34 O generation G1081 of vipers, G2191 how G4459 can ye, G1410 being G5607 evil, G4190 speak G2980 good things? G18 for G1063 out of G1537 the abundance G4051 of the heart G2588 the mouth G4750 speaketh. G2980
A good G18 man G444 out of G1537 the good G18 treasure G2344 of his G846 heart G2588 bringeth forth G4393 that which is good; G18 and G2532 an evil G4190 man G444 out of G1537 the evil G4190 treasure G2344 of his G846 heart G2588 bringeth forth G4393 that which is evil: G4190 for G1063 of G1537 the abundance G4051 of the heart G2588 his G846 mouth G4750 speaketh. G2980
But G1161 those things which G3588 proceed G1607 out of G1537 the mouth G4750 come forth G1831 from G1537 the heart; G2588 and they G2548 defile G2840 the man. G444
Even G2532 so G3779 the tongue G1100 is G2076 a little G3398 member, G3196 and G2532 boasteth great things. G3166 Behold, G2400 how great G2245 a matter G5208 a little G3641 fire G4442 kindleth! G381 And G2532 the tongue G1100 is a fire, G4442 a world G2889 of iniquity: G93 so G3779 is G2525 the tongue G1100 among G1722 our G2257 members, G3196 that it defileth G4695 the whole G3650 body, G4983 and G2532 setteth on fire G5394 the course G5164 of nature; G1078 and G2532 it is set on fire G5394 of G5259 hell. G1067 For G1063 every G3956 kind G5449 of beasts, G2342 and G5037 G2532 of birds, G4071 and G5037 of serpents, G2062 and G2532 of things in the sea, G1724 is tamed, G1150 and G2532 hath been tamed G1150 of mankind: G5449 G442 But G1161 the tongue G1100 can G1410 no G3762 man G444 tame; G1150 it is an unruly G183 evil, G2556 full G3324 of deadly G2287 poison. G2447
Let G4550 no G3361 G3956 corrupt G4550 communication G3056 proceed G1607 out of G1537 your G5216 mouth, G4750 but G235 that which G1536 is good G18 to G4314 the use G5532 of edifying, G3619 that G2443 it may minister G1325 grace G5485 unto the hearers. G191
For the vile person H5036 will speak H1696 villany, H5039 and his heart H3820 will work H6213 iniquity, H205 to practise H6213 hypocrisy, H2612 and to utter H1696 error H8442 against the LORD, H3068 to make empty H7324 the soul H5315 of the hungry, H7457 and he will cause the drink H4945 of the thirsty H6771 to fail. H2637
Ye G5210 are G2075 of G1537 your father G3962 the devil, G1228 and G2532 the lusts G1939 of your G5216 father G3962 ye will G2309 do. G4160 He G1565 was G2258 a murderer G443 from G575 the beginning, G746 and G2532 abode G2476 not G3756 in G1722 the truth, G225 because G3754 there is G2076 no G3756 truth G225 in G1722 him. G846 When G3752 he speaketh G2980 a lie, G5579 he speaketh G2980 of G1537 his own: G2398 for G3754 he is G2076 a liar, G5583 and G2532 the father G3962 of it. G846
But G1161 when he saw G1492 many G4183 of the Pharisees G5330 and G2532 Sadducees G4523 come G2064 to G1909 his G846 baptism, G908 he said G2036 unto them, G846 O generation G1081 of vipers, G2191 who G5101 hath warned G5263 you G5213 to flee G5343 from G575 the wrath G3709 to come? G3195
[[To the chief Musician H5329 upon Mahalath, H4257 Maschil, H4905 A Psalm of David.]] H1732 The fool H5036 hath said H559 in his heart, H3820 There is no God. H430 Corrupt H7843 are they, and have done abominable H8581 iniquity: H5766 there is none that doeth H6213 good. H2896
In G1722 this G5129 the children G5043 of God G2316 are G2076 manifest, G5318 and G2532 the children G5043 of the devil: G1228 whosoever G3956 doeth G4160 not G3361 righteousness G1343 is G2076 not G3756 of G1537 God, G2316 neither G2532 he that loveth G25 not G3361 his G846 brother. G80
As G2531 it is written, G1125 G3754 There is G2076 none G3756 righteous, G1342 no, not G3761 one: G1520 There is G2076 none G3756 that understandeth, G4920 there is G2076 none G3756 that seeketh after G1567 God. G2316 They are G1578 all G3956 gone out of the way, G1578 they are G889 together G260 become unprofitable; G889 there is G2076 none G3756 that doeth G4160 good, G5544 no, not G3756 one. G2076 G2193 G1520 Their G846 throat G2995 is an open G455 sepulchre; G5028 with their G846 tongues G1100 they have used deceit; G1387 the poison G2447 of asps G785 is under G5259 their G846 lips: G5491 Whose G3739 mouth G4750 is full G1073 of cursing G685 and G2532 bitterness: G4088
None calleth H7121 for justice, H6664 nor any pleadeth H8199 for truth: H530 they trust H982 in vanity, H8414 and speak H1696 lies; H7723 they conceive H2029 mischief, H5999 and bring forth H3205 iniquity. H205
Which imagine H2803 mischiefs H7451 in their heart; H3820 continually H3117 are they gathered together H1481 for war. H4421 They have sharpened H8150 their tongues H3956 like a serpent; H5175 adders' H5919 poison H2534 is under their lips. H8193 Selah. H5542
Deliver H5337 my soul, H5315 O LORD, H3068 from lying H8267 lips, H8193 and from a deceitful H7423 tongue. H3956 What shall be given H5414 unto thee? or what shall be done H3254 unto thee, thou false H7423 tongue? H3956 Sharp H8150 arrows H2671 of the mighty, H1368 with coals H1513 of juniper. H7574
They encourage H2388 themselves in an evil H7451 matter: H1697 they commune H5608 of laying H2934 snares H4170 privily; H2934 they say, H559 Who shall see H7200 them?
Who whet H8150 their tongue H3956 like a sword, H2719 and bend H1869 their bows to shoot their arrows, H2671 even bitter H4751 words: H1697
Stand H5975 in the gate H8179 of the LORD'S H3068 house, H1004 and proclaim H7121 there this word, H1697 and say, H559 Hear H8085 the word H1697 of the LORD, H3068 all ye of Judah, H3063 that enter in H935 at these gates H8179 to worship H7812 the LORD. H3068 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel, H3478 Amend H3190 your ways H1870 and your doings, H4611 and I will cause you to dwell H7931 in this place. H4725 Trust H982 ye not in lying H8267 words, H1697 saying, H559 The temple H1964 of the LORD, H3068 The temple H1964 of the LORD, H3068 The temple H1964 of the LORD, H3068 are these. For if ye throughly H3190 amend H3190 your ways H1870 and your doings; H4611 if ye throughly H6213 execute H6213 judgment H4941 between a man H376 and his neighbour; H7453
Thy tongue H3956 deviseth H2803 mischiefs; H1942 like a sharp H3913 razor, H8593 working H6213 deceitfully. H7423 Thou lovest H157 evil H7451 more than good; H2896 and lying H8267 rather than to speak H1696 righteousness. H6664 Selah. H5542 Thou lovest H157 all devouring H1105 words, H1697 O thou deceitful H4820 tongue. H3956 God H410 shall likewise destroy H5422 thee for ever, H5331 he shall take thee away, H2846 and pluck thee out H5255 of thy dwelling place, H168 and root thee out H8327 of the land H776 of the living. H2416 Selah. H5542
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,