Matthew 12:2

Matthew 12:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath."
• New King James Version (NKJV)And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”

Context of Matthew 12:2

1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” 3Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.

Matthew 12:2 word by word

οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι ἰδόντες εἶπαν αὐτῷ· ἰδοὺ οἱ μαθηταί σου ποιοῦσιν ὃ οὐκ ἔξεστιν ποιεῖν ἐν σαββάτῳ.¶Read the interlinear

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ·δέde · thenG1161
• PhariseesΦαρισαῖοςPharisaios · PhariseeG5330
• sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• they saidεἶπονepō · to sayG2036
• to Himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Lookἰδούidou · look!G2400
• Yourσύsu · youG4771
• disciplesμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• are doingποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• whatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• is unlawfulοὐou · noG3756
• is unlawfulἔξεστι, ἐξόνexesti · be permittedG1832
• onἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• Sabbathσάββατονsabbaton · SabbathG4521

Cross-references for Matthew 12:2

• Matthew 12:10and a man with a withered hand was there. In order to accuse Jesus, they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
• Exodus 20:9Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
• Exodus 23:12For six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you must cease, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the son of your maidservant may be refreshed, as well as the foreign resident.
• Exodus 31:15For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death.
• Exodus 35:2For six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of complete rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on that day must be put to death.
• Numbers 15:32While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day.
• Isaiah 58:13If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words,
• Mark 3:2In order to accuse Jesus, they were watching to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.
• Luke 6:6On another Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered.
• Luke 13:10One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,
• Luke 23:56Then they returned to prepare spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.
• John 5:9Immediately the man was made well, and he picked up his mat and began to walk. Now this happened on the Sabbath day,
• John 7:21Jesus answered them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed.
• John 9:14Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened his eyes was a Sabbath.

Commentaries on Matthew 12:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do - The Jews were so superstitious, concerning the observance of the Sabbath, that in their wars with Antiochus Epiphanes, and the Romans, they thought it a crime even to attempt to defend themselves on the Sabbath: when their enemies observed this, they deterred their operations to that day. It was through this, that Pompey was enabled to take Jerusalem. Dion. Cass. lib. xxxvi. Those who know not the spirit…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Upon the Sabbath day - The Pharisees, doubtless desirous of finding fault with Christ, said that in plucking the grain on the “Sabbath day” they had violated the commandment. Moses had commanded the Hebrews to abstain from all servile work on the Sabbath, Exodus 20:10; Exodus 35:2-3; Numbers 15:32-36. On any other day this would have been clearly lawful, for it was permitted, Deuteronomy 23:25.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-8This exchange shows the Pharisees' lack of compassion as they placed a heavy burden on others (Matthew 11:29–30).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. 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--The act itself was expressly permitted (De 23:25). But as being "servile work," which was prohibited on the sabbath day, it was regarded as sinful.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 12:2

• Accusation, False
• Ecclesiasticism
• Jesus, the Christ
• Pharisees
• Sabbath
• Technicalities
• Tradition

In the dictionaries

• Adulterous
• Condemn
• Desolation
• Idle
• Judgment
• Restore
• Sin
• Wither
• Jesus Christ
• Law in the New Testament

Commentaries on Matthew 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings