‏ Matthew 12

Jesus and His Disciples Accused of Breaking the Sabbath

This section tells how Jesus’ disciples were accused by the Pharisees of breaking the Sabbath law. As Jesus and His disciples walked through grainfields on the Sabbath, the disciples picked heads of grain to eat because they were hungry. The Pharisees saw this and challenged Jesus, saying His disciples were doing what was unlawful on the Sabbath. Jesus answered them by explaining the true meaning of the Sabbath. He showed that God desires mercy more than sacrifice and that human need is more important than ritual rules. Jesus also declared Himself “Lord of the Sabbath,” showing His authority over religious traditions. This passage teaches that God cares more about compassion and kindness than about strict rules, and that Jesus has the authority to show what is right.

v. 1: At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. Jesus and His disciples were walking through fields on the Sabbath. The disciples were hungry, so they picked some grain to eat. This was allowed by the law of Moses for travelers who were hungry (Deuteronomy 23:25 ^a), but doing it on the Sabbath made the Pharisees upset.

v. 2: But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day. The Pharisees saw what the disciples did and accused them of breaking the Sabbath law. They believed that picking grain was a kind of work, which was forbidden on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:10 ^b). They were very strict about keeping all the rules, even small ones.

v. 3: But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; Jesus answered by reminding them of the story when David and his men were hungry and ate the special bread in the house of God, which was only for the priests (1 Samuel 21:6 ^c). Jesus wanted to show that human need is more important than ritual rules.

v. 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? Jesus explained that David and his companions ate the bread that only priests were supposed to eat, but God did not blame David for it because they were in need. Mercy was more important than the rule.

v. 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? Jesus added that the priests worked in the temple on the Sabbath (offering sacrifices and doing their duties), but they were not guilty of breaking the Sabbath. Their service to God was more important than the rest.

v. 6: But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. Jesus told them that someone greater than the temple was present—meaning Himself. He wanted them to understand that He had authority over the Sabbath and over the temple.

v. 7: But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. Jesus quoted the prophet Hosea (Hosea 6:6 ^d), saying that God wants mercy more than sacrifice. If the Pharisees had understood God’s heart, they would not have condemned the disciples who were not guilty of wrongdoing.

v. 8: For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. Jesus declared that He is “Lord of the Sabbath.” This means He has authority to decide what is right on the Sabbath, and the Sabbath should serve people, not the other way around.

In summary, Matthew 12:1–8 shows that Jesus cares about people’s real needs more than keeping ritual rules. He teaches that mercy is more important than sacrifice, and that He has authority over the Sabbath. True religion is about love, kindness, and following Jesus—not just following a list of rules.

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Religious Leaders Plot Against Jesus; Jesus Heals and Fulfills Prophecy

This section describes how the Pharisees, angered by Jesus’ miracles and teachings, began to plan how they could destroy him. Despite their opposition, Jesus continued to heal and help people, showing his gentleness and fulfilling what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah. Jesus’ actions revealed that the Messiah would not fight with violence or seek fame, but would bring justice and hope to all people, even to the Gentiles. This passage teaches about the growing conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders, and shows how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy through his humble and merciful ministry.

v. 14: Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. After Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath, the Pharisees became so angry that they started plotting to kill him. They could not answer his wisdom or deny his miracles, so they decided to get rid of him by force (Matthew 12:14 ^e).

v. 15: But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all. Jesus knew what the Pharisees were planning, so he left that place. Even though he withdrew, many people still followed him, and he healed all who came to him. Jesus did not seek confrontation, but continued to show mercy and help those in need (Matthew 12:15 ^f).

v. 16: And charged them that they should not make him known. Jesus told the people he healed not to make him famous. He was not looking for publicity or praise, but wanted to do God’s will quietly and humbly (Matthew 12:16 ^g).

v. 17–18: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias 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 shew judgment to the Gentiles. Matthew explains that Jesus’ humble attitude and gentle healing fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah 42:1-4. Jesus is God’s chosen servant, filled with the Spirit, who brings justice—not only to Jews, but also to the Gentiles (Matthew 12:17-18; Isaiah 42:1 ^h).

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v. 19: He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. The prophecy said that the Messiah would not fight or shout in the streets to get attention. Jesus was peaceful and did not stir up crowds with arguments or violence (Matthew 12:19 ⁱ).

v. 20: A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. Jesus is gentle with those who are weak or struggling. He does not crush those who are hurting or give up on people who have little faith. He patiently works until he brings justice and salvation (Matthew 12:20 ^j).

v. 21: And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. The prophecy ends by saying that people from all nations will put their hope in Jesus. He came not only for Israel, but for the whole world (Matthew 12:21 ^k).

In summary, Matthew 12:14–21 shows how Jesus responded to growing opposition with humility and mercy. He fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy by being God’s gentle servant, bringing hope and salvation to everyone who would trust in him.

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man

This section describes how Jesus healed a man who was possessed by a demon and was blind and mute. The miracle caused amazement among the people, but it also led to a strong confrontation with the Pharisees. They accused Jesus of using the power of Satan to cast out demons. Jesus responded by showing the foolishness of their accusation and teaching that the kingdom of God had come among them. He warned them about the danger of blaspheming the Holy Spirit and explained the importance of one’s words and heart.

v. 22: Jesus healed a man who was demon-possessed, blind, and unable to speak (Matthew 12:22 ^l). When Jesus healed him, the man could both speak and see. The people who witnessed this miracle were amazed. They began to wonder if Jesus could be the promised Son of David, the Messiah. This miracle showed Jesus’ power over evil spirits and his compassion for those who suffer.

v. 23: The crowds were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” (Matthew 12:23 ^m). They saw that Jesus was doing things that the Messiah was expected to do. Their amazement shows that Jesus’ miracles were powerful signs pointing to who he was.

v. 24: But the Pharisees, who were religious leaders, said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons” (Matthew 12:24 ⁿ). Instead of accepting the miracle as a sign from God, they accused Jesus of using satanic power. This was a serious accusation, showing their hardness of heart and unwillingness to believe in Jesus despite the evidence.

v. 25–26: Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined... If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?” (Matthew 12:25-26 ^o). Jesus showed the foolishness of the Pharisees’ accusation. If Satan were fighting against himself, his kingdom could not last. Jesus pointed out that their logic did not make sense.

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v. 27: Jesus continued, “If I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges” (Matthew 12:27 ^p). Some Jews also claimed to cast out demons. Jesus challenged the Pharisees to explain how their own people did this, and said that their own followers would judge the Pharisees’ hypocrisy.

v. 28: Jesus then said, “But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12:28 ^q). Jesus explained that his power to cast out demons came from God, not from evil. His miracles showed that God’s kingdom was breaking in and God’s promised Savior was here.

v. 29: Jesus explained, “How can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man?” (Matthew 12:29 ^r). Jesus was stronger than Satan—he had come to break Satan’s power and set people free from his control.

v. 30: Jesus warned, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30 ^s). There is no neutral ground with Jesus—people must choose to be with him or against him.

v. 31–32: Jesus gave a serious warning: “Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven… either in this age or in the age to come” (Matthew 12:31-32 ^t). He warned the Pharisees that rejecting the clear work of the Holy Spirit and calling it evil was a sin that could not be forgiven because it showed a completely hardened heart.

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v. 33–37: Jesus continued by teaching about the importance of the heart and words. “A tree is recognized by its fruit… For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. …By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:33-37 ^u). Jesus said that what people say shows what is in their hearts. Good hearts produce good words and actions, while evil hearts produce evil ones. God will judge people by their words, which reveal their true character.

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The Pharisees Ask a Sign

In this section, some Pharisees come to Jesus with a request. They ask him to show them a special sign from heaven to prove who he is. But Jesus has already performed many miracles. Instead of believing, these leaders want to test him and set their own conditions. Jesus uses their request to teach about faith, the danger of rejecting God’s truth, and the consequences for those who see evidence but still refuse to believe.

v. 38: The Pharisees address Jesus as Master, pretending to respect him, but their real goal is to test him. They ask, We would see a sign from thee (Matthew 12:38 ^v). It seems fair to ask for a sign, since God often used miracles to prove his messengers, like with Moses (Exodus 4:8-9 ^w). But it is not fair to ask for a new sign when Jesus has already performed so many. Proud people often make demands of God and then use their own rules as an excuse not to believe.

v. 39: Jesus answers by calling them an evil and adulterous generation (Matthew 12:39 ^x). He means not only the Pharisees, but the whole nation, because they refuse to believe despite clear evidence. “Adulterous” here means they have not been faithful to God, like a wife who breaks her marriage promises (Isaiah 57:3 ^y). They are not worshipping idols like before, but they are making up their own rules for believing, which is also unfaithfulness.

Jesus refuses to give them any new sign except the sign of the prophet Jonah. God listens to honest prayers, but he does not satisfy selfish or insincere demands. God sometimes gave signs to help people believe, like Abraham and Gideon, but he did not give signs to those who just wanted an excuse not to believe.

v. 40: Jesus explains that the sign of Jonah means his own resurrection. As Jonah 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 (Matthew 12:40 ^z). Just as Jonah was in the fish and then came out alive, Jesus would be buried and then rise again. Jonah’s time in the fish was a picture of Jesus’ time in the grave. The phrase “three days and three nights” means parts of three days, as was common in their language (1 Kings 20:29; Esther 4:16–5:1; Luke 2:21 ^aa). Jonah was a prisoner because of his own mistakes, but Jesus was in the grave for our sins. Jonah trusted that he would see God again (Jonah 2:4 ^ab), and Jesus also rested in hope, knowing his body would not decay (Acts 2:26-27 ^ac). After three days, both Jonah and Jesus returned to life and brought God’s message to others.

v. 41: Jesus says the people of Nineveh will rise up and judge the Jews, because the Ninevites repented when Jonah preached, but the Jews did not repent even with Jesus’ greater message and miracles (Matthew 12:41 ^ad). Jonah was just a man, but Jesus is the Son of God. Jonah was a stranger, but Jesus preached to his own people. Jonah gave only a short warning; Jesus taught with patience and offered forgiveness. Jonah did no miracles, but Jesus did many. Yet the Ninevites repented, while the Jews refused. This shows that people with fewer chances sometimes respond better than those with many. The repentance of the Ninevites will make the Jews’ unbelief look even worse.

v. 42: Jesus also says the queen of the south (the queen of Sheba) will condemn this generation. She traveled a long distance to hear Solomon’s wisdom, but now people will not listen to Jesus, who is greater than Solomon (Matthew 12:42 ^ae). The queen had no invitation and faced many obstacles, but she still came. We are invited and have no such troubles. Solomon was wise, but Jesus has all wisdom (Colossians 2:3 ^af). The queen only heard Solomon, but Jesus gives wisdom and salvation to all who come to him. If we ignore Jesus, the queen’s eagerness will show how wrong we are.

v. 43-45: Jesus tells a parable about an unclean spirit. It leaves a person, but later returns with seven other spirits, making the person worse than before (Matthew 12:43-45 ^ag). The evil spirit is restless and always looking to do harm (Proverbs 4:16 ^ah). When Jesus cast out demons, it was permanent, but sometimes the devil would leave and come back with more power. This is what happens to people or nations who start to change for the better, but then turn away from God. After the Jews returned from Babylon, they stopped worshiping idols but soon became proud and unbelieving. Because they rejected Jesus, their final state would be worse than before. In the end, they would face great trouble and judgment (1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 ^ai). This is a warning to all people and churches: if we turn away from the good we have learned, our last state can become worse than the first.

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v. 46: While Jesus was still speaking to the people, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to talk to him (Matthew 12:46 ^aj). They sent someone through the crowd to call him. We do not know exactly why they wanted to speak with him. Perhaps they were worried about him or wanted to protect him from trouble. Some of his brothers did not believe in him yet (John 7:5 ^ak). This shows that even those closest to us may not always understand our commitment to God.

v. 46–50: While Jesus was still talking, his mother and brothers came to speak with him. Jesus said, “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:46-50 ^al). Jesus uses this moment to teach that spiritual relationships are more important than biological ties. True family in God’s kingdom is made up of those who follow God’s will. This redefines kinship, showing that obedience to God is the highest priority. Jesus’ statement is not a rejection of his earthly family but an invitation for all to become part of his spiritual family by doing the will of God. This passage encourages believers to value their relationship with God above all else, even above their closest earthly relationships.

v. 47: The message reached Jesus that his mother and brothers were outside, asking to speak with him. They should have been inside, listening to his teaching, but perhaps they thought they could always hear him later. This shows that people who are close to God’s truth can sometimes take it for granted. We should not delay listening to God, thinking we can do it another time, because we only have the present moment for sure.

v. 48: Jesus responded to the interruption by asking, Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? He did not stop his work for his family, showing that serving God comes first. Jesus was not being disrespectful, but he wanted to teach that our duty to God is more important than anything else. Sometimes, even our loved ones can distract us from what God wants us to do. We must put God’s work first, even if it means saying no to family or friends (Luke 14:26 ^am).

v. 49: Then Jesus pointed to his disciples and said, Here are my mother and my brothers! He showed that those who follow him and learn from him are his true family. Jesus valued his spiritual family even more than his earthly family. He wanted his disciples to know that they were very important to him, even if they had left their own families to follow him (Matthew 19:29 ^an).

v. 50: Jesus explained, Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother (Matthew 12:50 ^ao). Obeying God is what makes someone truly close to Jesus. It is not enough just to listen or talk about God’s will—we must do it (Matthew 7:21 ^ap). All believers who obey God are part of Jesus’ family. He loves them, cares for them, and will never be ashamed of them. He will welcome them and confess them before God and the angels (Matthew 10:32 ^aq).