Matthew 12:1-21
Q.1. Why did the Pharisees criticize the disciples? How did Jesus answer His critics? What did Jesus mean by His reference to the Temple? What does God desire most from us? – (Mt.12:1-7 c.f. Mt.9:13)
According to Judaism, the Sabbath was all about keeping the letter of the law. The Ten Commandments called on the Israelites to not work on the Sabbath, but to rest, and meditate on their Creator and Redeemer (Ex.20:11; Dt.5:15). Judaism had expanded this, with numerous onerous rules and regulations. The religious leaders criticized Jesus for allowing His disciples to ‘work on the sabbath’ when they themselves plucked heads of grain to eat. (Mt.12:1-2). Jesus reminded them of the time when David and his men ate the consecrated bread belonging to the priest, when they were fleeing from Saul. God had not punished them for that. (Mt.12:4 c.f. 1 Sam.21:1-6). He also reminded them that the priests were not condemned when they ate (and ‘worked’) bread on the sabbath (Mt.12:5). Jesus had earlier cleansed the temple. He was referring to His own body as the temple when He prophesied – Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up … but He was speaking of the temple of His body (Jn.2:19 & 21 c.f. 1 Cor.6:19). He reminded them – but I say to you that something greater than the temple is here (Mt.12:6). He quoted Hosea 6:6, again pointing out the kind of worship that is acceptable to God – But if you had known what this means, `I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent (Mt.12:7). The attitude of the religious leaders towards God’s people, and those who broke their petty rules, was an offence to God, and a stumbling block to the world (Mt.9:13; 23:13; Rom.2:24).
Q.2. How did Jesus view the Sabbath? How did He expose the hypocrisy of the religious practices of the day? What was the response of the Pharisees to the healing of the man? – (Mt.12:8-14)
Jesus stated that – the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath (Mt.12:8). The irony was that Jesus had already provided proof through His miracles, that He was the long-awaited Messiah. These leaders should have all fallen and worshiped Him. Instead – the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him (Mt.12:14). They did this after trying to trap Him. It was their responsibility to identify the One Who fulfilled the prophecies pointing to Messiah. Instead they goaded Him to heal a man on the Sabbath, knowing that His compassion would motivate Him to heal the suffering man. They themselves could not have healed the man’s withered arm, but they were so focused on the rules, that they failed to see the miracle for what it was. To support His healing of the man, Jesus pointed to their treatment of a sheep that had fallen into a pit on the sabbath. He drew attention to the absurdity by declaring – How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath (Mt.12:12). Jesus restored the man’s arm to normal. Simple human kindness should have made them respond with joy, and to recognize Who Jesus was. Instead, they plotted to do away with Him.
Q.3. Why did Jesus avoid the religious leaders? Did He stop healing the sick? What was Matthew’s conclusion about Jesus? On what basis? Was His ministry restricted to the Jews? – (Mt.12:15-21)
It was clear to Jesus that the Pharisees were out to kill Him. He then withdrew to the regions around the Sea of Galilee (Mt.12:15 c.f. Mk.3:7). He went right on healing the crowds who followed Him, but – warned them not to make Him known (Mt.12:16). This is not surprising, since the Pharisees had made their intentions known. Nevertheless, it is more likely that Jesus did not want the crowds to proclaim Him as Messiah, because the Jewish expectation was at variance with the reason for His first coming. The extensive quotation by Matthew from Isaiah 42:1-4 seems to support this, when he presented Jesus as the Servant of the Lord. The Suffering Servant would come gently in meekness, and not with any military or political agenda. He would be pleasing to God and indwelt by the Spirit. Though Jesus had come to present His claims to the nation of Israel, He would not be restricted to establishing a kingdom just for Israel – 18 … He shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles … 21 And in His name the Gentiles will hope (Mt.12:18 & 21 c.f. Mt.15:24; Jn.1:11-12).