Westminster Annotations, Matthew 2 · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
Vers. 1. JEsus went on the sabbath-day] Mark 2. 23. Luke 6. 1.
began to pluck the ears of corn] Which was lawfull for them to do, Deut. 23. 25. though in another mans ground.
V. 2. when the Pharisees saw it] It seems they watched all occasions to accuse Christ, and thought now they had found a just one.
thy disciples] It is thy fault, who teachest thy disciples no better.
do that which is not lawfull] Because dressing of meat on the sabbath was forbidden in the wildernesse, Exod. 16. 23. they conceived the very plucking of the ears, and rubbing of them, as Luk. 6. 1, to fit them for food, on that day, to be unlawfull also; and that it was a servile work, forbidden, Levit. 23. 7. and a capitall crime, as that, Num. 15. 32.
V. 3. Have ye not read] If ye have read this, ye might there have found that which might free you from this errour; if not, ye have not been so versed in the holy Storie as ye should.
what David did] 1 Sam. 21. 6. You must either blame your patriarch David, or free my disciples.
and they that were with him] David then had some that accompanied him in his flight, though he be said to come alone to the priest, 1 Sam. 21. 1. It seems they stayed for him in some place nigh, and he brought of the shew-bread thither to them. See 1 Sam. 21. 5.
V. 4. the house of God] The place where the tabernacle was.
the shew-bread] The Hebrews call it, Bread of faces, because it stood before the LORD all the week, upon the golden table appointed to that service, Levit. 24. 8, 9.
which was not lawfull for him to eat] According to the letter of the law; yet, according to the intent of the law, not unlawfull.
neither for them which were with him] It appears hence, that they did eat of the shew-bread as well as David. And this is added, lest the Pharisees should think that David might do it by an extraordinary warrant, being a prophet. They that were with him were no prophets, yet they did it also, and are not blamed, because it was in a case of necessity, to which ceremoniall laws must yeeld.
but onelyonly for the priests] Exod. 29. 32, 33. Levit. 8. 31. and 24. 9.
V. 5. in the law] Num. 28. 9.
the priests in the temple profane the sabbath] They do that which ye count profanenesse, and which, in other cases, is so. They labour bodily, and kill cattell for sacrifices, on the sabbath, and that in the court of the temple, and yet they sin not.
are blamelesse] Such as ye have no cause to complain of, or, are not tied to give account to God for it, as for a breach of his law. So the Greek word signifies.
V. 6. one greater then the temple] I, who am the Messias. And if the temple could free the priests from sin, because they did it there for Gods service, I may much more allow my disciples to do that they have done, that they may be able to attend on me in a greater businesse then sacrifices.
V. 7. I will have mercy] See on Hos. 6. 6. Chap. 9. 13. God preferreth the relieving of mans necessities, before the performance of his own externall service.
V. 8. For the Son of man, &c.] I, who am the Son of man, and have power over the sabbath, give them leave to do it: or, that which was made for man, must yeeld to mans safety and welfare, for whom it was made; especially when either of them are in jeopardy, Mark 2. 27, 28.
V. 9. when he was departed thence] Out of those corn-fields, mentioned, v. 1. Mark 3. 1. Luke 6. 6.
he went into their synagogue] See on chap. 11. 1. On another sabbath he went into the synagogue of the same town, Luk. 6. 6.
V. 10. his hand withered] His right hand, Luke 6. 6. which was fittest for use, and the want of it made his condition the worse.
they asked him] They stay not till Christ had done this miracle, but, by their speech, first put him upon it, that they might pick a quarrell with him.
V. 11. What man shall there be among you] Will any of you, that are so strict in the point of the sabbath, let a sheep perish then for want of help?
V. 12. a man better then a sheep] It is a shame that ye will labour to save a sheeps life, and yet think much that I should heal a man on the sabbath, whose welfare is of more worth then the safety of a sheep, chap. 6. 26.
it is lawfull to do well, &c.] Legall ceremonies ought not to hinder works of charity.
V. 13. it was restored whole] Christ shews his divine power, by healing this mans withered hand.
V. 14. held a council] Or, took counsel.
V. 15. when Jesus knew it] By his divine knowledge.
he withdrew himself] Though he could by his divine power have preserved himself, yet he would carry himself as man, and keep out of their hands, till his time of suffering came. See Joh. 4. 1, 3.
he healed them all] That had need of healing, and desired it.
V. 16. that they should not make him known] Lest the Pharisees should finde him, and seek to kill him before the time appointed came. Or, till after his resurrection, as chap. 17. 9. See also chap. 8. 4.
V. 18. Behold, my servant] Isa. 42. 1.
whom I have chosen] To be the Saviour of the world.
my beloved, &c.] Chap. 3. 17.
I will put my Spirit upon him] Isa. 11. 2. and 61. 1. Joh. 3. 34.
judgement to the Gentiles] By judgement, is meant a setled estate, because Christ was to publish true religion among the Gentiles, and to cast out superstition: which thing, wheresoever it is done, the LORD is said to reign and judge there, that is to say, to govern and rule matters.
V. 19. He shall not strive] He shall do his office meekly and humbly, and not carry things before him by violence, as great men often do; nor contest with the Pharisees, who sought to destroy him, v. 14.
nor cry] As men enraged, Eph. 4. 31.
V. 20. A bruised reed shall he not break] He shall not condemn such as labour under the burden of sin, but …ather quiet their consciences, Chap. 11. 28, 29. Ezek. 34. 16.
smoking flax] Or, wick. Alluding to the wick of a candle put out, that smokes onelyonly, and gives no light.
till he send forth judgement unto victory] Till he shall bring under, or confound all his enemies.
V. 21. in his name] In him, when they know him aright, as they do men, whom they can call by their names, Rom. 10. 13.
V. 22. Then was brought unto him] Luke 11. 14.
one possessed with a devil, blinde and dumb] Very like it is, that he was made so by the devil that possessed him. See on Chap. 9. 32.
V. 23. Is not this the son of David?] The Messias. See on Chap. 9. 27.
V. 24. When the Pharisees heard it] Chap. 9. 34.
This fellow] So they call Christ in contempt, not vouchsasing so much as to name him.
by Beelzebub] See on Chap. 9. 34.
V. 25. Jesus know their thoughts] They are charged in the verse before by the Evangelist to have said so. What need Christ then know their thoughts? The answer may be, That they said it in their hearts onelyonly: or, that he knew they spake it out of malice: or else he knew it the same way that he knows mens thoughts, without any mans relation, though he did not hear it himself.
Every kingdom divided, &c.] As division overthrows kingdoms, cities, houses: so will it destroy satans kingdom, if one devil should give power to men to cast out another.
V. 27. by whom do your children cast them cut] Some understand this of the apostles who were Jews: others, of Exorcists among them, Acts 19. 13. Others, of such as did by Christs name cast out devils, but did not follow Christ, as Mark 9. 38. Luke 9. 49. Yet none of these were blamed by the Jews, for working by the devil. Why then should Christ be so taxed by them?
V. 28. by the spirit of God] By power from God.
the kingdom of God] The kingdom of the promised Messias under the new Testament.
V. 29. Or else, how can, &c.] If Gods powerfull kingdom were not come among you, how could so many devils be cast out now? They are strong, and will not be driven out of possession, but by a stronger hand.
V. 30. He that is not with me, is against me] As in war, he that fights not for his prince, is counted an enemy, and as in harvest, the steward that lets his masters co…n perish for want of gathering in time, is counted a scatterer: so they that will not defend mine innocency against such grosse slanders as these, shall be accounted mine enemies, and bad stewards.
V. 31. Wherefore I say unto you] He speaketh this, either to shew that the Pharisces had committed this sin, or to warn men to take heed of it by them who had come neer to it.
All manner of sin] Mark 3. 28. Luke 12. 10. 1 John 5. 16.
shall be forgiven unto men] To some men, or other. Or, any sin else may be forgiven.
the blasphemy against the holy Ghost] This is conceived to be a malicious opposing the truth of the Gospel, made known to us by the holy Ghost, joyned with persecution of those that professe it, and that meerly because they do so.
V. 32. against the son of man] Against Christ by way of disgrace, as he is man: Or, against any man. For it is a grievous sin to wrong any man yet pardonable. But to sin with so high an hand, as verse 31. against God himself, is unpardonable, Numb. 14. 29. and 15. 30. Acts 5. 4. Heb. 10. 28. 29.
neither in this world, nor in the world to come] Neither here by faith, nor at the day of judgement by Christs sentence, Acts 3. 19. 1 Thes. 3. 3. Or, never, but shall be punished both here and hereafter, Mark 3. 29. 1 John 5. 16.
V. 33. Either make the tree good, &c.] Either confesse I am good, because ye see me cast out devils, and do good, or else, convince me of evil actions, before ye condemn my person: Or, either bring forth good fruits, that ye may appear to be good, or else, confesse your selves to be bad, as ye shew your selves to be.
for the tree is known by his fruit] So must you and I, by our words and deeds.
V. 34. O generation of vipers] See on Chap. 3. 7.
how can ye, being evil, speak good things] Hypocrites at some time or others, will bewray themselves by their words.
for out of the abundance, &c.] Luke 6. 45. Abundance of bad humours in the body, may be kept in for a time, but they will finde a time to break out: so will abundance of bad thoughts finde a vent by the tongue.
V. 35. A good man] A good man out of his good affections speaks to Gods glory, and the edification of others, Psal. 37. 30, 31. A bad man contrary.
treasure] Our inward disposition is compar…d to a treasure laid up to be produced for publike use.
V. 36. every idle word] Every vain word, as Ephes. 5. 6. Or, false, wanting truth. Much more then for every calumny and blasphemy.
give account] A metaphor from accountants, as Rom. 14. 12. Phil. 4. 17.
V. 37. For by thy words, &c.] A common saying in courts of judicature. So Luke 19. 22.
and] Or, as Exod 21. 15, 17. Numb. 30. 4, 5, 6.
V. 38. Then] Chap. 16. 1. Luke 11. 29. 1 Cor. 1. 22.
certain of the scribes] Some of the fellows of the former blasphemous Pharisees, who would seem to be more moderate then they, and willing to receive Christ, if he would give them such a sign as they desired, Luke 11. 16.
a sign from thee] A miracle or sign from heaven, that we may know, that God hath sent thee to teach us, Chap. 16. 1. Luke 11. 16. John 6. 30, 31. for they had seen many healed strangely before.
V. 39. adulterous generation] A bastardly brood, Hos. 1. 2. No true children of Abraham, Joh. 8. 39 See on Chap. 16. 4.
there shall no sign be given to it, &c.] No signe shall be given them now at their request, or assigned them at present, but one that hereafter shall be wrought and manifested to them, to their shame and confusion.
the sign of the prophet Jonas] Whose lying so long in the whales belly, was a type of my buriall: Or, such a miracle as was wrought upon Jonas.
V. 40. For as Jonas] Jon. 1. 17.
the son of man be three dayes] Some part of three dayes, for he was buried towards the end of the sixth day, lay in the grave the whole seventh day, and rose not again, till about the dawning of the next day, of which, the night then past was a part.
in the heart] Within the body of the earth.
V. 41. shall rise in judgement] Alluding to the manner of humane courts of judicature; in which, witnesses are said to rise, or stand up, to give in witnesse, or evidence, Deut. 19. 15, 16. Mark 14. 57. Acts 6. 13. The example of the Ninevites shall aggravate the obstinacy of the Jews, at the day of judgement.
this generation] See on Chap. 11. 16.
shall condemn it] Shall cause it to be condemned, as vers. 27.
because they repented] Jon. 3. 5. They repented at Jonas preaching, who was but a prophet, ye will not at mine, who am the Son of God.
V. 42. The queen of the south] 1 King. 10. 1. He meaneth the queen of Sheba, whose countrey was south, in respect of the land of Israel.
shall rise up, &c.] See on verse 41.
from the uttermost parts of the earth] For Sheba was situate in the utmost parts of Arabia the happy, upon the mouth of the Arabian sea, Jere. 50. 26.
to hear the wisdom of Solomon] In naturall and humane things, 1 King. 10. 3. where as here is another manner of wisdom, 2 Tim. 3. 15.
V. 43. When the un…ean spirit] Luke 11. 24.
walketh therow d…y places] The devil is compared to a man cast out of his dwelling, and finding no contentment in dry places, and deserts, unfit for habitation.
seeking rest] A place to settle in.
V. 44. I will return] Finding no place that gives him content, be thinks of returning.
empty] None to keep him from re-entring.
swept, and …arnished] Made ready for to entertain him again.
V. 45. Then …eth he] As such a man would re-enter, so the devil finding no content in vexing other creatures, and such as have for a time rejected him, ready to entertain him again, taketh possession there the second time.
seven other spirits] Many. As Revel. 1. 4.
more wicked then himself] To keep p…ssession the better, and do the more mischlef there.
and the last state, &c.] Heb. 6. 4. and 10. 26. 2 Pet. 2. 20.
to this wicked generation] Which seeks a sign, verse 38. The Jews having been in some sort freed from satans dominion by Christs abode among them, his doctrine and miracles, and being willing to berid of Christ, and to entertain saran again, shall be in a worse condition, then ever they were before.
V. 46. While he yet talked to the people] This shews a reason, why he would not go to his mother and brethren, because they came unseasonably, and interrupted him while he was doing his Fathers work, Luke 2. 49.
behold, his mother] Mark 3. 31. Luke 8. 20.
and his brethren] His kinsmen, Gen. 13. 8. See Chap. 13. 55.
stood without] Either in modesty, because he was busie, or because they could not get in for the presse.
desiring to speak with him] To acquaint him, it may be, with some dangers toward him by the Pharisees, as Acts 23. 10.
V. 47. one said unto him] One at first, afterwards many, Mark 3. 32.
thy brethren] See on verse 46.
V. 48. Who is my mother?] Not that he did despise his mother and brethren, but rather rebuke them for interrupting him, and troubling him unseasonably, Joh. 2. 4.
V. 49. Behold my mother] He prefers spirituall kinred before carnall, teaching us, That we should account none neerer to us, then the houshold of faith, Gal. 6. 10.
V. 50. whosoever shall do the will of my Father] Matth. 7. 21. Not every one of you that hear me.
and sister] It may be there were some of his kinswomen also there, though they be not mentioned before. Or, else he addes it for the comfort of those good women that followed him, and ministred to him, Luke 8. 2, 3.
and mother] Such are as dear to me, as any that are neerest to me in regard of naturall kinred.