17 That G3704 it might be fulfilled G4137 which G3588 was spoken G4483 by G1223 Esaias G2268 the prophet, G4396 saying, G3004
Behold my servant, H5650 whom I uphold; H8551 mine elect, H972 in whom my soul H5315 delighteth; H7521 I have put H5414 my spirit H7307 upon him: he shall bring forth H3318 judgment H4941 to the Gentiles. H1471 He shall not cry, H6817 nor lift up, H5375 nor cause his voice H6963 to be heard H8085 in the street. H2351 A bruised H7533 reed H7070 shall he not break, H7665 and the smoking H3544 flax H6594 shall he not quench: H3518 he shall bring forth H3318 judgment H4941 unto truth. H571 He shall not fail H3543 nor be discouraged, H7533 till he have set H7760 judgment H4941 in the earth: H776 and the isles H339 shall wait H3176 for his law. H8451
Behold, the former things H7223 are come to pass, H935 and new things H2319 do I declare: H5046 before they spring forth H6779 I tell H8085 you of them.
Let them bring them forth, H5066 and shew H5046 us what shall happen: H7136 let them shew H5046 the former things, H7223 what they be, that we may consider H7760 H3820 them, and know H3045 the latter end H319 of them; or declare H8085 us things for to come. H935 Shew H5046 the things that are to come H857 hereafter, H268 that we may know H3045 that ye are gods: H430 yea, do good, H3190 or do evil, H7489 that we may be dismayed, H8159 and behold H7200 it together. H3162
That confirmeth H6965 the word H1697 of his servant, H5650 and performeth H7999 the counsel H6098 of his messengers; H4397 that saith H559 to Jerusalem, H3389 Thou shalt be inhabited; H3427 and to the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 Ye shall be built, H1129 and I will raise up H6965 the decayed places H2723 thereof:
That it might G3704 be fulfilled G4137 which was spoken G4483 by G1223 Esaias G2268 the prophet, G4396 saying, G3004 Himself G846 took G2983 our G2257 infirmities, G769 and G2532 bare G941 our sicknesses. G3554
That G3704 it might be fulfilled G4137 which G3588 was spoken G4483 by G1223 the prophet, G4396 saying, G3004 I will open G455 my G3450 mouth G4750 in G1722 parables; G3850 I will utter G2044 things which have been kept secret G2928 from G575 the foundation G2602 of the world. G2889
All G1161 G3650 this G5124 was done, G1096 that G2443 it might be fulfilled G4137 which G3588 was spoken G4483 by G1223 the prophet, G4396 saying, G3004
For G3754 these G3778 be G1526 the days G2250 of vengeance, G1557 that all things G3956 which G3588 are written G1125 may be fulfilled. G4137
And G1161 he said G2036 unto them, G846 These G3778 are the words G3056 which G3739 I spake G2980 unto G4314 you, G5209 while G5607 I was yet G2089 with G4862 you, G5213 that G3754 all things G3956 must G1163 be fulfilled, G4137 which G3588 were written G1125 in G1722 the law G3551 of Moses, G3475 and G2532 in the prophets, G4396 and G2532 in the psalms, G5568 concerning G4012 me. G1700
If G1487 he called G2036 them G1565 gods, G2316 unto G4314 whom G3739 the word G3056 of God G2316 came, G1096 and G2532 the scripture G1124 cannot G3756 G1410 be broken; G3089
For G1063 they that dwell G2730 at G1722 Jerusalem, G2419 and G2532 their G846 rulers, G758 because they knew G50 him G5126 not, G50 nor yet G2532 the voices G5456 of the prophets G4396 which G3588 are read G314 G2596 every G3956 sabbath day, G4521 they have fulfilled G4137 them in condemning G2919 him.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Matthew 12
Commentary on Matthew 12 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 12
In this chapter, we have,
Mat 12:1-13
The Jewish teachers had corrupted many of the commandments, by interpreting them more loosely than they were intended; a mistake which Christ discovered and rectified (ch. 5) in his sermon on the mount: but concerning the fourth commandment, they had erred in the other extreme, and interpreted it too strictly. Note, it is common for men of corrupt minds, by their zeal in rituals, and the external services of religion, to think to atone for the looseness of their morals. But they are cursed who add to, as well as they who take from, the words of this book, Rev. 22:16, 19; Prov. 30:6.
Now that which our Lord Jesus here lays down is, that the works of necessity and mercy are lawful on the sabbath day, which the Jews in many instances were taught to make a scruple of. Christ's industrious explanation of the fourth commandment, intimates its perpetual obligation to the religious observation of one day in seven, as a holy sabbath. He would not expound a law that was immediately to expire, but doubtless intended hereby to settle a point which would be of use to his church in all ages; and so it is to teach us, that our Christian sabbath, though under the direction of the fourth commandment, is not under the injunctions of the Jewish elders.
It is usual to settle the meaning of a law by judgments given upon cases that happen in fact, and in like manner is the meaning of this law settled. Here are two passages of story put together for this purpose, happening at some distance of time from each other, and of a different nature, but both answering this intention.
Note, It is no new thing for the most harmless and innocent actions of Christ's disciples to be evil spoken of, and reflected upon as unlawful, especially by those who are zealous for their own inventions and impositions. The Pharisees complained of them to their Master for doing that which it was not lawful to do. Note, Those are no friends to Christ and his disciples, who make that to be unlawful which God has not made to be so.
Christ having thus silenced the Pharisees, and got clear of them (v. 9), departed, and went into their synagogue, the synagogue of these Pharisees, in which they presided, and toward which he was going, when they picked this quarrel with him. Note,
Here is,
Hence Christ infers a truth, which, even at first sight, appears very reasonable and good-natured; that it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days; they had asked, Is it lawful to hear? Christ proves it is lawful to do well, and let any one judge whether healing, as Christ healed, was not doing well. Note, There are more ways of doing well upon sabbath days, than by the duties of God's immediate worship; attending the sick, relieving the poor, helping those who are fallen into sudden distress, and call for speedy relief; this is doing good: and this must be done from a principle of love and charity, with humility and self-denial, and a heavenly frame of spirit, and this is doing well, and it shall be accepted, Gen. 4:7.
Mat 12:14-21
As in the midst of Christ's greatest humiliations, there were proofs of his dignity, so in the midst of his greatest honours, he gave proofs of his humility; and when the mighty works he did gave him an opportunity of making a figure, yet he made it appear that he emptied himself, and made himself of no reputation. Here we have,
Christ did not retire for his own ease, nor seek an excuse to leave off his work; no, his retirements were filled up with business, and he was even then doing good, when he was forced to flee for the same. Thus he gave an example to his ministers, to do what they can, when they cannot do what they would, and to continue teaching, even when they are removed into corners. When the Pharisees, the great dons and doctors of the nation, drove Christ from then, and forced him to withdraw himself, yet the common people crowded after him; great multitudes followed him and found him out. This some would turn to his reproach, and call him the ring-leader of the mob; but it was really his honour, that all who were unbiased and unprejudiced, and not blinded by the pomp of the world, were so hearty, so zealous for him, that they would follow him whithersoever he went, and whatever hazards they ran with him; as it was also the honour of his grace, that the poor were evangelized; that when they received him, he received them and healed them all. Christ came into the world to be a Physician-general, as the sun to the lower world, with healing under his wings. Though the Pharisees persecuted Christ for doing good, yet he went on in it, and did not let the people fare the worse for the wickedness of their rulers. Note, Though some are unkind to us, we must not on that account be unkind to others.
Christ studied to reconcile usefulness and privacy; he healed them all, and yet (v. 16), charged them that they should not make him known; which may be looked upon,
Mat 12:22-37
In these verses we have,
Christ's reply to this imputation is copious and cogent, that every mouth may be stopped with sense and reason, before it be stopped with fire and brimstone. Here are three arguments by which he demonstrates the unreasonableness of this suggestion.
The latter clause is to the same purport: He that gathereth not with me scattereth. Note,
Mat 12:38-45
It is probable that these Pharisees with whom Christ is here in discourse were not the same that cavilled at him (v. 24), and would not credit the signs he gave; but another set of them, who saw that there was no reason to discredit them, but would not content themselves with the signs he gave, nor admit the evidence of them, unless he would give them such further proof as they should demand. Here is,
Justly might Christ have said, They shall never see another miracle: but see his wonderful goodness;
Now this sign of the prophet Jonas he further explains here; (v. 40) As Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, and then came out again safe and well, thus Christ shall be so long in the grave, and then shall rise again.
Now Christ represents the people of the Jews,
The body of that nation is here represented,
Mat 12:46-50
Many excellent, useful sayings came from the mouth of our Lord Jesus upon particular occasions; even his digressions were instructive, as well as his set discourses: as here,
Observe,