‏ Matthew 12

* Jesus defends his disciples for plucking corn on the sabbath

day. (1-8) Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the

sabbath. (9-13) The malice of the Pharisees. (14-21) Jesus heals

a demoniac. (22-30) Blasphemy of the Pharisees. (31,32) Evil

words proceed from an evil heart. (33-37) The scribes and

Pharisees reproved for seeking a sign. (38-45) The disciples of

Christ are his nearest relations. (46-50)

1-8 Being in the corn-fields, the disciples began to pluck the

ears of corn: the law of God allowed it, #De 23:25|. This was

slender provision for Christ and his disciples; but they were

content with it. The Pharisees did not quarrel with them for

taking another man's corn, but for doing it on the sabbath day.

Christ came to free his followers, not only from the corruptions

of the Pharisees, but from their unscriptural rules, and

justified what they did. The greatest shall not have their lusts

indulged, but the meanest shall have their wants considered.

Those labours are lawful on the sabbath day which are necessary,

and sabbath rest is to froward, not to hinder sabbath worship.

Needful provision for health and food is to be made; but when

servants are kept at home, and families become a scene of hurry

and confusion on the Lord's day, to furnish a feast for

visitors, or for indulgence, the case is very different. Such

things as these, and many others common among professors, are to

be blamed. The resting on the sabbath was ordained for man's

good, #De 5:14|. No law must be understood so as to contradict

its own end. And as Christ is the Lord of the sabbath, it is fit

the day and the work of it should be dedicated to him. 9-13 Christ shows that works of mercy are lawful and proper to

be done on the Lord's day. There are more ways of doing well

upon sabbath days, than by the duties of worship: attending the

sick, relieving the poor, helping those who need speedy relief,

teaching the young to care for their souls; these are doing

good: and these must be done from love and charity, with

humility and self-denial, and shall be accepted, #Ge 4:7|. This,

like other cures which Christ wrought, had a spiritual meaning.

By nature our hands are withered, and we are unable of ourselves

to do any thing that is good. Christ only, by the power of his

grace, cures us; he heals the withered hand by putting life into

the dead soul, works in us both to will and to do: for, with the

command, there is a promise of grace given by the word. 14-21 The Pharisees took counsel to find some accusation, that

Jesus might be condemned to death. Aware of their design, as his

time was not come, he retired from that place. Face does not

more exactly answer to face in water, than the character of

Christ drawn by the prophet, to his temper and conduct as

described by the evangelists. Let us with cheerful confidence

commit our souls to so kind and faithful a Friend. Far from

breaking, he will strengthen the bruised reed; far from

quenching the smoking flax, or wick nearly out, he will rather

blow it up into a flame. Let us lay aside contentious and angry

debates; let us receive one another as Christ receives us. And

while encouraged by the gracious kindness of our Lord, we should

pray that his Spirit may rest upon us, and make us able to copy

his example. 22-30 A soul under Satan's power, and led captive by him, is

blind in the things of God, and dumb at the throne of grace;

sees nothing, and says nothing to the purpose. Satan blinds the

eyes by unbelief, and seals up the lips from prayer. The more

people magnified Christ, the more desirous the Pharisees were to

vilify him. It was evident that if Satan aided Jesus in casting

out devils, the kingdom of hell was divided against itself; how

then could it stand! And if they said that Jesus cast out devils

by the prince of the devils, they could not prove that their

children cast them out by any other power. There are two great

interests in the world; and when unclean spirits are cast out by

the Holy Spirit, in the conversion of sinners to a life of faith

and obedience, the kingdom of God is come unto us. All who do

not aid or rejoice in such a change are against Christ. 31,32 Here is a gracious assurance of the pardon of all sin

upon gospel terms. Christ herein has set an example to the sons

of men, to be ready to forgive words spoken against them. But

humble and conscientious believers, at times are tempted to

think they have committed the unpardonable sin, while those who

have come the nearest to it, seldom have any fear about it. We

may be sure that those who indeed repent and believe the gospel,

have not committed this sin, or any other of the same kind; for

repentance and faith are the special gifts of God, which he

would not bestow on any man, if he were determined never to

pardon him; and those who fear they have committed this sin,

give a good sign that they have not. The trembling, contrite

sinner, has the witness in himself that this is not his case. 33-37 Men's language discovers what country they are of,

likewise what manner of spirit they are of. The heart is the

fountain, words are the streams. A troubled fountain, and a

corrupt spring, must send forth muddy and unpleasant streams.

Nothing but the salt of grace, cast into the spring, will heal

the waters, season the speech, and purify the corrupt

communication. An evil man has an evil treasure in his heart,

and out of it brings forth evil things. Lusts and corruptions,

dwelling and reigning in the heart, are an evil treasure, out of

which the sinner brings forth bad words and actions, to

dishonour God, and hurt others. Let us keep constant watch over

ourselves, that we may speak words agreeable to the Christian

character. 38-45 Though Christ is always ready to hear and answer holy

desires and prayers, yet those who ask amiss, ask and have not.

Signs were granted to those who desired them to confirm their

faith, as Abraham and Gideon; but denied to those who demanded

them to excuse their unbelief. The resurrection of Christ from

the dead by his own power, called here the sign of the prophet

Jonah, was the great proof of Christ's being the Messiah. As

Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale, and then

came out again alive, thus Christ would be so long in the grave,

and then rise again. The Ninevites would shame the Jews for not

repenting; the queen of Sheba, for not believing in Christ. And

we have no such cares to hinder us, we come not to Christ upon

such uncertainties. This parable represents the case of the

Jewish church and nation. It is also applicable to all those who

hear the word of God, and are in part reformed, but not truly

converted. The unclean spirit leaves for a time, but when he

returns, he finds Christ is not there to shut him out; the heart

is swept by outward reformation, but garnished by preparation to

comply with evil suggestions, and the man becomes a more decided

enemy of the truth. Every heart is the residence of unclean

spirits, except those which are temples of the Holy Ghost, by

faith in Christ. 46-50 Christ's preaching was plain, easy, and familiar, and

suited to his hearers. His mother and brethren stood without,

desiring to speak with him, when they should have been standing

within, desiring to hear him. Frequently, those who are nearest

to the means of knowledge and grace are most negligent. We are

apt to neglect that which we think we may have any day,

forgetting that to-morrow is not ours. We often meet with

hinderances in our work from friends about us, and are taken off

by care for the things of this life, from the concerns of our

souls. Christ was so intent on his work, that no natural or

other duty took him from it. Not that, under pretence of

religion, we may be disrespectful to parents, or unkind to

relations; but the lesser duty must stand by, while the greater

is done. Let us cease from men, and cleave to Christ; let us

look upon every Christian, in whatever condition of life, as the

brother, sister, or mother of the Lord of glory; let us love,

respect, and be kind to them, for his sake, and after his

example.