Mat 12:2, 10, 12 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 2. Upon the sabbath day . The Pharisees, doubtless desirous of finding fault with Christ, said that, in plucking the grain on the sabbath day , they had violated the commandment. Moses had commanded the Hebrews to abstain from all servile work on the sabbath, . On any other day this would have been clearly lawful, for it was permitted, . (k) "not lawful"

‏ Matthew 12:2

Verse 2. Upon the sabbath day. The Pharisees, doubtless desirous of finding fault with Christ, said that, in plucking the grain on the sabbath day, they had violated the commandment. Moses had commanded the Hebrews to abstain from all servile work on the sabbath, Ex 20:10, 35:2,3, Nu 15:32-36. On any other day this would have been clearly lawful, for it was permitted, De 23:25.

(k) "not lawful" Ex 31:15

‏ Matthew 12:10

Verse 10. A man which had his hand withered. This was probably one form of the palsy. Mt 4:24.

Mark and Luke have mentioned some circumstances omitted by Matthew. They say that Jesus addressed the man, and told him to stand forth in the midst. He then addressed the people. He asked them if it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath day? This was admitted by all their teachers, and it could not be denied. They were therefore silent. He then appealed to them, and drew an argument from their own conduct. A man that had a sheep that should fall into a pit on the Sabbath day would exercise the common offices of humanity, and draw it out. If a man would save the life of a sheep, was it not proper to save the life of a man ? By a reference to their own conduct, he silenced them.

Mark adds, that he looked on them with anger; that is, with strong disapprobation of their conduct. Their envy and malignity excited feelings of holy indignation. Mk 3:5.

(t) "Is it lawful" Lk 14:3

‏ Matthew 12:12

Verse 12. A man better than a sheep. Of more consequence, or value. If you would show an act of kindness to a brute beast on the Sabbath, how much more important is it to evince similar kindness to one made in the image of God! one for whom the Saviour came to die, and who may be raised up to everlasting life.

It is lawful to do well. This was universally allowed by the Jews in the abstract; and Jesus only showed them that the principle on which they acted in other things applied with more force to the case before him, and that the act which he was about to perform was, by their own confession, lawful.