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 season Jesus went on the sabbath day through the cornfields; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck ears of corn, and to eat. But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do upon the sabbath. 3But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4how be entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, 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

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• PhariseesΦαρισαῖοςPharisaios · PhariseeG5330
• theyαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Beholdἰδούidou · look!G2400
• disciplesμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• thatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• notοὐou · noG3756
• lawfulἔξεστι, ἐξόνexesti · be permittedG1832
• sabbathσάββατονsabbaton · SabbathG4521

Cross-references for Matthew 12:2

• Matthew 12:10and behold, a man having a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? that they might accuse him.
• Exodus 20:9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
• Exodus 23:12Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may have rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.
• Exodus 31:15Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
• Exodus 35:2Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of solemn rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work therein shall be put to death.
• Numbers 15:32And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks upon the sabbath day.
• Isaiah 58:13If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, and the holy of the LORD honourable; and shalt honour it, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
• Mark 3:2And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
• Luke 6:6And it came to pass on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man there, and his right hand was withered.
• Luke 13:10And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath day.
• Luke 23:56And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. And on the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
• John 5:9And straightway the man was made whole, and took up his bed and walked. Now it was the sabbath on that day.
• John 7:21Jesus answered and said unto them, I did one work, and ye all marvel.
• John 9:14Now it was the sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

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