Matthäus 12:6

6 Ich sage euch aber: Größeres als der Tempel ist hier.

Matthäus 12:6 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 12:6

But I say unto you
Who Christ knew would be ready to object, as above, and therefore prevents them, by saying,

that in this place is one greater than the temple;
meaning himself, who was the Lord and Proprietor of the temple, and in his human nature the antitype of it; see ( John 2:19 ) and was infinitely more sacred than that. Some copies read (meizon) , "something greater"; referring either to the human nature of Christ, in which the Godhead dwells bodily, and so infinitely greater than the temple; or to the health of his disciples, which was in danger, through hunger: or to the ministry of the apostles, which, by satisfying nature, they were more capable of performing; either of which was of more moment than the sacrifices and service of the temple. Christ's argument is, that if the temple, and the service of it, excused the priests from blame, in doing things in it on the sabbath day, which otherwise might not be done; then much more might his presence, who was greater than the temple, excuse his disciples from blame in this action of rubbing and eating the ears of corn; which was done to satisfy hunger, and to render them the more capable of performing their ministerial function; and which was of more importance than the service of the priests.

Matthäus 12:6 In-Context

4 Wie er in das Haus Gottes ging und die Schaubrote aß, welche er nicht essen durfte, noch die bei ihm waren, sondern allein die Priester?

5 Oder habt ihr nicht in dem Gesetz gelesen, daß an den Sabbathen die Priester in dem Tempel den Sabbath entheiligen und schuldlos sind?

6 Ich sage euch aber: Größeres als der Tempel ist hier.

7 Wenn ihr aber erkannt hättet, was es ist: "Ich will Barmherzigkeit und nicht Schlachtopfer", so würdet ihr die Schuldlosen nicht verurteilt haben.

8 Denn der Sohn des Menschen ist Herr des Sabbaths.