32 And G2532 whosoever G3739 G302 speaketh G2036 a word G3056 against G2596 the Son G5207 of man, G444 it shall be forgiven G863 him: G846 but G3739 whosoever G1161 G302 speaketh G2036 against G2596 the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 it shall G863 not G3756 be forgiven G863 him, G846 neither G3777 in G1722 this G5129 world, G165 neither G3777 in G1722 the world to come. G3195
Far above G5231 all G3956 principality, G746 and G2532 power, G1849 and G2532 might, G1411 and G2532 dominion, G2963 and G2532 every G3956 name G3686 that is named, G3687 not G3756 only G3440 in G1722 this G5129 world, G165 but G235 also G2532 in G1722 that which is to come: G3195
But G1161 he G3739 that G302 shall blaspheme G987 against G1519 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 hath G2192 never G3756 G1519 G165 forgiveness, G859 but G235 is G2076 in danger G1777 of eternal G166 damnation: G2920
The Son G5207 of man G444 came G2064 eating G2068 and G2532 drinking, G4095 and G2532 they say, G3004 Behold G2400 a man G444 gluttonous, G5314 and G2532 a winebibber, G3630 a friend G5384 of publicans G5057 and G2532 sinners. G268 But G2532 wisdom G4678 is justified G1344 of G575 her G846 children. G5043
For G1063 if we G2257 sin G264 wilfully G1596 after G3326 that we have received G2983 the knowledge G1922 of the truth, G225 there remaineth G620 no more G3765 sacrifice G2378 for G4012 sins, G266 But G1161 a certain G5100 fearful G5398 looking for G1561 of judgment G2920 and G2532 fiery G4442 indignation, G2205 which shall G3195 devour G2068 the adversaries. G5227 He G5100 that despised G114 Moses' G3475 law G3551 died G599 without G5565 mercy G3628 under G1909 two G1417 or G2228 three G5140 witnesses: G3144 Of how much G4214 sorer G5501 punishment, G5098 suppose ye, G1380 shall he be thought worthy, G515 who G3588 hath trodden under foot G2662 the Son G5207 of God, G2316 and G2532 hath counted G2233 the blood G129 of the covenant, G1242 wherewith G3739 G1722 he was sanctified, G37 an unholy thing, G2839 and G2532 hath done despite G1796 unto the Spirit G4151 of grace? G5485
For G1063 it is impossible G102 for those who were once G530 enlightened, G5461 and G5037 have tasted G1089 of the heavenly G2032 gift, G1431 and G2532 were made G1096 partakers G3353 of the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 And G2532 have tasted G1089 the good G2570 word G4487 of God, G2316 and G5037 the powers G1411 of the world G165 to come, G3195 If G2532 they shall fall away, G3895 to renew them G340 again G3825 unto G1519 repentance; G3341 seeing they crucify G388 to themselves G1438 the Son G5207 of God G2316 afresh, G388 and G2532 put him to an open shame. G3856
Who G3588 was G5607 before G4386 a blasphemer, G989 and G2532 a persecutor, G1376 and G2532 injurious: G5197 but G235 I obtained mercy, G1653 because G3754 I did G4160 it ignorantly G50 in G1722 unbelief. G570
And G2532 there was G2258 much G4183 murmuring G1112 among G1722 the people G3793 concerning G4012 him: G846 for some G3303 said, G3004 G3754 He is G2076 a good man: G18 others G1161 G243 said, G3004 Nay; G3756 but G235 he deceiveth G4105 the people. G3793
But G1161 ye G5210 denied G720 the Holy One G40 and G2532 the Just, G1342 and G2532 desired G154 a murderer G5406 G435 to be granted G5483 unto you; G5213 And G1161 killed G615 the Prince G747 of life, G2222 whom G3739 God G2316 hath raised G1453 from G1537 the dead; G3498 whereof G3739 we G2249 are G2070 witnesses. G3144
This is a faithful G4103 saying, G3056 and G2532 worthy G514 of all G3956 acceptation, G594 that G3754 Christ G5547 Jesus G2424 came G2064 into G1519 the world G2889 to save G4982 sinners; G268 of whom G3739 I G1473 am G1510 chief. G4413
I G1473 verily G3303 G3767 thought G1380 with myself, G1683 that I ought G1163 to do G4238 many things G4183 contrary G1727 to G4314 the name G3686 of Jesus G2424 of Nazareth. G3480 Which thing G3739 I G4160 also G2532 did G4160 in G1722 Jerusalem: G2414 and G2532 many G4183 of the saints G40 did G2623 I G1473 shut up G2623 in prison, G5438 having received G2983 authority G1849 from G3844 the chief priests; G749 and G5037 when they G846 were put to death, G337 I gave G2702 my voice G5586 against them. And G2532 I punished G5097 them G846 oft G4178 in G2596 every G3956 synagogue, G4864 and compelled G315 them to blaspheme; G987 and G5037 being G1693 exceedingly G4057 mad against G1693 them, G846 I persecuted G1377 them even G2532 unto G1519 G2193 strange G1854 cities. G4172
They answered G611 and G2532 said G2036 unto him, G846 Art G3361 G1488 thou G4771 also G2532 of G1537 Galilee? G1056 Search, G2045 and G2532 look: G2396 for G3754 out of G1537 Galilee G1056 ariseth G1453 no G3756 prophet. G4396
(But G1161 this G5124 spake he G2036 of G4012 the Spirit, G4151 which G3739 they that believe G4100 on G1519 him G846 should G3195 receive: G2983 for G1063 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 was G2258 not yet G3768 given; because G3754 that Jesus G2424 was G1392 not yet G3764 glorified.) G1392
And G2532 Jesus G2424 answering G611 said G2036 unto them, G846 The children G5207 of this G5127 world G165 marry, G1060 and G2532 are given in marriage: G1548 But G1161 they which shall be accounted worthy G2661 to obtain G5177 that G1565 world, G165 and G2532 the resurrection G386 from G1537 the dead, G3498 neither G3777 marry, G1060 nor G3777 are given in marriage: G1548
And G2532 in G1722 hell G86 he lift up G1869 his G846 eyes, G3788 being G5225 in G1722 torments, G931 and seeth G3708 Abraham G11 afar G3113 off, G575 and G2532 Lazarus G2976 in G1722 his G846 bosom. G2859 And G2532 G846 he cried G5455 and said, G2036 Father G3962 Abraham, G11 have mercy G1653 on me, G3165 and G2532 send G3992 Lazarus, G2976 that G2443 he may dip G911 the tip G206 of his G846 finger G1147 in water, G5204 and G2532 cool G2711 my G3450 tongue; G1100 for G3754 I am tormented G3600 in G1722 this G5026 flame. G5395 But G1161 Abraham G11 said, G2036 Son, G5043 remember G3415 that G3754 thou G4771 in G1722 thy G4675 lifetime G2222 receivedst G618 thy G4675 good things, G18 and G2532 likewise G3668 Lazarus G2976 evil things: G2556 but G1161 now G3568 G3592 he is comforted, G3870 and G1161 thou G4771 art tormented. G3600 And G2532 beside G1909 all G3956 this, G5125 between G3342 us G2257 and G2532 you G5216 there is G4741 a great G3173 gulf G5490 fixed: G4741 so that G3704 they which would G2309 pass G1224 from hence G1782 to G4314 you G5209 cannot; G3361 G1410 neither G3366 can they pass G1276 to G4314 us, G2248 that would come from thence. G1564
The Son G5207 of man G444 is come G2064 eating G2068 and G2532 drinking; G4095 and G2532 ye say, G3004 Behold G2400 a gluttonous G5314 man, G444 and G2532 a winebibber, G3630 a friend G5384 of publicans G5057 and G2532 sinners! G268
But G3362 he shall receive G2983 an hundredfold G1542 now G3568 in G1722 this G5129 time, G2540 houses, G3614 and G2532 brethren, G80 and G2532 sisters, G79 and G2532 mothers, G3384 and G2532 children, G5043 and G2532 lands, G68 with G3326 persecutions; G1375 and G2532 in G1722 the world G165 to come G2064 eternal G166 life. G2222
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,