Matthew 12

Text

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 50 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

Structure

This chapter can be grouped (with cross references to other biblical passages):

Cross reference

Verse 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.[1]

German Protestant theologian Heinrich Meyer notes that there was no accusation of trespass or theft here: "any one was allowed to pluck ... ears of corn in another man’s field till he was satisfied" in accordance with Deuteronomy 23:25:

If you go into your neighbour’s standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbour’s standing grain.

The Mosaic law left it unclear whether such licence was authorised on the Sabbath.[2]

Fulfillment of the Servant Song of Isaiah

Matthew states that Jesus' withdrawal from the cities of Galilee and his request that the crowds do not make him known [3] is a fulfillment of the first Servant Song of the prophet Isaiah. The verses quoted from Isaiah are from the Septuagint version. One difference from the Hebrew version is found in verse 21 (Isaiah 42:4).

In translation from the Hebrew version, this reads:

and the coastlands shall wait for His law

In the Septuagint and in Matthew's Gospel this reads:

and in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

Verses 17–21
17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
18 "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 will declare justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel nor cry out,
Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench,
Till He sends forth justice to victory;
21 And in His name Gentiles will trust."[4]

Verses 18-21 are a quotation from Isaiah 42:1-4.[5]

Idle words

Theologian Albert Barnes describes an "idle word" (Matthew 12:36) as literally "a vain, thoughtless, useless word; a word that accomplishes no good", but states that in the context the meaning is "wicked, injurious, false [or] malicious" words.[6] The Greek reveals a contrast between ρημα αργον, rhēma argon, idle words or sounds, and the consequential need to ἀποδώσουσιν περὶ αὐτοῦ λόγον, apodōsousin peri autou logon, to provide a reasoned account on the day of judgment.

See also

References
  1. Matthew 12:1
  2. Meyer, H. A. W., Meyer's NT Commentary on Matthew 12, accessed 7 September 2019
  3. Matthew 12:16
  4. Matthew 12:17–21 NKJV
  5. Note [b] on Matthew 12:21 in NET Bible
  6. Barnes' Notes on the Bible on Matthew 12:36, accessed 11 January 2017
Preceded by
Matthew 11		 Chapters of the New Testament
Gospel of Matthew		 Succeeded by
Matthew 13
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