Matthew 12
Notes from Pastor Norm
Overview of chapter
Principle of Bible Study – When studying a chapter outline the chapter so you can see the flow of the chapter and keep all the parts in the immediate context. I recommend that when you begin a study of a book you try to get a “forest” view of the book since this allows you to keep all the parts in the whole
I. Plucking Grain on the Sabbath - Matthew 12:1-8
II. The Man with the withered hand – 9-14
III. God’s Chosen Servant – 15-21
IV. Jesus and Beelzebul – 22-32
V. A Tree and its fruit -33-37
VI. About A Demand for a sign – 38-45
VII. The True Kindred of Jesus – 46-50
Big Idea of Matthew 12
- (See Matthew 11:29,30) Matthew 12 highlights increasing tension between Jesus and religious leaders, focusing on the Sabbath, authority, and spiritual conflict. Jesus declares himself "Lord of the Sabbath" after defending his disciples for picking grain and healing a man’s hand on the Sabbath. He refutes claims that his power comes from Satan, warns against blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and defines his true family as those doing God’s will.
I. Plucking Grain on the Sabbath - Matthew 12:1-8. – Read this passage, Ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight into the passage, and base a prayer on the passage. ( good to have music playing for three minutes while this is being read and prayed over.
1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads [of grain] and eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw [this,] they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath." 3 But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, 4 how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? ((1 Sam 21:1–6; Lev 24:5–9) 5 "Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent? (Num 28:9–10) 6 "But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here (Mt 22:41–45).7 "But if you had known what this means, 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,'(Hos 6:6) you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 "For the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13,14, Psalm 80:17 ) is Lord of the Sabbath. "
"I desire mercy" | God seeks active, loving-kindness (hesed) towards others.
"Not sacrifice" | Rituals are not a substitute for ethical, obedient living.
"Knowledge of God" | An intimate, personal relationship rather than mere rituals.
"Not burnt offerings"| Heartfelt obedience is preferred over outward worship.
In the Old Testament, the Sabbath is identified as belonging to Yahweh (the LORD God), who instituted it as a holy day of rest (Exodus 20:8-11, Leviticus 23:3). However, Jesus specifically proclaims himself to be "Lord of the Sabbath" (Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:28, Luke 6:5), asserting his authority over its observance as the Creator and "Son of Man"
1. John 1:1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. ... 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. [Jhn 1:1-3, 14 NASB95]
2. John 20:28
28 Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" [Jhn 20:28 NASB95]
3. Titus 2:13
13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, [Tit 2:13 NASB95]
4. 2 Peter 1:1
1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: [2Pe 1:1 NASB95]
5. Hebrews 1:8
8 But of the Son [He says,] "YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER, AND THE RIGHTEOUS SCEPTER IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM. [Heb 1:8 NASB95]
6. Romans 9:5
5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. [Rom 9:5 NASB95]
7. Acts 20:28
28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. [Act 20:28 NASB95]
8. 21 'AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.' [Act 2:21 NASB95]
13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." [Rom 10:13 NASB95]
32 And it hath come to pass, Every one who calleth in the name of Jehovah/Yahweh is delivered, For in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there is an escape, As Jehovah/Yahweh hath said, And among the remnants whom Jehovah is calling! [Joe 2:32 YLT]
Jesus as God: The New Testament Use of Theos in Reference to Jesus
by Murray J. Harris
II. The Man with the withered hand – 9-14 - Read this passage, Ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight into the passage, and base a prayer on the passage.
9 Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. 10 And a man [was there] whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"--so that they might accuse Him. 11 And He said to them, "What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 "How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." 13 Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand!" He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, [as to] how they might destroy Him. [Mat 12:9-14 NASB95]
Jesus taught that the Sabbath is a gift designed for human rest and well-being, not a burdensome legalistic restriction. As "Lord of the Sabbath," He emphasized doing good, healing, and spiritual restoration over strict prohibition of work. His doctrine focused on mercy, prioritizing human need over ceremonial. Verse: "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27). The Sabbath teaches we are saved by God's grace and not our works (Hebrew 4)
III. God’s Chosen Servant – 15-21 - Read this passage, Ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight into the passage, and base a prayer on the passage.
15 But Jesus, aware of [this,] withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all, 16 and warned them not to tell who He was. 17 [This was] to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: 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 SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES. 19 "HE WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT; NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS. 20 "A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. 21 "AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE." [Mat 12:15-21 NASB95]
Jesus commanded people not to disclose his identity as the Messiah to manage public perception, avoid premature political rebellion against Rome, and ensure his ministry could continue until the appointed time of his death. This behavior, often called the "Messianic Secret," prevented misunderstandings, as many expected a military liberator rather than a spiritual savior.
Verses which reflect the “Messianic Secret”
· Mark 1:34 - Jesus healed many but would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
· Mark 1:43-45 - After cleansing a leper, Jesus ordered him: "See that you tell no one anything".
· Mark 3:11-12 - He strictly ordered spirits not to make him known.
· Mark 5:43 - After raising Jairus' daughter, he "gave strict orders that no one should know about this".
· Mark 7:36 - Jesus ordered people not to tell anyone about a healing.
· Mark 8:29-30 - After Peter confesses Jesus is the Messiah, "Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him".
· Mark 9:9 - Coming down from the Mount of Transfiguration, he ordered them to tell no one "until the Son of Man had risen from the dead".
· Matthew 12:15-21 - After healing, Jesus ordered the crowd not to make him known, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy of a humble, quiet servant.
· Matthew 16:20 - Jesus explicitly warned the disciples not to tell anyone he was the Christ.
· Luke 4:41 - He rebuked demons and would not allow them to speak because they knew he was the Christ.
· Luke 8:56 - Similar to Mark 5, parents are told not to disclose a miracle.
· Luke 9:21 - After Peter's confession, Jesus "strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one".
· Mark 4:11-12 - Jesus mentions that the secret of the Kingdom is given to the disciples, but not to outsiders
Textual Variants:
Hebrew and LXX (Greek) of Isaiah 42:4
4 "He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law." [Isa 42:4 NASB95]
20 "A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. 21 "AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE." [Mat 12:20-21 NASB95]
The LXX translators may have worked from a Hebrew manuscript that differed from the standardized MT, or interpreted the consonantal Hebrew text differently, reflecting a different Hebrew textual tradition. Interpretive Translation: The LXX often translates with an eye toward interpretation, translating "law" (Torah) in a way that emphasizes the functional outcome (hope/trust in the servant's name) for a Gentile audience (the Gentiles) rather than just "the isles".New Testament Usage: Matthew 12:21 quotes this passage, following the LXX's interpretation ("And in his name shall the Gentiles trust") to highlight Jesus' ministry to non-Jews. Complementary Truths: Rather than contradicting, the texts can be seen as complementary. The "law" brings the hope, and the "name" is the object of that hope, reflecting both the Jewish context of the Law and the early church's focus on the Gospel name.
Isaiah 42:1-4 is the first of four "Servant Songs" in Isaiah, identifying a chosen, Spirit-empowered Servant who will bring justice to all nations with gentle strength rather than loud force. This passage is a direct prophecy of Jesus Christ, highlighting his role as a humble yet effective redeemer who cares for the weak and will surely succeed.
The four Servant Songs in Isaiah are specific poetic passages (Isaiah 42, 49, 50, and 52-53) detailing a chosen "Servant of the LORD" who brings justice, acts as a light to nations, suffers, and is ultimately exalted. These passages are commonly interpreted in Christianity as prophecies regarding the ministry, suffering, and victory of Jesus Christ.
Homework – Read Matthew 12:22-50, Ask for the Holy Spirit to reveal to you from the text, and base prayers inspired by the text.