A Free Online Commentary of the Bible.
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Chapter 12
Lord of the Sabbath 1 - 8.
12.1. At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on a Sabbath. His1 disciples were hungry, and they began to pick heads of wheat and eat them.
The disciples of Jesus were hungry so as they were going through a grain field they naturally began the pick the heads of grain and eat them. The Law of God gave them the right to do this (Deuteronomy 23:25).
12.2. But when the Pharisees1 saw this they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is against the law to do on the Sabbath."
The Pharisees who were ever waiting for any opportunity to catch Jesus out even through His disciples behaviour were quick to point out to Him that they were breaking the Law (Exodus 20:10).
12.3 - 4. He said to them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry – how he entered the house of God and they ate the sacred bread, which was against the law for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests?
Jesus is never caught off guard and He had a ready answer for them through an action of King David. When he and his companions were hungry because there was nothing else to eat the priest gave them the holy bread that he had taken from the place of worship after putting out fresh bread (1 Samuel 21:6). According to the Law only the Levites were allowed to eat this bread (Leviticus 24:7-9).
12.5. Or have you not read in the law that the priests in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are not guilty?
In order to carry out their God given tasks on the Sabbath the priests were allowed by the Law to work (Numbers 28:8-9).
12.6. I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.
It was God who had given the ordinances and Laws concerning the worship in the temple and keeping the Sabbath day holy. Jesus tells the Pharisees that there was someone greater and more important than the temple amongst them (2 Chronicles 6:18). In fact God manifest in the flesh was standing there before them (John 1:14 and 1 Timothy 3:16).
12.7. If you had known what this means: 'I want mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.
The Pharisees had got it all wrong they were so taken up with the rituals of worship that they had forgotten the nature and character of God. Instead of offering sacrifices to Him God wanted them to have mercy and compassion. If they had this then they would not be condemning those who were innocent (Hosea 6:6).
12.8. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."
Jesus Christ who is God is therefore Lord of the Sabbath (Philippians 2:6 and Titus 2:13).
Doing Good on the Sabbath 9 - 15.
12.9. Then Jesus left that place and entered their synagogue.
Leaving the corn field Jesus went to their synagogue.
12.10. A man was there who had a withered hand. And they asked Jesus, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" so that they could accuse him.
In the synagogue was a man whose hand had wasted away, no muscle or sinew left, Luke says that it was his right hand. Again the Scribes and Pharisees were seeking to make an accusation against Jesus so they ask if the Law allows someone to heal on the Sabbath day.
12.11. He said to them, "Would not any one of you, if he had one sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath, take hold of it and lift it out?
He throws the ball right back in their court by asking if there was anybody among them who would not rescue their sheep who had fallen into a pit on the Sabbath day. Would they leave it there to suffer until the next day or pull it out on the Sabbath? Under the Law a Jew had to go to the aid of any of his neighbours animals that was in trouble, Sabbath day or not (Deut. 22:4).
12.12. How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
People are worth more than any animal therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.
12.13. Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and it was restored, as healthy as the other.
Turning to the man He tells him to do that which is impossible to for him to do, stretch out his hand. The man believed Jesus and did what He told him and his hand was restored just like the other one.
12.14. But the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, as to how they could assassinate him.
The Pharisees proved how right Jesus's words were about them in verse seven. They could not care less about the man being healed there began to make plans how they could kill Jesus.
12.15. Now when Jesus learned of this, he went away from there. Great crowds followed him, and he healed them all.
When Jesus heard of this he left that place and the crowds followed after Him. It was still the Sabbath day and Jesus continued to heal the people everyone of them and they were only to willing to let Him even if it was the Sabbath Day!
The Servant of God 16 - 21
12.16 - 17. But he sternly warned them not to make him known. This fulfilled what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet:
Jesus warns those whom He has healed not to go back to His enemies and tell them what He had done for them. This was in fulfillment of the words spoken of Him by Isaiah the prophet.
12.18. "Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I take great delight. I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations
Jesus Christ although the Son of God is the Servant of God, He is the Chosen One, the Beloved Son in whom He "is well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). God sent the Holy Spirit upon Him as He was baptised by John in the river Jordan (Mark 1:10). He shall make known to the nations the truth concerning sin and judgement and the way of salvation.
12.19. He will not quarrel or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
He will not contend, or argue, with those who oppose Him or yell or call out in the streets.
12.20. He will not break a bruised reed or extinguish a smoldering wick, until he brings justice to victory.
Those who are battered and bruised from the troubles and difficulties of life He will not add to their miseries by crushing them (as the Pharisees did with their heaven burden of laws and regulations). Those who have come to the end of their strength and cannot go on any further, He will not snuff them out like a candle. He will bring to them justice, peace and deliverance through His victorious death on the cross and by His resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:57 and 1 John 5:4).
12.21. And in his name the Gentiles will hope."
In His Name shall be the Hope of all peoples (Romans 10:13).
A Divided House cannot Stand 22 - 30
12.22. Then they brought to him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. Jesus healed him so that he could speak and see.
They brought to Jesus a man who was possessed by a demon who had made blind and dumb. Jesus set him free and completely healed him.
12.23. All the crowds were amazed and said, "Could this one be the Son of David?"
The crowds who absolutely amazed by this and ask one another "is this the Son of David, the Messiah" (Matthew 1:1).
12.24. But when the Pharisees heard this they said, "He does not cast out demons except by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons!"
When the Pharisees heard what He had done they made this most ridiculous and blasphemous statement! They accused Jesus of casting out the demon by the power of the devil - this was blasphemy. It was ludicrous to think that Satan would cast out one of his own demons from anybody.
Note: Beelzebul means lord of the house. The title of a heathen deity, to whom the Jews ascribed, the sovereignty of the evil spirits; Satan, the prince of the devils (Smith's Bible Dictionary).
12.25. Now when Jesus realized what they were thinking, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and no town or house divided against itself will stand.
Jesus knowing what they were thinking makes a logical statement. If a country is divided by civil war it will end up in ruin. If townspeople or a family fight among themselves then will fall about.
12.26. So if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
So if Satan is fighting against himself then he will bring about his own destruction.
12.27. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges.
If Jesus uses the power of Satan to cast out demons then by whose power do their followers cast them out? Their own followers will be the ones that will condemn them.
12.28. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you.
If Jesus is driving out demons by the power of God's Spirit then it proves that the kingdom of God has already come (Acts 10:38).
12.29. How else can someone enter a strong man's house and steal his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can thoroughly plunder the house.
Here is another argument that Jesus gives to prove that He could not be casting out demons by Satan's power. No one can enter a strong man's house unless he first overpowers him and ties him up, then he can take whatever he wants. It is only by a greater power than Satan can Jesus Christ overcome the devil and his works and that is the power of God (Colossians 2:15, Hebrews 2:14 and Revelation 20:10).
12.30. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Anyone who is not on Christ's side is opposed to Him and anyone who is not working with Him to gather in a harvest of souls is sending them to hell. Satan continually opposes Jesus Christ and ever works to takes souls into the lake of fire with him.
