Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 12:14

"But the Pharisees went out, and took counsel against him, how they might destroy him." — Matthew 12:14 (ASV)

The Pharisees now want to kill Jesus—not because of his ruling on the Sabbath, but because of the real issue involved here, Jesus’ claim as Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath conflicts are merely the occasion of the plotting. Note that Sabbath disputes were not mentioned at Jesus’ trials; in themselves they were never as much an issue as Jesus’ claim to be Sabbath’s Lord.