46 While G2089 he G846 yet G1161 talked G2980 to the people, G3793 behold, G2400 his mother G3384 and G2532 his G846 brethren G80 stood G2476 without, G1854 desiring G2212 to speak G2980 with him. G846
These G3778 all G3956 continued G2258 G4342 with one accord G3661 in prayer G4335 and G2532 supplication, G1162 with G4862 the women, G1135 and G2532 Mary G3137 the mother G3384 of Jesus, G2424 and G2532 with G4862 his G846 brethren. G80
Is G2076 not G3756 this G3778 the carpenter's G5045 son? G5207 is G3004 not G3780 his G846 mother G3384 called G3004 Mary? G3137 and G2532 his G846 brethren, G80 James, G2385 and G2532 Joses, G2500 and G2532 Simon, G4613 and G2532 Judas? G2455
His G846 brethren G80 therefore G3767 said G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 Depart G3327 hence, G1782 and G2532 go G5217 into G1519 Judaea, G2449 that G2443 thy G4675 disciples G3101 also G2532 may see G2334 the works G2041 that G3739 thou G4675 doest. G4160
Is G2076 not G3756 this G3778 the carpenter, G5045 the son G5207 of Mary, G3137 G1161 the brother G80 of James, G2385 and G2532 Joses, G2500 and G2532 of Juda, G2455 and G2532 Simon? G4613 and G2532 are G1526 not G3756 his G846 sisters G79 here G5602 with G4314 us? G2248 And G2532 they were offended G4624 at G1722 him. G846
Then G1161 came G3854 to G4314 him G846 his mother G3384 and G2532 his G846 brethren, G80 and G2532 could G1410 not G3756 come G4940 at him G846 for G1223 the press. G3793 And G2532 it was told G518 him G846 by certain which said, G3004 Thy G4675 mother G3384 and G2532 thy G4675 brethren G80 stand G2476 without, G1854 desiring G2309 to see G1492 thee. G4571 And G1161 he answered G611 and said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 My G3450 mother G3384 and G2532 my G3450 brethren G80 are G1526 these G3778 which G3588 hear G191 the word G3056 of God, G2316 and G2532 do G4160 it. G846
There came G2064 then G3767 his G846 brethren G80 and G2532 his mother, G3384 and, G2532 standing G2476 without, G1854 sent G649 unto G4314 him, G846 calling G5455 him. G846 And G2532 the multitude G3793 sat G2521 about G4012 him, G846 and G1161 they said G2036 unto him, G846 Behold, G2400 thy G4675 mother G3384 and G2532 thy G4675 brethren G80 without G1854 seek for G2212 thee. G4571 And G2532 he answered G611 them, G846 saying, G3004 Who G5101 is G2076 my G3450 mother, G3384 or G2228 my G3450 brethren? G80 And G2532 he looked G4017 round about G2945 on them which G3588 sat G2521 about G4012 him, G846 and said, G3004 Behold G2396 my G3450 mother G3384 and G2532 my G3450 brethren! G80 For G1063 whosoever G3739 G302 shall do G4160 the will G2307 of God, G2316 the same G3778 is G2076 my G3450 brother, G80 and G2532 my G3450 sister, G79 and G2532 mother. G3384
Now G1161 the birth G1083 of Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 was G2258 on this wise: G3779 When as G1063 his G846 mother G3384 Mary G3137 was espoused G3423 to Joseph, G2501 before G4250 G2228 they G846 came together, G4905 she was found G2147 with child G1722 G1064 G2192 of G1537 the Holy G40 Ghost. G4151
And G1161 he said, G2036 Unto you G5213 it is given G1325 to know G1097 the mysteries G3466 of the kingdom G932 of God: G2316 but G1161 to others G3062 in G1722 parables; G3850 that G2443 seeing G991 they might G991 not G3361 see, G991 and G2532 hearing G191 they might G4920 not G3361 understand. G4920
And G2532 he went down G2597 with G3326 them, G846 and G2532 came G2064 to G1519 Nazareth, G3478 and G2532 was G2258 subject G5293 unto them: G846 but G2532 his G846 mother G3384 kept G1301 all G3956 these G5023 sayings G4487 in G1722 her G846 heart. G2588
And G2532 when they saw G1492 him, G846 they were amazed: G1605 and G2532 his G846 mother G3384 said G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 Son, G5043 why G5101 hast thou G4160 thus G3779 dealt G4160 with us? G2254 behold, G2400 thy G4675 father G3962 and I G2504 have sought G2212 thee G4571 sorrowing. G3600
And G2532 Joseph G2501 and G2532 his G846 mother G3384 marvelled G2258 G2296 at G1909 those things which were spoken G2980 of G4012 him. G846
And G2532 whence G4159 is this G5124 to me, G3427 that G2443 the mother G3384 of my G3450 Lord G2962 should come G2064 to G4314 me? G3165
Saying, G3004 Arise, G1453 and take G3880 the young child G3813 and G2532 his G846 mother, G3384 and G2532 go G4198 into G1519 the land G1093 of Israel: G2474 for G1063 they are dead G2348 which G3588 sought G2212 the young child's G3813 life. G5590
And G1161 when they G846 were departed, G402 behold, G2400 the angel G32 of the Lord G2962 appeareth G5316 to Joseph G2501 in G2596 a dream, G3677 saying, G3004 Arise, G1453 and take G3880 the young child G3813 and G2532 his G846 mother, G3384 and G2532 flee G5343 into G1519 Egypt, G125 and G2532 be thou G2468 there G1563 until G2193 I G302 bring G2036 thee G4671 word: G2036 for G1063 Herod G2264 will G3195 seek G2212 the young child G3813 to destroy G622 him. G846 When G1161 he arose, G1453 he took G3880 the young child G3813 and G2532 his G846 mother G3384 by night, G3571 and G2532 departed G402 into G1519 Egypt: G125
And G2532 when they were come G2064 into G1519 the house, G3614 they saw G2147 G1492 the young child G3813 with G3326 Mary G3137 his G846 mother, G3384 and G2532 fell down, G4098 and worshipped G4352 him: G846 and G2532 when they had opened G455 their G846 treasures, G2344 they presented G4374 unto him G846 gifts; G1435 gold, G5557 and G2532 frankincense, G3030 and G2532 myrrh. G4666
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,