Matthew 12:6

6 And I say to you, that here is a greater than the temple. [Soothly I say to you, for this is more than the temple.]

Matthew 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.

Matthew 12:6 In-Context

4 how he entered into the house of God, and ate loaves of proposition, which loaves it was not leaveful to him to eat, neither to them that were with him, but to priests alone? [+how he entered into the house of God, and ate loaves of proposition, or putting forth/either setting forth, which was not leaveful to him to eat, neither to them that were with him, no but to priests only?]

5 Or whether ye have not read in the law, that in the sabbaths priests in the temple defoul the sabbaths, and they be without blame?

6 And I say to you, that here is a greater than the temple. [Soothly I say to you, for this is more than the temple.]

7 And if ye knew, what it is, I will mercy, and not sacrifice, ye should never have condemned innocents.

8 For man's Son is Lord, yea, of the sabbath. [Truly man's Son is Lord also of the sabbath.]