Matthew 12:9-14
Lord of the Sabbath ( κυριος του σαββατου ). This claim that he as the Son of Man is master of the Sabbath and so above the Pharisaic regulations angered them extremely. By the phrase "the Son of man" here Jesus involves the claim of Messiahship, but as the Representative Man he affirms his solidarity with mankind, "standing for the human interest" (Bruce) on this subject.Is it lawful? ( ε εξεστιν ). The use of ε in direct questions is really elliptical and seems an imitation of the Hebrew (Robertson, Grammar, p. 916). See also Mt 19:3. It is not translated in English.
How much then is a man ( ποσω ουν διαφερε ανθρωπος ). Another of Christ's pregnant questions that goes to the roots of things, an a fortiori argument. "By how much does a human being differ from a sheep? That is the question which Christian civilization has not even yet adequately answered" (Bruce). The poor pettifogging Pharisees are left in the pit.
Stretch forth thy hand ( εκτεινον σου την χειρα ). Probably the arm was not withered, though that is not certain. But he did the impossible. "He stretched it forth," straight, I hope, towards the Pharisees who were watching Jesus (Mr 3:2).
Took counsel against him ( συμβουλιον ελαβον κατ' αυτου ). An imitation of the Latin concilium capere and found in papyri of the second century A.D. (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 238.) This incident marks a crisis in the hatred of the Pharisees toward Jesus. They bolted out of the synagogue and actually conspired with their hated rivals, the Herodians, how to put Jesus to death (Mr 3:6; Mt 12:14; Lu 6:11). By "destroy" ( απολεσωσιν ) they meant "kill."
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