmen: they were the sons of Mary, the wife of Cleopas, or Alpheus, his mother’s sister; and came now seeking to take him, as one beside himself, Mark 3:21. Mark 3:31; Luke 8:19.

Verse 48

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

And he answering, said — Our Lord’s knowing why they came, sufficiently justifies his seeming disregard of them49,50. See the highest severity, and the highest goodness! Severity to his natural, goodness to his spiritual relations! In a manner disclaiming the former, who opposed the will of his heavenly Father, and owning the latter, who obeyed it.

Verses 49-50

See the highest severity, and the highest goodness! Severity to his natural, goodness to his spiritual relations! In a manner disclaiming the former, who opposed the will of his heavenly Father, and owning the latter, who obeyed it.