Matthew Henry Commentary Matthew 12
Matthew Henry Commentary
Matthew 12
Matthew Henry Commentary
Matthew 12
"At that season Jesus went on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck ears and to eat. But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do upon the sabbath. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him; how he entered into the house of God, and ate the showbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless? But I say unto you, that one greater than the temple is here. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath." — Matthew 12:1-8 (ASV)
Being in the corn-fields, the disciples began to pluck the ears of corn; the law of God allowed it (Deuteronomy 23:25). This was slender provision for Christ and his disciples, but they were content with it. The Pharisees did not quarrel with them for taking another man's corn but for doing it on the Sabbath day. Christ came to free his followers not only from the corruptions of the Pharisees but from their unscriptural rules, and he justified what they did.
The greatest shall not have their lusts indulged, but the humblest shall have their wants considered. Those labors are lawful on the Sabbath day which are necessary, and Sabbath rest is to forward, not to hinder, Sabbath worship.
Needful provision for health and food is to be made. But the case is very different when servants are kept at home, and families become a scene of hurry and confusion on the Lord's day, to furnish a feast for visitors or for indulgence.
Such things as these, and many others common among professing Christians, are to be blamed. The resting on the Sabbath was ordained for man's good (Deuteronomy 5:14). No law must be understood so as to contradict its own end. And as Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath, it is fitting that the day and its work should be dedicated to him.
"And he departed thence, and went into their synagogue: and behold, a man having a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be of you, that shall have one sheep, and if this 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 of more value than a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, as the other." — Matthew 12:9-13 (ASV)
Christ shows that works of mercy are lawful and proper to be done on the Lord's day. There are more ways of doing well on Sabbath days than by the duties of worship: attending the sick, relieving the poor, helping those who need speedy relief, teaching the young to care for their souls. These are acts of doing good. Such acts must be done from love and charity, with humility and self-denial, and will be accepted (Genesis 4:7).
This cure, like other cures which Christ performed, had a spiritual meaning.
By nature our hands are withered, and we are unable by ourselves to do anything that is good. Christ alone, by the power of his grace, cures us. He heals the withered hand by putting life into the dead soul and works in us both to will and to do. For, with the command, there is a promise of grace given by the word.
"But the Pharisees went out, and took counsel against him, how they might destroy him. And Jesus perceiving [it] withdrew from thence: and many 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 through Isaiah 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 declare judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry aloud; Neither shall any one 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 hope." — Matthew 12:14-21 (ASV)
The Pharisees took counsel to find some accusation, that Jesus might be condemned to death. Aware of their design, as his time was not yet come, he withdrew from that place.
A face does not more exactly mirror another face in water than the character of Christ, as drawn by the prophet, mirrors his temperament and conduct as described by the evangelists. Let us with cheerful confidence commit our souls to so kind and faithful a Friend. Far from breaking the bruised reed, he will strengthen it; far from quenching the smoking flax, or a wick nearly out, he will instead fan it into a flame.
Let us lay aside contentious and angry debates; let us receive one another as Christ receives us. And while encouraged by the gracious kindness of our Lord, we should pray that his Spirit may rest upon us and enable us to copy his example.
"Then was brought unto him one possessed with a demon, blind and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the dumb man spake and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Can this be the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons. And knowing their thoughts he 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 casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. Or how can one enter into the house of the strong [man,] 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." — Matthew 12:22-30 (ASV)
A soul under Satan's power, and led captive by him, is blind in the things of God and dumb at the throne of grace; it sees nothing and says nothing to the purpose. Satan blinds the eyes by unbelief and seals up the lips from prayer.
The more people magnified Christ, the more desirous the Pharisees were to vilify him. It was evident that if Satan aided Jesus in casting out devils, the kingdom of hell was divided against itself; how then could it stand! And if they said that Jesus cast out devils by the prince of the devils, they could not prove that their children cast them out by any other power.
There are two great interests in the world; and when unclean spirits are cast out by the Holy Spirit, in the conversion of sinners to a life of faith and obedience, the kingdom of God is come unto us. All who do not aid or rejoice in such a change are against Christ.
"Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come." — Matthew 12:31-32 (ASV)
Here is a gracious assurance of the pardon of all sin on gospel terms. Christ in this has set an example for people, to be ready to forgive words spoken against them. But humble and conscientious believers, at times, are tempted to think they have committed the unpardonable sin, while those who have come nearest to it seldom have any fear about it.
We can be sure that those who indeed repent and believe the gospel have not committed this sin, or any other of the same kind. For repentance and faith are the special gifts of God, which he would not bestow on anyone if he were determined never to pardon them. And those who fear they have committed this sin give a good sign that they have not. The trembling, contrite sinner has the witness in himself that this is not his case.
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