Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Matthew 12:6

λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν : solemn affirmation, with a certain tone in the voice. τοῦ ἱεροῦ μεῖζον. Though they might not have thought of the matter before, the claim of the temple to overrule the Sabbath law would be admitted by the Pharisees. Therefore, Jesus could base on it an argument a fortiori. The Sabbath must give way to the temple and its higher interests, therefore to something higher still. What was that something? Christ Himself, according to the almost unanimous opinion of interpreters, ancient and modern; whence doubtless the μείζων of T. R. But Jesus might be thinking rather of the kingdom than of the king; a greater interest is involved here, that of the kingdom of God. Fritzsche takes μεῖζον as = teaching men, and curing them of vice then going on. It may be asked: How did the interest come in? The disciples were following Jesus, but what was He about? What created the urgency? Whence came it that the disciples needed to pluck ears of standing corn? We do not know. That is one of the many lacunæ in the evangelic history. But it may be assumed that there was something urgent going on in connection with Christ's ministry, whereby He and His companions were overtaken with extreme hunger, so that they were fain to eat unprepared food (ἀκατέργαστον σῖτον, Euthy. Zig. on Matthew 12:7).

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Matthew 12:6

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