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 grain fields on a Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pick heads of wheat and eat them. But when the Pharisees saw this they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is against the law to do on the Sabbath.” 3He said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry – 4how he entered the house of God and they ate the sacred bread, which was against the law for him or his companions 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

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 was there who had a withered hand. And they asked Jesus, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” so that they could accuse him.
• Exodus 20:9For six days you may 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, in order that your ox and your donkey may rest and that your female servant’s son and any hired help may refresh themselves.
• Exodus 31:15Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord; anyone who does work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death.
• Exodus 35:2In six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there must be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of complete rest to the Lord. Anyone who does work on it will be put to death.
• Numbers 15:32When the Israelites were in the wilderness they found a man gathering wood on the Sabbath day.
• Isaiah 58:13You must observe the Sabbath rather than doing anything you please on my holy day. You must look forward to the Sabbath and treat the Lord’s holy day with respect. You must treat it with respect by refraining from your normal activities, and by refraining from your selfish pursuits and from making business deals.
• Mark 3:2They watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they could accuse him.
• Luke 6:6On another Sabbath, Jesus entered the synagogue and was teaching. Now a man was there whose right hand was withered.
• Luke 13:10Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath,
• Luke 23:56Then they returned and prepared aromatic spices and perfumes. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
• John 5:9Immediately the man was healed, and he picked up his mat and started walking. (Now that day was a Sabbath.)
• John 7:21Jesus replied, “I performed one miracle and you are all amazed.
• John 9:14(Now the day on which Jesus made the mud and caused him to see 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