Gospel of Matthew

Compiled by WD Kemner January 2024

CHAPTER 12 - Ministry

HARVESTING ON THE SABBATH

Matthew Chapter 12 verses 1-2

Parallel Passages: Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5

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. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

The Pharisees once again trying to find fault in Jesus. Evil will always attempt to find fault in the righteous. Jesus and disciples walking through the corn on the Sabbath. Pick the corn and eat it. Pharisees we know are “watching” for any breaking of the “laws” and this sets them off to question Jesus on this breaking of the law for working on Sabbath.

Matthew Chapter 12 verses 3-5

Parallel Passages: Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5

But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

Jesus has a response that is almost sarcasm. He reminds them how the “most revered” King David actually ate the bread in the temple thus breaking the law.

Matthew Chapter 12 verses 6-8

Parallel Passages: Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day

He declares that He is greater than the temple. Pharisee of course do not understand. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath.

HEALING ON THE SABBATH

Matthew Chapter 12 verses 9-13

Parallel Passages: Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11

And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep?

Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

Healing of the man with the withered hand. As in the verses earlier the Pharisees were trying to find something to accuse Jesus. They asked Him if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath.

Jesus not only healed the man BUT did it in the synagogue!  Jesus asks them what they would do if they had lost a sheep that fell in a pit on the Sabbath.

Matthew Chapter 12 verses 14-21

Parallel Passages: Mark 3:7-12

Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;  And charged them that they should not make him known:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

What was Jesus doing to the Pharisee to cause them to want to harm him? Stealing their business by healing people. This is seen repeatedly where Jesus tells them not to tell anyone.  Matthew quotes Isaiah 42:1-4 regarding Jesus.

Matthew Chapter 12 verses 22-30

Parallel Passages: Mark 3:19-30; Luke 11:14-26

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. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 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. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Blind and Dumb due to demonic power. Casting out of devils, Jesus is once again accused of using demons to cast out devils! The devil in this man caused the man to be both blind and dumb. What was the manifestation of a man in this condition?

Satan would be divided against himself if he was to cast out demons. If you are not with Jesus you are against Him.  Seems like such an obvious statement but they still did not understand it.

Matthew Chapter 12 verses 31-32

Parallel Passages: Mark 3:19-30

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Speaking against Jesus can be forgiven but not when speaking against the Holy Ghost. Did anyone listening have any knowledge of what the “Holy Ghost” was? The “outpouring” that would happen at Pentecost was still some time away.

Matthew Chapter 12 verses 33-37

Parallel Passages: Mark 3:19-30

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. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

A tree is known by its fruit.  Whether it is bad or good but it cannot be both. Words we speak are what we will be known by.  We will give account for everything we say. The Mouth Speaks forth Evil.

Jesus’ foretelling of His Death

This is a straight forward prophecy of what would happen to Jesus and he even told them it was coming in 3 days!

Matthew Chapter 12 verses 38-40

Parallel Passages: Luke 11:29-32

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Pharisees begging for a “sign”. They want a performance to see more “parlor tricks”. What an understanding they had of things. How much clearer can Jesus be concerning His death?  We have the benefit of hind-sight, being able to look back at what was said. No one appears to have questioned or even attempted to understand His multiple statements concerning His death. He says He will be 3 days and 3 nights in the “heart of the earth”.

The traditional celebration of Easter has celebration of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. If he rose on Sunday, in order to fulfill this, he was buried “before” Thursday evening. Not Friday. Just like Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights so would he be.

Matthew Chapter 12 verses 41-42

The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

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.

Greater Than Solomon.  The Ninevites had Jonah come right into their homes to give them the message from God. The Queen of Sheeba came across the globe just to hear the wisdom of Solomon.  Now, that someone greater than Solomon is here, who is listening?

Matthew Chapter 12 verses 43-45

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Void left by the removal of evil spirits.  He turns to addressing the subject of evil spirits.  When the evil spirit is removed, it must be replaced with something that will keep the darkness away.  If nothing fills that void, it will get filled with evil once again. The power and force which evil uses in its attacks will get worse for each succeeding generation.

Matthew Chapter 12 verses 46-50

Parallel Passages: Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21

While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

He was not dismissing His earthly mother, but given the opportunity He tells us all that we are part of His family.