39 - Bible Commentary | Karuna Sadan

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. (Matthew 12:1)

We incidentally learn from this story that our Lord and his disciples were poor, and that he who fed the multitudes did not use his miraculous power to feed his own followers, but left them till they did what poor men are forced to do to supply a little stay for their stomachs. Our Lord bribes none into following him: they may be his apostles, and yet be hungry on a Sabbath.

For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. (Matthew 12:8)

This was a direct claim to deity

Lord Jesus said, “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:12) and then he proceeded to heal the man with the withered hand. So healing is doing good.

Stretch out your hand (Matthew 12:13)

Ask the people who cannot lift their hands, move their legs, do what they could not do before.

The Pharisees were spiritually blind to the miracle power of God. In spite of being eye witnessing such a powerful miracle they went out seeking to destroy Jesus.

Prejudice will keep you from hearing His voice. The Pharisees were not listening

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. (Matthew 12:33)

The fruit gives an identity to the tree. You look at the jack-fruits hanging on the tree and you know it is a jack-fruit tree. Your fruit will identify you.

The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. (Matthew 12:42)

Queen of the south refers to Sheba.

But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:48-50)

When you do the will of the Father, you and I grow into a close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 12:50)

Chapter 12