The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 487

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XII. preparation of food. Parallel passage■ : Mark ii. 23-28; Luke vi. 1-5. St. Matthew Vera. 1-50.-The opposition that om here returns to the Fmmework, which he left Lord met with (I) from his enemies (vere. at eh. ix. 26 or 34, 1-45): (2)from his relations (vers. 46-50); and the manner in which he dealt with it. Ver. 1.-At that time (eh. xi. 25, note) 1esus went ( lropd,611). It ho.s been suggested Vere. 1-45.-(1) Opposition from his that he was now on his way to the synagogue en6'111ieB. (a) Conscious and wilful opposi• spoken of in ver. 9 (but see note there). tion (vere. 1-37). (a) As regards the Wherever he wns going, it must have been se.bbath (vers. 1-14). (fJ) An interlude. within about three quartera of a mile distance The evnngelist sees in our Lord's behnviour (two tho11Banu cubits: see Dr. Lu.mby, on Acts i. 12, "a sabbo.th day's journey; " and the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy (vers. Schiirer, II. ii. 102). On the aabbath day. 15-21). ('y) The opposition carried to the Defined in the Received Ted of Luke by extreme of accusing him of alliance with the anomalous term "second-first," for the Beelzebub. Obrist shows the monstrous genesis of which see especio.lly Westcott and character of •such an accuse.tion, and the Hort, 'A pp.' Through the com; th6corn-fielda (Revised Version, as also Authorized Version absence which it discloses of all spirituality in the parallel passages). If it was barley of mind (vers. 22-37). (b) Opposition due harvest, the time would be probably the be- to lack of energy in spiritual things. Christ ginning of May: if wheat harvest, as seems contrnsbr the behaviour of heathen men• more likely, about the beginning of June. tioned in th~ Old Testament, and wcuns the And hill di■ciplea were a h=gred. So that it was not for his own sake that our Lord Jews of the result of their present apathy acted a■ he did. And began. They could (vers. 38-45). therefore hardly have eaten much when the Vere. 1-8,-The ,aU>ath in relation to the complaint was. made. To pluok the ears of ~4 TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW, [ou. xu.1-50.