PrevMatthew 12:7Next

Matthew 12

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What does Matthew 12:7 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 12:7 is a verse where Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6 to emphasize the importance of inner compassion over external ritual observance.

When Jesus says, "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice," He is critiquing the religious leaders of the time for their strict legalism and lack of understanding regarding what God truly values.

The phrase "ye would not have condemned the guiltless" refers to the Pharisees’ criticism of Jesus’ disciples for plucking grain on the Sabbath.

The deeper meaning of this verse highlights the priority of love, mercy, and kindness over strict adherence to religious rituals, where the latter should not overshadow the former.

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

This verse is set during the period of Jesus' ministry in Galilee.

It is a time of heightened conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees, who were strict in their interpretation of the Jewish Law.

The verse follows an incident on the Sabbath, where Jesus' disciples pluck ears of grain to eat, which the Pharisees condemn as unlawful work on the Sabbath. Jesus uses this response to challenge their understanding and application of the law.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Matthew 12:7 illustrates the dichotomy between legalism and the law of love.

This verse is used to highlight God's desire for a heart of compassion rather than a focus on sacrifice for the sake of ritual.

Jesus is revealing that God values relational ethics over ceremonial law.

In various theological traditions, this reinforces the concept that God’s compassion and mercy are more pleasing than ritual sacrifices that do not reflect a transformed heart.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can be practically applied in daily life by encouraging individuals to prioritize compassion and mercy towards others over strict adherence to rules or rituals.

This implies valuing the well-being of people over sticking inflexibly to traditions or regulations. It also means understanding and applying religious or spiritual practices with empathy and care for others' circumstances, rather than judgment.

Cross-References

Hosea 6:6: For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Micah 6:6-8: Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, [and] bow myself before the high God?...

He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Mark 2:27: And he said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text from Matthew 12:7 include "eleos" (mercy), implying kindness or goodwill towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them; and "thusia" (sacrifice), referring to the act of offering, which can range from physical sacrifices to more metaphorical ones.

The word "krino" (condemned) is associated with judgment or deciding a case. Studying these Greek terms helps in understanding the contrast Jesus is drawing between outward religious acts and inward qualities.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this verse with other ancient myths and religions, many faith traditions emphasize the importance of internal piety over external acts.

For example, in Hinduism, Bhakti yoga emphasizes devotion and the path of love over ritual or ceremony.

Similarly, Islamic Sufism places a strong emphasis on the internal love of God over outer rituals.

Scientific Perspectives

While there is no direct scientific correlation to the message of Matthew 12:7, the scientific community does study the psychological and societal benefits of compassionate living.

Research on altruism and kindness suggests that acts of mercy can have positive effects on mental health and community well-being, which parallels the teachings of the verse to prioritize merciful actions.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators offer insights on Matthew 12:7.

Some assert that Jesus is highlighting the hypocrisy and superficiality of the Pharisees' piety. Others focus on the call to a deeper understanding of God's desires, which go beyond the letter of the law.

Commentators often reference the connection to Hosea 6:6, showing it as an Old Testament foundation that Jesus uses to teach about God's character and priorities.

Matthew 12

Matthew 12

What does Matthew 12:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 12:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?