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

1Then on a day of rest—a holy day, Jesus walked through the grainfields. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain to eat. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing something that is not right to do on the day of rest—a holy day.” 3Jesus asked them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his men were hungry? 4Haven’t you read how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of the presence? He and his men had no right to eat those loaves. Only the priests have that right.

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• But whenδέde · thenG1161
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the PhariseesΦαρισαῖοςPharisaios · PhariseeG5330
• sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• they saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• thyσύsu · youG4771
• disciplesμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• that whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• isἔξεστι, ἐξόνexesti · be permittedG1832
• notοὐou · noG3756
• uponἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the sabbath dayσάββατονsabbaton · SabbathG4521

Cross-references for Matthew 12:2

• Matthew 12:10A man with a paralyzed hand was there. The people asked Jesus whether it was right to heal on a day of rest—a holy day, so that they could accuse him of doing something wrong.
• Exodus 20:9You have six days to do all your work.
• Exodus 23:12“For six days you will do your work, but on the seventh day you must not work. Then your ox and donkey can rest. The slaves born in your household and foreigners will also be refreshed.
• Exodus 31:15You may work for six days, but the seventh day is a day of rest—a holy day, a day when you don’t work. It is holy to the Lord. Whoever works on that day must be put to death.
• Exodus 35:2You may work for six days, but the seventh day is a holy day of rest, a day when you don’t work. It is dedicated to the Lord. Whoever does any work on this day should be put to death.
• Numbers 15:32While the Israelites were in the desert, they found a man gathering wood on the day of rest—a holy day.
• Isaiah 58:13If you stop trampling on the day of rest and doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the day of rest a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way, by not going out when you want, and by not talking idly,
• Mark 3:2The people were watching Jesus closely. They wanted to see whether he would heal the man on the day of rest—a holy day, so that they could accuse him of doing something wrong.
• Luke 6:6On another day of rest—a holy day, Jesus went into a synagogue to teach. A man whose right hand was paralyzed was there.
• Luke 13:10Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the day of rest—a holy day.
• Luke 23:56Then they went back to the city and prepared spices and perfumes. But on the day of rest—a holy day, they rested according to the commandment.
• John 5:9The man immediately became well, picked up his cot, and walked. That happened on a day of rest—a holy day.
• John 7:21Jesus answered them, “I performed one miracle, and all of you are surprised by it.
• John 9:14The day when Jesus mixed the spit and dirt and gave the man sight was a day of rest—a holy day.

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