Matthew 12:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.

NIV: I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.

NASB: But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.

CSB: I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.

NLT: I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!

KJV: But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

NKJV: Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple.

Pharisees have leveled accusations that Jesus' disciples have broken the Law of God. The men were plucking and eating grain on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1–2). Jesus has responded with a series of questions (Matthew 12:3–5). Among these was the point that priests "break" the Sabbath—at least by the Pharisees' legalistic approach—when they work in the temple on those days. The Law allowed this because the commands of God for the temple must be obeyed above the commands to keep the Sabbath.

Jesus was showing that the Sabbath is not the most important command above all the other priorities of God. The work of the temple, for instance, had priority for the priests over the keeping of the Sabbath. While God's laws, as given, have meaning and authority, they are not meant to be applied with mindless literalism. Even if His disciples were breaking the Pharisee's concept of the Sabbath, they weren't violating God's intent for the Sabbath. In other words, the Sabbath rule, as intended by God, would not condemn what they did.

Now Jesus takes His argument in a new direction. Something has arrived that is even greater than the temple. Jesus is most likely referring to Himself as the Messiah. He understood that the Law and the Prophets pointed forward in time to the coming of the Messiah. He would fulfill the Law. He took priority even over the work of the temple, which itself took priority over the keeping of the Sabbath for the priests who did the work.

Jesus' point here seems to be that even if what the disciples did was literally against the normal meaning of the Sabbath law, they would still be guiltless because they were under the higher authority of the Messiah. This would apply in the same sense as a priest serving in the temple would be guiltless for their legitimate work.

Matthew 12:1–8 finds Jesus' hungry disciples breaking the heads off grain and eating as they walk through a field with Him on the way to the synagogue. Some Pharisees tell Jesus this is unlawful. In their interpretation, this is a violation of the command not to work on the Sabbath. Jesus counters the accusation with a series of questions, showing their manmade restriction cannot stand. Their legalistic, expanded view doesn't reflect God's intended meaning of the Sabbath. The Pharisees must learn that God desires mercy, not sacrifice. He declares Himself greater than the temple, and Lord of the Sabbath.

Matthew 12 features confrontations between the Pharisees and Jesus over several issues. Among these are working on the Sabbath, healing on the Sabbath, and the source of His power to cast out demons. Jesus counters each argument and rebukes the Pharisees sharply for their obstinate unbelief. He even notes that those who maliciously ascribe His miracles to demons are unforgivable. He warns them, and the rest of their current generation, about the judgment to come. Jesus calls the Pharisees a brood of vipers and rejects their demand for another miracle. All they'll be promised is the sign of Jonah. The Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days. Jesus also states that all who do His Father's will are His family.

Matthew 11 depicted Jesus preaching and teaching after sending out His chosen disciples in pairs in chapter 10. Chapter 12 immediately picks up with more confrontation with the Pharisees. Jesus responds to those criticisms and rebukes their evil hearts as the source of their evil words. In the following chapter, Matthew will shift His focus onto Jesus' parables.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.