Rachel Evans
Matthew Chapter 12 is a significant passage in the Bible that has been the subject of much interpretation and commentary, especially within Catholic circles. This chapter includes several notable episodes from the life of Jesus, including his confrontation with the Pharisees over the Sabbath law, his declaration of being Lord of the Sabbath, and his emphasis on mercy and doing good. One of the key themes in this chapter is the rising opposition to Jesus, with the Pharisees plotting against him and accusing him of blasphemy. The chapter also explores the concept of Jesus' true family, highlighting that natural kinship with him is irrelevant, and only those who do the will of his heavenly Father belong to his true family. Additionally, Matthew 23, which is part of Chapter 12, contains Jesus' famous teaching, call no man father, which has been a subject of discussion and interpretation among Catholics due to their custom of addressing priests as father. Overall, Matthew Chapter 12 provides valuable insights into the teachings and interactions of Jesus, offering a deeper understanding of his ministry and the challenges he faced.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Jesus condemns the Pharisees for seeking a sign, despite countless signs already having been performed before their eyes | Matthew 12:24 |
| Jesus logically observes that it makes no sense for Satan to cast out Satan | Matthew 12:26 |
| Jesus declares himself Lord of the Sabbath | Matthew 12:8, 12:3-8 |
| Jesus emphasizes mercy and insists it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath | Matthew 12:9-14 |
| Jesus performs a miracle by healing a man with a withered hand | Matthew 12:10-14 |
| Jesus' attitude towards Sabbath observance | Matthew 12:1-2 |
| Jesus' true family are those who do the will of his heavenly Father | Matthew 12:46-50 |
| Jesus teaches that the priests are not guiltless by the law | Matthew 12:5 |
| Jesus came to fulfill the Law of the Sabbath | Matthew 12:3-5 |
| Jesus condemns the lack of mercy and unity between brothers | Matthew 12:7 |
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What You'll Learn
Jesus declares himself Lord of the Sabbath
In Matthew 12, Jesus declares himself the Lord of the Sabbath, proclaiming that he is the one with authority over the Sabbath day's rules and regulations. This statement is recorded in Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:28, and Luke 6:5, where Jesus refers to himself as "the Lord of the Sabbath" or "the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath". By making this proclamation, Jesus asserts his supremacy over the law, including the Mosaic Covenant, as he is the author of those laws as God incarnate.
Jesus' declaration serves as a response to the legalistic Pharisees, who had established their own intricate and oppressive system of Sabbath laws, consisting of 39 categories of forbidden activities. He highlights the contradiction in their actions by stating that the Sabbath was made for mankind's benefit, not the other way around. This is further emphasised in Mark 2:27, where Jesus says, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath".
Jesus' statement, "I am the Lord of the Sabbath," conveys a deeper meaning than merely setting rules. It signifies that the Sabbath is meant to serve him. This concept is consistent with other instances in the New Testament, such as Jesus being presented as the true Passover Feast and declaring himself as "the Light of the World" during the Feast of Tabernacles.
Jesus' declaration as the Lord of the Sabbath also exonerates his disciples from any perceived breach of Sabbath law according to the Pharisees' interpretation. He establishes a hierarchical ordering, asserting that his presence and proclamation of the kingdom supersede the temple laws and Sabbath demands. This is reflected in his statement, "One greater than the temple is here" (Matthew 12:6).
Furthermore, Jesus emphasises that doing good is always lawful, even on the Sabbath. He illustrates this by healing a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, demonstrating that it is lawful to do good and help those in need, regardless of the day. This act further challenges the Pharisees' interpretation of the Sabbath laws and underscores Jesus' authority as the Lord of the Sabbath.
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Jesus heals a man with a withered hand
The story goes that Jesus and his disciples arrive at a synagogue on the Sabbath. The Pharisees, a religious-political group, were there and had been waiting for Jesus. They wanted to trap Jesus into breaking the Law of Moses, specifically the command not to work on the Sabbath, so that they could discredit him. There was a man with a withered or shrivelled hand in the synagogue. Jesus asked the man to stand up and stretch out his hand. Jesus then healed the man, and his hand was restored.
The Pharisees were angry that Jesus had healed the man on the Sabbath. They believed that it was wrong to heal on the Sabbath, as it was considered work and therefore breaking the Law of Moses. However, Jesus argued that doing good, such as healing, was more important than ritualistic adherence to the Sabbath. He gave an illustration about a sheep in a pit to show that doing good on the Sabbath was okay and that doing what is right is more important. Jesus also quoted Hosea 6:6, saying that God desired compassion more than sacrifice or ritual, and that the Sabbath was made for the benefit of humans, not the other way around.
This story demonstrates the Pharisees' lack of concern for the sick man. They were more focused on getting rid of Jesus than on the man's welfare. It also shows that they were not at the synagogue to worship God. Jesus' healing of the man with the withered hand is a powerful message about why people with disabilities are in the church and how we should respond to them. It teaches us to stretch out our hand in welcome and love to everyone, following Jesus' teachings.
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Jesus' true family
In Matthew 12, Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees, who accuse his disciples of breaking the Sabbath by plucking and eating grain in a field. Jesus responds by questioning the Pharisees' man-made standard for "working" on the Sabbath, declaring himself the Lord of the Sabbath, and asserting that the law of the Sabbath is meant to be followed and understood in a way that does not prevent people from doing good. This is further emphasised when Jesus heals a man with a withered hand in a synagogue, arguing that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.
The Pharisees, however, continue to plot against Jesus, accusing him of casting out demons by the power of Satan. Jesus refutes this by logically observing that Satan would not work against himself. He also condemns their demand for signs and miracles, stating that countless signs have already been shown to them.
In the midst of this rising opposition, Matthew includes a passage about Jesus' true family (Matthew 12:46-50). While Jesus is speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers arrive and wish to speak with him. Jesus uses this moment to teach that natural kinship with him is not what defines his true family. Instead, he stretches out his hand towards his disciples and says, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother".
This passage highlights that those who follow and obey the will of God are considered Jesus' true family, rather than just those with a biological connection to him. It is a powerful statement that emphasises the importance of spiritual kinship over earthly relationships, and it aligns with Jesus' teaching about the importance of doing God's will and living according to His laws.
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Jesus casts out demons by the Spirit of God
Matthew 12 describes how Jesus and his disciples were poor, with Jesus not using his miraculous power to feed his followers. Instead, they had to do what poor people were forced to do to feed themselves. This is reflected in the law of Israel, which allowed people travelling through an area to glean enough grain for a small meal from fields in the area.
In this chapter, the Pharisees put the priests above the Sabbath. Jesus, however, came to fulfil the Law of the Sabbath, teaching that the Sabbath is for people, not for the Lord. He taught that if the Lord gives the rules for the Sabbath, humans must follow them without changing them. If people glorify the Lord Jesus, they do not need to keep the Sabbath because He is the Lord of the Sabbath.
Matthew 12 also describes how Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. The Pharisees asked him if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath, intending to accuse him. Jesus replied with a question: "What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." He then healed the man, after which the Pharisees plotted against him, discussing how they might destroy him.
The Pharisees refused to accept that Jesus could be the Messiah, despite his healings and miracles. They needed an explanation for his power, so they declared that his ability to cast out demons came from Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus responded to this accusation by saying that if he casts out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon them. He also pointed out the logical inconsistency of their claim, asking how Satan could cast out Satan, as a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.
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Jesus condemns the Pharisees
In Matthew 12, Jesus is accused by the Pharisees of allowing his disciples to break the Sabbath. The disciples were hungry and had begun to pluck heads of grain to eat. Jesus responded by saying:
> "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
Jesus is pointing out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who are more concerned with upholding the Sabbath laws than with showing mercy to those in need. He also highlights their lack of understanding of the law, as the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are innocent. Jesus is teaching that compassion and mercy are more important than strict adherence to ritual laws.
Jesus further condemns the Pharisees by calling them "a wicked and adulterous generation" and saying that they are like a brood of vipers (Matthew 12:34). He accuses them of being concerned only with outward appearances and not with inward purity (Matthew 12:25-29). The Pharisees are also criticised for their greed and materialism (Matthew 12:40).
In addition, Jesus performs a miracle by healing a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:13). This is another example of Jesus showing that the Pharisees' understanding of the law is incorrect. The Pharisees' response is to plot to kill Jesus (Matthew 12:14), further highlighting their rejection of Jesus and their lack of understanding.
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Frequently asked questions
In this passage, Jesus and his disciples are confronted by the Pharisees for plucking and eating heads of grain in a field on the Sabbath. The Pharisees accuse them of violating the fourth commandment, to which Jesus responds by questioning the Pharisees' manmade standard for "working" on the Sabbath.
This section describes Jesus healing a man with a withered hand in a synagogue on the Sabbath. The Pharisees ask if it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath, intending to accuse Jesus. Jesus emphasizes mercy and insists it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. He heals the man, but the Pharisees only deepen their conspiracy to destroy him.
This passage refers to seeing Christ perform a miracle and attributing that power to Satan. In a broader sense, it can also refer to persistently rejecting God and his miracles.
