Mat 12:3, 11, 39 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 3. - 4. Have ye not read what David did ] The original history is in . When he was an hungered ] Here hearken to Kimchi , producing the opinion of the ancients concerning this story in these words: "Our rabbins of blessed memory say, that he gave him the shew-bread, &c. The interpretation also of the clause, Yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel , is this: It is a small thing to say, that it is lawful for us to eat THESE LOAVES, taken from before the Lord, when we are hungry; for it would be lawful to eat this very loaf which is now set on, which is also sanctified in the vessel, (for the table sanctifieth,) it would be lawful to eat even this, when another loaf is not present with you to give us, and we are so hunger-bitten . And a little after, There is nothing which may hinder taking care of life, beside idolatry, adultery, and murder . That is, a man, according to them, should do any thing but these in order to preserve life." See Lightfoot . He entered into the house of God ] Viz. the house of Ahimelech the priest, who dwelt at Nob, with whom the tabernacle then was, in which the Divine presence was manifested. And did eat the shew-bread ] τουςαρτουςτνςπροθεσεως-in Hebrew, lechem panim-bread of the presence , or faces , because this bread was to be set continually, lipney Yehovah, before the face of Jehovah . See the notes on . "Since part of the frankincense put in the bread was to be burnt on the altar for a memorial, , and since Aaron and his sons were to eat it in the holy place, it is evident that this bread typified Christ , first presented as a sacrifice to , or in the presence of, Jehovah, and then becoming spiritual food to such as, in and through him, are spiritual priests to God. See ; also ." Parkhurst .

‏ Matthew 12:3

Verse 3. - 4. Have ye not read what David did] The original history is in 1Sa 21:1-6.

When he was an hungered] Here hearken to Kimchi, producing the opinion of the ancients concerning this story in these words: "Our rabbins of blessed memory say, that he gave him the shew-bread, &c. The interpretation also of the clause, Yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel, is this: It is a small thing to say, that it is lawful for us to eat THESE LOAVES, taken from before the Lord, when we are hungry; for it would be lawful to eat this very loaf which is now set on, which is also sanctified in the vessel, (for the table sanctifieth,) it would be lawful to eat even this, when another loaf is not present with you to give us, and we are so hunger-bitten. And a little after, There is nothing which may hinder taking care of life, beside idolatry, adultery, and murder. That is, a man, according to them, should do any thing but these in order to preserve life." See Lightfoot.

He entered into the house of God] Viz. the house of Ahimelech the priest, who dwelt at Nob, with whom the tabernacle then was, in which the Divine presence was manifested.

And did eat the shew-bread] τουςαρτουςτνςπροθεσεως-in Hebrew, lechem panim-bread of the presence, or faces, because this bread was to be set continually, lipney Yehovah, before the face of Jehovah. See the notes on Ex 25:23, 30.

"Since part of the frankincense put in the bread was to be burnt on the altar for a memorial, Le 24:7, and since Aaron and his sons were to eat it in the holy place, it is evident that this bread typified Christ, first presented as a sacrifice to, or in the presence of, Jehovah, and then becoming spiritual food to such as, in and through him, are spiritual priests to God. See Re 1:6; 5:10; 20:6; also 1Pe 2:5." Parkhurst.

‏ Matthew 12:11

Verse 11. If it fall into a pit on the Sabbath-day, &c.] It was a canon among the Jews: "We must take a tender care of the goods of an Israelite." Hence:-

"If a beast fall into a ditch, or into a pool of water, let (the owner) bring him food in that place if he can; but, if he cannot, let him bring clothes and litter, and bear up the beast; whence, if he can come up, let him come up, &c."

"If a beast or its foal fall into a ditch on a holy day, R. Lazar saith, Let him lift up the former to kill him, and let him kill him; but let him give fodder to the other, lest he die in that place. R. Joshua saith, Let him lift up the former with the intention of killing him, although he kill him not; let him lift up the other also, although it be not in his mind to kill him." To these canons our Lord seems here very properly to appeal, in vindication of his intention to heal the distressed man. See Lightfoot.

Self-interest is a very decisive casuist, and removes abundance of scruples in a moment. It is always the first consulted, and the must readily obeyed. It is not sinful to hearken to it, but it must not govern nor determine by itself.

‏ Matthew 12:39

Verse 39. An evil and adulterous generation] Or, race of people; for so γενεα should be translated here, and in most other places in the Gospels; for our Lord, in general, uses it to point out the Jewish people. This translation is a key to unlock some very obscure passages in the evangelists.

Seeketh after a sign] Or, seeketh another sign, (επιζητει,) so I think this word should be translated. Our Lord had already given the Jews several signs; and here they desire sign upon sign.

Our Lord terms the Jews an adulterous race. Under the old covenant, the Jewish nation was represented as in a marriage contract with the Lord of hosts; as believers, in the new covenant, are represented as the spouse of Christ. All unfaithfulness and disobedience was considered as a breach of this marriage contract; hence the persons who were thus guilty are denominated adulterers and adulteresses. But, independently of this, there is the utmost proof, from their own writings, that in the time of our Lord they were most literally an adulterous race of people: for, at this very time, R. Jochanan ben Zacchai abrogated the trial by the bitter waters of jealousy, because so many were found to be thus criminal. See on Joh 8:3.