Matthew 12

Jesus

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. Matthew 12:1–5

Jesus defends His hungry disciples on the sabbath by pointing to David, Israel's anointed king, who ate the holy bread.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Mark 2:23-26 — grain field on the sabbath
• alludes to 1 Samuel 21:6 — David eats the shewbread

One greater than the temple

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. Matthew 12:6

Jesus speaks of Himself: the temple was where God dwelt among Israel, and now the God of the temple stands among them in the flesh.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

Jehovah's own word

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. Matthew 12:7

Jesus quotes the LORD's words through Hosea. Because Jehovah is the premortal Christ, He is quoting what He Himself taught Israel long before.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quotes Hosea 6:6 — 'I desired mercy, and not sacrifice'

Son of Man, Lord of the Sabbath

Son of Man — Son of Man of Holiness

For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. Matthew 12:8

Jesus claims authority over the sabbath. As Jehovah He gave the sabbath, so He is its Lord.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Mark 2:28 — Lord also of the sabbath
• a parallel account in Luke 6:5 — Lord also of the sabbath

Jesus heals on the sabbath

And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: Matthew 12:9–15

Jesus heals a withered hand on the sabbath. Rather than rejoice, His enemies begin plotting His death, the first shadow of the cross in this Gospel's plots.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Mark 3:1-6 — the withered hand

My Servant, My Beloved

And charged them that they should not make him known: Matthew 12:16–21

Matthew says Jesus fulfills Isaiah's Servant Song, in which God the Father calls His chosen Servant 'my beloved' — the same words the Father spoke at Jesus's baptism. The Gentiles will trust in His name.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• quotes Isaiah 42:1-4 — the Servant Song
• the same title in Matthew 3:17 — 'my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased'
• the same title in Matthew 17:5 — the Father's voice at the Transfiguration

Son of David

Son of David — the promised royal heir of David, a title of the Messiah

Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. Matthew 12:22–23

After Jesus heals a blind and dumb man, the people wonder whether He is the promised Messiah descended from King David.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to 2 Samuel 7:12-13 — God's promise of David's everlasting seed and throne
• the same title in Matthew 1:1 — Jesus Christ, the son of David

Jesus answering the Beelzebub charge

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. Matthew 12:24–28

Accused of working by Satan's power, Jesus answers that He casts out devils by God's Spirit, proof that God's kingdom has arrived in Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Luke 11:20 — 'with the finger of God'

The Stronger One who binds Satan

Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. Matthew 12:29

In this short parable Satan is the strong man and Jesus is the stronger one who binds him and frees his captives, a picture of Christ the Redeemer.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Isaiah 49:24-25 — the captives of the mighty shall be taken away
• a parallel account in Luke 11:21-22 — a stronger than he shall come upon him

Son of Man

Son of Man — Son of Man of Holiness

He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Matthew 12:30–32

Jesus says there is no neutral ground with Him, and He distinguishes Himself, the Son of Man, from the Holy Ghost.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Luke 12:10 — word against the Son of man forgiven

Christ teaching of the judgment

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. Matthew 12:33–37

Jesus teaches that a good tree bears good fruit and that our words will be accounted for at the judgment.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

Sign of Jonas

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. Matthew 12:38–41

Jesus Himself declares Jonah a type: as Jonah was swallowed and came out on the third day, the Son of Man would be buried and rise. He is greater than Jonah.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• interprets Jonah 1:17 — Jonah three days and nights in the fish
• a parallel account in Luke 11:29-30 — the sign of Jonas
• quoted by Matthew 16:4 — Jesus repeats the sign of Jonas
• fulfilled by Matthew 28:6 — He is risen, as he said

Greater than Solomon

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. Matthew 12:42

Solomon, David's son, the wise king who built the temple, foreshadows Jesus, the greater Son of David whose wisdom the Queen of Sheba would have traveled even farther to hear.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to 1 Kings 10:1-9 — the queen of Sheba visits Solomon
• a parallel account in Luke 11:31 — a greater than Solomon

Jesus warning His generation

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Matthew 12:43–45

Jesus warns that a life emptied of evil but not filled with good is left open to worse.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Luke 11:24-26 — the returning unclean spirit

Son of the Father in heaven

While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Matthew 12:46–50

Jesus speaks of 'my Father which is in heaven' and teaches that those who do His Father's will become His family.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Mark 3:31-35 — His mother and brethren