12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
Section Overview
In Matthew 12, the tension between Jesus and Israel’s leaders deepens, as a pair of Sabbath controversies proves. The first controversy occurs spontaneously, but the second is no accident. The opening phrase, “at that time,” connects the controversies to chapter 11. There the people spurned both John (“He has a demon”; 11:18) and Jesus (“a glutton and a drunkard”; 11:19), and the Galilean cities refused to repent (11:20–24). Nevertheless, Jesus invited “all” to come to him and take his easy yoke (11:25–30). Chapter 12 implicitly compares the yokes of Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus’ yoke is easy because he lets his disciples feed themselves on the Sabbath, even if it involves a little work, because his rules are merciful (vv. 1–8), Next, he graciously heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. The Pharisees think this was sinful, but for Jesus this was an easy decision, since “it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath” (vv. 9–14).
Section Outline
V.C. Sabbath Conflicts (12:1–14)
1. Jesus Defends the Activity of His Band on the Sabbath (12:1–8)
2. Jesus Heals a Man on the Sabbath, Prompting Conspiracy (12:9–14)
Matthew 12:1–14 is a “speech story”: a didactic passage set in a narrative framework. As Jesus’ disciples walk through a field, they pluck and eat heads of grain. The Pharisees accuse them of violating the Sabbath (vv. 1–2). Jesus replies that David had acted similarly when he ate bread that had been consecrated to priests (vv. 3–4). Further, the priests, in their temple labors, “profane” the Sabbath, and “something greater than the temple is here” (vv. 5–6). Both David and the priests were “guiltless,” which the Pharisees would know if they read Scripture properly, guided by the principle “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice” (v. 7). Further, as Son of Man, Jesus is “lord of the Sabbath” (v. 8). Later, Jesus meets a man with a withered hand in “their synagogue.” Will Jesus again violate the Sabbath (as they see it) by healing him (vv. 9–10)? Jesus replies that “it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath” and heals the man (vv. 11–13), stirring the Pharisees to even greater antipathy (v. 14).
Response
Matthew 12:1–14 elicits several faithful responses. First, one should read the Gospels according to Scripture’s own principles, such as “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” Classically, proper reading has four overlapping elements: reading, meditating, praying, and living the text. Proper reading is slow and prayerful, and inspires action. In these verses, Jesus practices the principle of Scripture interpreting Scripture. David’s emergency action and the weekly toil of temple priests guide his interpretation of the fourth commandment. Disciples should read the same way.
More briefly, second, Jesus desires mercy, and so should all of God’s followers. Third, like Jesus, his followers should do good on the Sabbath. Fourth, Jesus remarks that people are the most valuable of God’s creations; therefore, disciples treasure people over animals and things in every way. Fifth, the preposterous rage of the Pharisees demands self-examination. When someone overreacts, it is good to ask why. Is there envy or rivalry? Is some man-made deity at risk? Finally, these verses again present the excellence of Christ: his mastery of Scripture, his mercy, his resolve to do good, his lordship, and the power of his word.