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Text: Matthew 12:1-32

Matthew 12:1–32 ESV

1 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. 15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: 18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; 20 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; 21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” 22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Lord of the Sabbath (12:1-8)

Matthew 12:1–8 ESV

1 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.”

Jesus’ Sabbath Day “Work”

Exodus 20:7–11 ESV

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Based upon your reading of Ex. 20:7-11, did Jesus break the Sabbath Law according to Moses? No; it is quite a stretch to argue that picking enough grain for one meal or a snack constitutes “working.” Jesus and his disciples merely broke the Pharisaical traditions, not the actual Mosaic Law.

Read Leviticus 19:9-18. What is the main point of this passage? What do all these laws have in common? All of these laws are summed up in Leviticus 19:18 “...you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Look closely at Lev. 19:9-10. What was the intended purpose of this law and what does it reveal to us about God? To provide food for the poor and needy and those who were traveling. It shows us that God cares for the poor and needy.

Leviticus 19:9–18 ESV

9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. 10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God. 11 “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. 12 You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. 13 “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. 14 You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord. 15 “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord. 17 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

What is ironic about the Pharisee’s accusations? By attempting to deny hungry travelers food, they had actually twisted the true intention of the Law and were not showing love to their neighbor. They were the real lawbreakers.

Discussion: What are some ways that laws or rules are twisted around to hurt the very people they were designed to help? How can we avoid doing that?

Examples:

David’s Holy Bread

Read I Samuel 21:1-6

1 Samuel 21:1–6 ESV

1 Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David, trembling, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?” 2 And David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’ I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.” 4 And the priest answered David, “I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women.” 5 And David answered the priest, “Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?” 6 So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.

In order to understand the background and significance of David’s eating the Bread of the Presence, we need to look to Leviticus:

Leviticus 24:5–9 ESV

5 “You shall take fine flour and bake twelve loaves from it; two tenths of an ephah shall be in each loaf. 6 And you shall set them in two piles, six in a pile, on the table of pure gold before the Lord. 7 And you shall put pure frankincense on each pile, that it may go with the bread as a memorial portion as a food offering to the Lord. 8 Every Sabbath day Aaron shall arrange it before the Lord regularly; it is from the people of Israel as a covenant forever. 9 And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place, since it is for him a most holy portion out of the Lord’s food offerings, a perpetual due.”

According to Leviticus, who was allowed to eat the Bread of the Presence and why? Only the priests, descendants of Aaron. This was part of their “salary” and means of sustenance ordained by God.

What can you gather from Leviticus 24:8 was the symbolic purpose of this holy bread? Why do you think it was restricted? It represented the presence of God with the 12 tribes of Israel, and the priests eating of the bread represented their intercession between God and the people.

1 Samuel 21:6 ESV

6 So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.

Why did the priest give David and his men the bread anyways? He could tell that David and his men were famished from their journey and wanted to help. Perhaps he reckoned that the bread was his to eat, and in this case, someone else needed it more.

According to Jesus, was David guilty of breaking the Law in God’s eyes? Why or why not? No; Jesus calls him “guiltless” in v. 7. God never intended for the Law to be used as a legalistic weapon against those who were genuinely trying to serve him. It was supposed to help people know God and have a relationship with him. The Bread of the Presence was a symbol of God’s presence with his people and his means of provision for those who served him. David was serving the Lord and had a legitimate physical need. Mercy and love are more important and more basic to the Law than strict ritual observance.

The Priests’ Profane the Sabbath

What does “profane” mean in this context? To treat something that is holy as if it were common. The priests did this, by necessity, because their job demanded a great deal of physical labor and work on a day that was set aside to be free of work.

Read Hosea 6:6. Given all the space in the OT devoted to the particulars of how sacrifices are were supposed to be conducted, what does this tell us about God’s intention? Knowing God, loving God, and loving people are of a higher priority in God’s eyes than ritualistic obedience.

Hosea 6:6 ESV

6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

What is the principle that Jesus is trying to communicate in Matthew 12:7? The point of the whole Law was to help Israel to know how to demonstrate love for God and love for people. The Pharisees were ignoring people and God while insisting on meticulous ritual observances that did not proceed from their heart.

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 ESV

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Obedience that does not flow from a heart that loves God is legalism. True obedience should proceed from a heart that loves God and loves people.

Discussion: Have you ever been in a situation where helping someone in need would require you to break the “letter of the law”? How do we exercise biblical wisdom when we’re faced with difficult decisions like this? When mercy trump strict obedience, and when does it cross the line into disobedience?

Doing good on the Sabbath (12:9-14)

Matthew 12:9–14 ESV

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.

How did Jesus demonstrate the hypocrisy of the Pharisees? He gave the example of a sheep in need of rescue, showing that even the Pharisees would rescue their sheep on the Sabbath. Their refusal to allow for this man’s healing on the Sabbath demonstrated their lack of love and compassion.

What is the irony of the Pharisees’ response in v. 14? They refused to allow Jesus to heal on the Sabbath, but they felt perfectly justified in plotting to kill on the Sabbath.

Hope for the Gentiles (12:15-21)

Matthew 12:15–21 ESV

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: 18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; 20 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; 21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

We have seen in other passages that Jesus often ordered those he healed not to reveal his identity as the Messiah in order to avoid spreading confusion about the purpose of his ministry. But, verse 17 suggests that another purpose was accomplished in his undercover ministry. What additional purpose was accomplished by not spreading the news of the Messiah’s arrival too soon? When the Jews rejected their Messiah, it paved the way for the Good News to spread amongst Gentiles.

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (12:22-32)

Matthew 12:22–32 ESV

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

What explanation did the Pharisees offer for Jesus’ exorcism abilities? That he used Satanic powers.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 12

This view of Jesus as a sorcerer was common among Jews even into the early centuries of Christianity.

Why do you think the Pharisees were so vehemently set against Jesus, despite all the miracles they witnessed? Because he threatened their power and position; they were jealous of the attention he received and offended by his accusations against them.

What alternate explanation did Jesus offer for correctly understanding his ministry (v. 28)? That he performed his miracles by the Spirit of God, indicating the arrival of the King and the Kingdom of God.

What does it mean to blaspheme the Holy Spirit and how can we know that we have not committed this sin? In context, blasphemy of the Spirit is persistent, hard-hearted refusal to believe in the works of the Spirit of God in Christ. Those who are concerned about committing such a sin have almost certainly not done so, as the nature of the sin is hard-heartedness.

Discussion: In what practical ways can we show mercy and compassion in our interactions with others, following Jesus' example in this passage?