Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 12
Disciples in the Corn Fields 12:1-8
v1 At that time, Jesus was going through the fields of corn on God’s rest day. His disciples were with him and they were hungry. They began to pick some of the corn. They ate the grains. v2 Some Pharisees saw them do this. So they spoke to Jesus. ‘Look! Your disciples are breaking our Law!’ they said. ‘They are working on God’s rest day.’ v3 Jesus answered them. ‘Surely you have read what David did. He and his friends were hungry. v4 So they went into God’s house. And he and his friends ate the bread that people had offered to God. Our Law did not allow them to eat that bread. Only the priests had the right to eat it. v5 You have read in the Law that the priests in the Temple work on God’s rest day. But they remain without blame. v6 I am telling you the truth. Someone who is greater than the Temple is here now. v7 You should know what God’s words mean. ‘I want you to be kind’, God said. ‘I want this more than your presents.’ If you understood that, then you would not blame those people. They are not guilty, v8 because the Son of Man is Lord of God’s rest day.’
Commentary
Verses 1-2
The disciples were not stealing corn. People could eat some of the corn as they passed a field of corn. The Law allowed them to do that (Deuteronomy 23:25). God said that people should not work on his rest day (Exodus 20:8-11). But the men who taught the Law had added hundreds of strict rules to this command. There were 39 basic extra rules, and the disciples had broken some of these rules. So the Pharisees said that they were ‘guilty’. They said that the disciples:
--- had harvested the corn;
--- separated the grain and the straw;
--- prepared a meal.
Jesus answered the Pharisees in four ways:
1. Verses 3-4
He reminded the Pharisees about King David. He and his men had eaten the bread that only the priests should eat (1 Samuel 21:1-6). This was special bread. It was a sign that God provided food. Because David and his men were hungry, they needed to eat the bread. So the priest allowed them to break the law.
2. Verses 5-6
The priests had to work in the Temple, even on God’s rest day. The Law did not allow an ordinary person to light a fire on that day. But the priests could light the fire on the altar to burn the animals. That was part of the ceremony as they worshipped God in the Temple. Jesus said that he himself was greater than the Temple.
3. Verse 7
Jesus used God’s words to his servant, Hosea, long ago (Hosea 6:6). ‘I want you to be kind. I want this more than your presents.’ The Pharisees had not understood what God meant. They had been wrong to blame the disciples. They should have understood that the disciples needed food. This was more important than the rules.
4. Verse 8
Mark 2:27 has the words ‘God made his rest day for man. God did not make man for his rest day.’ God told people to rest on his rest day. But God did not try to control people’s freedom. Instead, he wants to help people. ‘Son of Man’ is another name for ‘the Messiah’, and Jesus is the Messiah. So he had the right to decide what should happen on God’s rest day.
The Man with a Hand That He Could Not Use 12:9-14
v9 Jesus went on from that place. Then he went into the building where they met to worship God. v10 A man with a hand that he could not use was there. The Pharisees were there too. They were trying to find a reason to accuse Jesus. ‘Does the law allow people to heal someone on God’s rest day?’ they asked him. v11 And Jesus replied to them. ‘Suppose one of you has a sheep. And suppose that sheep falls into a deep hole on God’s rest day. You would grasp it and lift it out. v12 But a man is much more valuable than a sheep! Therefore the Law allows us to help someone on God’s rest day.’ v13 Then Jesus spoke to the man with a hand that he could not use. ‘Reach out your hand’, he said to him. So the man reached out his hand, and it became well again. It was quite as good as his other hand. v14 Then the Pharisees went out. And they planned how to kill Jesus.
Commentary
Verses 9-10
The Pharisees met Jesus again in the building where they met. Then they asked Jesus a question because they wanted to accuse him. They did not want Jesus to teach them.
Verses 11-13
Jesus showed that the Pharisees were willing to rescue a valuable animal on God’s rest day. But they did not allow anyone to heal a sick person. But a person is worth much more than an animal. So their question is not right. The question should be, ‘Does the law allow people to help someone on God’s rest day?’
Verse 14
The Pharisees were very angry because they could not answer Jesus. They had decided that Jesus was wrong. So they began to make plans because they wanted to destroy him. Their ideas about what the law meant were very important to them. They thought that their ideas were more important than a person’s life. So they even made plans against God’s command. ‘You must not kill anyone’, God said.
Jesus is God’s servant 12:15-21
v15 Jesus heard about the Pharisees’ wicked plans, so he went away from that place. Many people followed him. And he healed all of them who were ill. v16 But he warned them not to tell other people about him. v17 God had spoken by means of his servant Isaiah long ago. Jesus made his words come true.
v18 ‘Here is my servant whom I have chosen.
I love him and I am very pleased with him.
I will give my Holy Spirit to him.
He will announce my judgment to the people in all the nations.
v19 He will not quarrel and he will not shout.
He will not talk loudly in the streets.
v20 He will not break a weak grass stem.
He will not put out a flame that is burning low.
He will continue his efforts until he has made everything fair and right.
v21 Then people in all the nations will trust him for their future.’
Commentary
Verse 15
Jesus knew that he should not stay near those Pharisees. So he went away from danger and people followed him. They wanted him to help them. So he healed everyone who asked him.
Verse 16
Jesus was the Messiah, but people had wrong ideas about the Messiah. They believed that the Messiah would be a military ruler. They thought that he would be like King David long ago. But Jesus had not come to establish a political rule. He came to serve and to love people. So he did not want them to talk about him as the Messiah yet.
Verses 17-21
This is part of one of the ‘servant’ poems that Isaiah wrote long before (Isaiah 42:1-4). It describes the character of God’s special servant.
Verse 18
Jesus heard some of these words at his baptism when God gave him the Holy Spirit. People should behave in the right way towards God and towards each other. Jesus taught us how to do that.
Verse 19
Jesus did not argue with people. He did not make loud speeches. He did not try to make people excited. He taught in a quiet way.
Verse 20
A ‘weak grass stem’ is a picture of a type of person. Bad things have happened which hurt that person.
‘A flame that is burning very low’: this means that someone does not believe very strongly. The Pharisees thought that people like that were not worth much. So they did not notice or help such people. But Jesus was gentle and he was patient with people. When he encouraged people, then they believed more.
Verse 21
People from other nations would also believe Jesus later. They would know his character. Therefore, they can trust him for their future life.
Jesus Has Power Over Evil Spirits 12:22-32
v22 Then they brought a sick man to Jesus. The man was blind and dumb because he had an evil spirit in him. Jesus healed him so that he could talk and see. v23 This astonished all the people. ‘Could this Jesus be the Son of David?’ they asked each other. v24 But the Pharisees also heard about this. ‘Beelzebub, who rules the evil spirits, gives this man power. That is why he can force evil spirits out of people’, they said. v25 Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he spoke to them. ‘If two groups in a nation fight each other they will ruin that nation’, he said. ‘Any city or family that divides into groups will destroy itself. v26 So if Satan forces Satan out, he is fighting against himself. Then he will destroy himself and all that he rules. v27 You say that Beelzebub gives me power to force evil spirits out of people. Then, who gives power to your people to force evil spirits out? They can answer that question for you. v28 But I force evil spirits out by the power that God’s Spirit gives to me. This proves that God’s rule has come to you.
v29 And suppose that someone wants to get into a strong man’s house to steal his property. That person must tie up the strong man first. Then he can rob the strong man’s house and steal everything. v30 If a person is not on my side, he is against me. The person who does not gather the harvest with me scatters it. v31 And so I tell you this. God can forgive every sin or insult that people speak against him. But God will not forgive an insult that people speak against the Holy Spirit. v32 God can forgive anyone who says wicked things about the Son of Man. But God will not forgive anyone who says wicked things about the Holy Spirit. God will not forgive him now, or in the future age.’
Commentary
Verses 22-23
The crowd began to wonder if Jesus was the Messiah. They had expected the ‘Son of David’ to do other things for them. But Jesus was not doing all those things.
Verse 24
The Pharisees were angry with Jesus because he did not obey their rules for God’s rest day. They were also jealous about his power. They knew that Jesus had done a miracle. So they suggested that he was working with the chief evil spirit himself. ‘Beelzebub’ was another name that they gave to Satan.
Verses 25-26
Jesus showed that the Pharisees’ idea was stupid. A war inside a nation destroys that nation. Divisions inside a family will ruin that family. Satan rules the evil spirits. So Satan would be very foolish if he helped Jesus. Satan would be fighting against himself.
Verse 27
Some of the Pharisees’ disciples also tried to force evil spirits out of people. So Jesus asked who gave those Jewish people their power. They used all kinds of magic and special words. Jesus needed only to give a command. But the Pharisees did not accuse their own disciples.
Verse 28
Jesus was sending out demons because the Holy Spirit’s power was in him. So God’s rule in heaven had begun to grow in this world.
Verse 29
Satan is like a strong man. But Jesus is more powerful than Satan. Satan had made people into his slaves. They were Satan’s property. But Jesus had gone into Satan’s kingdom and removed people from it. And Satan could not stop Jesus.
Verse 30
People belong either to God’s rule in heaven or they belong to Satan’s rule on earth. There are only two sides. If people are not on Jesus’ side, they are his enemies. A person who is on Jesus’ side gathers people to Jesus. A person who is against Jesus scatters people. He makes them turn away from Jesus.
Verses 31-32
Jesus gave a serious warning to the Pharisees. They were in danger that they would sin ‘against the Holy Spirit’. God would never forgive that sin. People said and did many things against Jesus. When Jesus was on the cross, he asked God to forgive all those things. But the Pharisees refused to understand what God wanted. For a long time, they had thought that their own ideas were right. They had even said that a good action was a wicked action. Isaiah had said, ‘Things will be bad for the people who say that evil things are ‘good’. And they say that good things are ‘evil’ (Isaiah 5:20). The Pharisees would not understand that God worked through Jesus. The Pharisees would not say that they had sinned. They would not repent. Therefore, God could not forgive them.
Sometimes a person is afraid that he has sinned against the Holy Spirit. But that person is not guilty. He is worried that he has sinned. But he can repent. He can ask God to forgive him. But the Pharisees were not aware that they had sinned. So they would not repent.
Words Show What a Person’s Character is Like 12:33-37
v33 ‘You can tell what a tree is like when you see its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. v34 You are a nest of poisonous snakes! You are evil. You can never say anything that is good. Your words come from everything that is in your spirit. v35 The good man says good things. These come from the good things that he has stored inside him. An evil man says evil things. These come from the evil things that he has stored inside him. v36 I tell you this. On the day of judgement, people will have to give an account for every careless word that they have spoken. v37 Your words will show that you are not guilty. Or your words will show that you are guilty.’
Verses 33-35
These verses emphasize what Jesus had said about the Pharisees. They had accused Jesus. And they had said that he helped Satan. Their words showed what kind of people they were. They were like a bad tree that produced bad fruit. Their words were as dangerous as the poison that comes from a snake.
Verses 36-37
Often we do not think carefully about what we say. Those words are not good or helpful. Instead, they may hurt other people’s feelings. Nobody can take back careless words. To say ‘I did not mean it’ does not free a person. He is still responsible. God knows what each person has said. And God will decide whether a person is guilty. Or whether a person is free from blame.
The Pharisees and Teachers Ask Jesus for a Sign 12:38-42
v38 Then some of the Pharisees and some of the men who taught the law said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, we want to see some evidence from you that will astonish us.’ v39 Jesus answered, ‘People ask for evidence that will astonish them. But only wicked people who are not loyal to God ask for this. The only evidence that they will receive is that of the prophet Jonah. v40 Jonah was in the stomach of a huge fish for three days and three nights. The Son of Man will be in the grave for three days and three nights. v41 The people from Nineveh and these people who are living now will stand up together on the day of judgement. The people from Nineveh will show that these people are guilty. Jonah preached to the people from Nineveh. They turned away from their sins. Now someone who is more important than Jonah is here. v42 The Queen of the South and the people who are living now will stand up together on judgment day. She will show that they are guilty. She traveled a long way to listen to Solomon’s wisdom. Now someone who is greater than Solomon is here.’
Verse 38
The Pharisees wanted Jesus to do something extraordinary. This would prove his authority. Satan had tempted Jesus to jump off the Temple roof (Matthew 4:5-6). Jesus had done miracles and he healed people. This was evidence that God loved people. The Pharisees did not believe that these miracles showed Jesus’ authority.
Verse 39
The phrase ‘not loyal’ describes how a wife leaves her husband because she loves another man. Jesus said that the Pharisees had not been loyal to God. The prophet Jonah preached to the Gentile city called Nineveh.
Verse 40
Jesus said that he would be in his grave for three days and three nights. For Jews, this meant any part of three days. He compared this to the time that Jonah stayed in the huge fish. The Resurrection would be the final evidence.
Verses 41-42
When Jonah preached to the wicked people in Nineveh, they changed their ways. Jesus had warned the Jews many times, but they took no notice. The ‘Queen of the South’ was the queen from the country called Sheba. This was a place in South West Arabia. She made a long journey to listen to Solomon’s wise words. Jesus was present among the Jews, but they refused to listen to his wise words. On the day of judgment, both the people of Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba will show how guilty the Jews were. The Jews could listen to the message that God gave through Jesus. But they had failed to take their greater opportunity.
The Parable About the Empty House 12:43-45
v43 ‘When an evil spirit comes out from a man, it goes through dry places. It is looking for somewhere to rest. But it does not find a place. v44 Then it says, ‘I will go back to the house that I left.’ When the evil spirit arrives there, it finds an empty house. The house is clean and neat. v45 Then the evil spirit goes out. It gets 7 other spirits that are more wicked than itself. And they all go in to the house and live there. Then the man is worse off than he was before. That is what will happen to the wicked people who live today.’
Commentary
Verse 43
People thought that evil spirits lived in deserts.
Verses 44-45
People should send away evil thoughts and actions. But they have to do more than just this. They must replace the evil things with good things. They must think good thoughts. They must do good actions. The Holy Spirit must live in a person to protect him.
The Pharisees thought that they had made their religion morally ‘clean’. They had tried to remove evil things. The Pharisees told people hundreds of things that they must not do. But the Pharisees refused to accept the new life that Jesus offered. So they were making everyone’s lives worse.
The True Family of Jesus 12:46-50
v46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside. They wanted to speak to him. v47 Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside. They want to speak to you.’ v48 Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother and who are my brothers?’ v49 He pointed to his disciples. He said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. v50 Because anyone who does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother and sister and mother.’
Commentary
Verse 46
Jesus had four brothers and some sisters (Mark 6:3). Jesus was Mary’s ‘first’ son (Luke 2:7). This suggests that Mary and Joseph married and had children in the normal family relationship. Matthew does not say why Jesus’ family wanted to speak to him. Mark says that they came to look after him. Perhaps they thought that Jesus spent too much time with the crowds. Perhaps his family were worried. They heard that the religious leaders were opposing him (Mark 3:21).
Verses 48-50
Jesus knew that family life was important. However, the Pharisees changed the rules about families. It became possible for a son not to look after his parents (Mark 7:9-13). When Jesus was on the cross, he still looked after his mother. He made sure that she had a home (John 19:27). But in these verses, he was emphasizing that his work was very important. The people who become his disciples are part of the Christian family. The Christian family has even closer relationships than a natural family. Jesus’ mother and brothers had stood ‘outside’. This shows that they did not join in his work at that time. Jesus’ disciples were near to him. They wanted to join in his work.
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