Mateo 12

1 En aquel tiempo iba Jesús por los sembrados en día de sábado; y sus discípulos tenían hambre, y comenzaron a coger espigas, y a comer

2 Y viéndolo los fariseos, le dijeron: He aquí tus discípulos hacen lo que no es lícito hacer en sábado

3 Y él les dijo: ¿No habéis leído qué hizo David, teniendo él hambre y los que con él estaban

4 cómo entró en la Casa de Dios, y comió los panes de la proposición, que no le era lícito comer, ni a los que estaban con él, sino sólo a los sacerdotes

5 O ¿no habéis leído en la ley, que los sábados en el Templo los sacerdotes profanan el sábado, y son sin culpa

6 Pues os digo que uno mayor que el Templo está aquí

7 Mas si supieras qué es: Misericordia quiero y no sacrificio, no condenarías a los inocentes

8 Porque Señor aún del sábado, es el Hijo del hombre

9 Y partiendo de allí, vino a la sinagoga de ellos

10 Y he aquí había allí un hombre que tenía una mano seca; y le preguntaron, diciendo: ¿Es lícito curar en sábado?, por acusarle

11 Y él les dijo: ¿Qué hombre habrá de vosotros, que tenga una oveja, y si cayere ésta en una fosa en sábado, no le echa mano, y la levanta

12 Pues ¿cuánto más vale un hombre que una oveja? Así que, lícito es en los sábados hacer bien

13 Entonces dijo a aquel hombre: Extiende tu mano. Y él la extendió, y fue restituida sana como la otra

14 Y salidos los fariseos, tuvieron consejo contra él para destruirle

15 Mas sabiéndolo Jesús, se apartó de allí; y le siguieron grandes multitudes, y sanaba a todos

16 Y él les encargaba rigurosamente que no le descubrieran

17 para que se cumpliera lo que estaba dicho por el profeta Isaías, que dijo

18 He aquí mi siervo, al cual he escogido; mi Amado, en el cual se agrada mi alma; pondré mi Espíritu sobre él y a los gentiles anunciará juicio

19 No contenderá, ni voceará; ni nadie oirá en las calles su voz

20 La caña cascada no quebrará, y el pábilo que humea no apagará, hasta que saque a victoria el juicio

21 Y en su Nombre esperarán los gentiles

22 Entonces fue traído a él un endemoniado, ciego y mudo, y le sanó; de tal manera, que el ciego y mudo hablaba y veía

23 Y las multitudes estaban fuera de sí, y decían: ¿Es éste aquel Hijo de David

24 Mas los fariseos, oyéndolo, decían: Este no echa fuera los demonios, sino por Beelzebú, príncipe de los demonios

25 Y Jesús, como sabía los pensamientos de ellos, les dijo: Todo reino dividido contra sí mismo, es desolado; y toda ciudad o casa dividida contra sí misma, no permanecerá

26 Y si Satanás echa fuera a Satanás, contra sí mismo está dividido; ¿cómo, pues, permanecerá su reino

27 Y si yo por Beelzebú echo fuera los demonios, ¿vuestros hijos por quién los echan? Por tanto, ellos serán vuestros jueces

28 Y si por el Espíritu de Dios yo echo fuera los demonios, ciertamente ha llegado a vosotros el Reino de Dios

29 Porque, ¿cómo puede alguno entrar en la casa del hombre fuerte, y saquear sus alhajas, si primero no prendiere al hombre fuerte; y entonces saqueará su casa

30 El que no es conmigo, contra mí es; y el que conmigo no coge, derrama

31 Por tanto os digo: Todo pecado y blasfemia será perdonado a los hombres; mas la blasfemia contra el Espíritu no le será perdonada a los hombres

32 Y cualquiera que hablare contra el Hijo del hombre, le será perdonado; mas cualquiera que hablare contra el Espíritu Santo, no le será perdonado, ni en este siglo, ni en el venidero

33 O haced el árbol bueno, y su fruto bueno, o haced el árbol podrido, y su fruto podrido; porque por el fruto es conocido el árbol

34 Generación de víboras, ¿cómo podéis hablar bien, siendo malos? Porque de la abundancia del corazón habla la boca

35 El hombre bueno del buen tesoro del corazón saca buenas cosas; y el hombre malo del mal tesoro saca malas cosas

36 Mas yo os digo, que toda palabra ociosa que hablaren los hombres, de ella darán cuenta en el día del juicio

37 porque por tus palabras serás justificado, y por tus palabras serás condenado

38 Entonces respondiendo algunos de los escribas y de los fariseos, diciendo: Maestro, deseamos ver de ti señal

39 Y él respondió, y les dijo: La generación mala y adúltera demanda señal; mas señal no le será dada, sino la señal de Jonás profeta

40 Porque como estuvo Jonás en el vientre de la ballena tres días y tres noches, así estará el Hijo del hombre en el corazón de la tierra tres días y tres noches

41 Los hombres de Nínive se levantarán en el juicio con esta generación, y la condenarán; porque ellos se arrepintieron a la predicación de Jonás; y he aquí más que Jonás en este lugar

42 La reina del austro se levantará en el juicio con esta generación, y la condenará; porque vino de los fines de la tierra para oír la sabiduría de Salomón; y he aquí más que Salomón en este lugar

43 Cuando el espíritu inmundo ha salido del hombre, anda por lugares secos, buscando reposo, y no lo halla

44 Entonces dice: Me volveré a mi casa de donde salí; y cuando viene, la halla desocupada, barrida y adornada

45 Entonces va, y toma consigo otros siete espíritus peores que él, y entrados, moran allí; y son peores las postrimerías del tal hombre que las primeras. Así también acontecerá a esta generación mala

46 Y estando él aún hablando a la multitud, he aquí su madre y sus hermanos estaban fuera, que le querían hablar

47 Y le dijo uno: He aquí tu madre y tus hermanos están fuera, y te quieren hablar

48 Y respondiendo él al que le decía esto, dijo: ¿Quién es mi madre y quiénes son mis hermanos

49 Y extendiendo su mano hacia sus discípulos, dijo: He aquí mi madre y mis hermanos

50 Porque todo aquel que hace la voluntad de mi Padre que está en los cielos, ese es mi hermano, y hermana, y madre

Mateo 12 Commentary

Chapter 12

Jesus defends his disciples for plucking corn on the sabbath day. (1-8) Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the sabbath. (9-13) The malice of the Pharisees. (14-21) Jesus heals a demoniac. (22-30) Blasphemy of the Pharisees. (31,32) Evil words proceed from an evil heart. (33-37) The scribes and Pharisees reproved for seeking a sign. (38-45) The disciples of Christ are his nearest relations. (46-50)

Verses 1-8 Being in the corn-fields, the disciples began to pluck the ears of corn: the law of God allowed it, ( Deuteronomy 23:25 ) . This was slender provision for Christ and his disciples; but they were content with it. The Pharisees did not quarrel with them for taking another man's corn, but for doing it on the sabbath day. Christ came to free his followers, not only from the corruptions of the Pharisees, but from their unscriptural rules, and justified what they did. The greatest shall not have their lusts indulged, but the meanest shall have their wants considered. Those labours are lawful on the sabbath day which are necessary, and sabbath rest is to froward, not to hinder sabbath worship. Needful provision for health and food is to be made; but when servants are kept at home, and families become a scene of hurry and confusion on the Lord's day, to furnish a feast for visitors, or for indulgence, the case is very different. Such things as these, and many others common among professors, are to be blamed. The resting on the sabbath was ordained for man's good, ( Deuteronomy 5:14 ) . No law must be understood so as to contradict its own end. And as Christ is the Lord of the sabbath, it is fit the day and the work of it should be dedicated to him.

Verses 9-13 Christ shows that works of mercy are lawful and proper to be done on the Lord's day. There are more ways of doing well upon sabbath days, than by the duties of worship: attending the sick, relieving the poor, helping those who need speedy relief, teaching the young to care for their souls; these are doing good: and these must be done from love and charity, with humility and self-denial, and shall be accepted, ( Genesis 4:7 ) . This, like other cures which Christ wrought, had a spiritual meaning. By nature our hands are withered, and we are unable of ourselves to do any thing that is good. Christ only, by the power of his grace, cures us; he heals the withered hand by putting life into the dead soul, works in us both to will and to do: for, with the command, there is a promise of grace given by the word.

Verses 14-21 The Pharisees took counsel to find some accusation, that Jesus might be condemned to death. Aware of their design, as his time was not come, he retired from that place. Face does not more exactly answer to face in water, than the character of Christ drawn by the prophet, to his temper and conduct as described by the evangelists. Let us with cheerful confidence commit our souls to so kind and faithful a Friend. Far from breaking, he will strengthen the bruised reed; far from quenching the smoking flax, or wick nearly out, he will rather blow it up into a flame. Let us lay aside contentious and angry debates; let us receive one another as Christ receives us. And while encouraged by the gracious kindness of our Lord, we should pray that his Spirit may rest upon us, and make us able to copy his example.

Verses 22-30 A soul under Satan's power, and led captive by him, is blind in the things of God, and dumb at the throne of grace; sees nothing, and says nothing to the purpose. Satan blinds the eyes by unbelief, and seals up the lips from prayer. The more people magnified Christ, the more desirous the Pharisees were to vilify him. It was evident that if Satan aided Jesus in casting out devils, the kingdom of hell was divided against itself; how then could it stand! And if they said that Jesus cast out devils by the prince of the devils, they could not prove that their children cast them out by any other power. There are two great interests in the world; and when unclean spirits are cast out by the Holy Spirit, in the conversion of sinners to a life of faith and obedience, the kingdom of God is come unto us. All who do not aid or rejoice in such a change are against Christ.

Verses 31-32 Here is a gracious assurance of the pardon of all sin upon gospel terms. Christ herein has set an example to the sons of men, to be ready to forgive words spoken against them. But humble and conscientious believers, at times are tempted to think they have committed the unpardonable sin, while those who have come the nearest to it, seldom have any fear about it. We may be sure that those who indeed repent and believe the gospel, have not committed this sin, or any other of the same kind; for repentance and faith are the special gifts of God, which he would not bestow on any man, if he were determined never to pardon him; and those who fear they have committed this sin, give a good sign that they have not. The trembling, contrite sinner, has the witness in himself that this is not his case.

Verses 33-37 Men's language discovers what country they are of, likewise what manner of spirit they are of. The heart is the fountain, words are the streams. A troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring, must send forth muddy and unpleasant streams. Nothing but the salt of grace, cast into the spring, will heal the waters, season the speech, and purify the corrupt communication. An evil man has an evil treasure in his heart, and out of it brings forth evil things. Lusts and corruptions, dwelling and reigning in the heart, are an evil treasure, out of which the sinner brings forth bad words and actions, to dishonour God, and hurt others. Let us keep constant watch over ourselves, that we may speak words agreeable to the Christian character.

Verses 38-45 Though Christ is always ready to hear and answer holy desires and prayers, yet those who ask amiss, ask and have not. Signs were granted to those who desired them to confirm their faith, as Abraham and Gideon; but denied to those who demanded them to excuse their unbelief. The resurrection of Christ from the dead by his own power, called here the sign of the prophet Jonah, was the great proof of Christ's being the Messiah. As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale, and then came out again alive, thus Christ would be so long in the grave, and then rise again. The Ninevites would shame the Jews for not repenting; the queen of Sheba, for not believing in Christ. And we have no such cares to hinder us, we come not to Christ upon such uncertainties. This parable represents the case of the Jewish church and nation. It is also applicable to all those who hear the word of God, and are in part reformed, but not truly converted. The unclean spirit leaves for a time, but when he returns, he finds Christ is not there to shut him out; the heart is swept by outward reformation, but garnished by preparation to comply with evil suggestions, and the man becomes a more decided enemy of the truth. Every heart is the residence of unclean spirits, except those which are temples of the Holy Ghost, by faith in Christ.

Verses 46-50 Christ's preaching was plain, easy, and familiar, and suited to his hearers. His mother and brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him, when they should have been standing within, desiring to hear him. Frequently, those who are nearest to the means of knowledge and grace are most negligent. We are apt to neglect that which we think we may have any day, forgetting that to-morrow is not ours. We often meet with hinderances in our work from friends about us, and are taken off by care for the things of this life, from the concerns of our souls. Christ was so intent on his work, that no natural or other duty took him from it. Not that, under pretence of religion, we may be disrespectful to parents, or unkind to relations; but the lesser duty must stand by, while the greater is done. Let us cease from men, and cleave to Christ; let us look upon every Christian, in whatever condition of life, as the brother, sister, or mother of the Lord of glory; let us love, respect, and be kind to them, for his sake, and after his example.