The Man of St Matthew

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Matthew 12: Overview

The group who are mentioned most often in this chapter are the Pharisees. Looking at all their various appearances in the Gospel, they have a noticeable prominence here. It is their yoke which is now being examined as a contrast to the yoke of Jesus (11,30)
The chapter then ends on a positive note with the true family of Jesus, 12,46-50.

From 12,1, Matthew is following Mark's story beginning with the two sabbath controversies, 12,1-14 and Mk 2,23-3,6. Both Gospels end with the Pharisees plotting to destroy Jesus, 12,14 and Mk 3,6. Matthew here leaves out the Herodians included by Mark.

At the end of the chapters of both Gospels, Jesus speaks to the crowds about his true family, 12,46-50 and Mk 3,31-35. The two Gospels then continue with the parables of the following chapter, 13,1-3 and Mk 4,1-2.

Matthew 12,15-45

It is the middle of the chapter therefore where Matthew, 12,15-45, has completely re-written Mark, Mk 3,7-30. The topic is similar, concerning Beelzebub and Satan, but the comparison is not straightforward. A few comments will suffice.

First we can note that Mark here names the twelve, Mk 3,14-19, which Matthew has done already, 10,2-4.

We also note that Matthew, 12,18-21 gives a lengthy quotation from the prophet Isaiah, Is 42,1-4, one of the servant songs. This is the longest quotation in the Gospel. For reasons we will consider in our reading, this quotation can be seen as completed by the crowd's consideration of the Son of David in verse 23.
Matthew then removes Mark's report that Jesus' family thought he was mad, Mk 3,20-21; that would not accord with Matthew's understanding of Jesus. Instead, Matthew has brought in the healing of blind and mute demoniac in verse 22, a repeat of 9,32-34. This is the background to the crowd's exclamation in verse 23.

The Pharisees then make their comment in verse 24, equivalent to Mk 3,22. Jesus replies from 12,25 through to 12,37, a longer speech than in Mark, Mk 3,23-30.
This is followed by the Pharisees' request for a sign and Jesus' response, 12,38-45. This part is framed by Jesus' speaking of an evil generation in verses 39 and 45.
We will have a more detailed overview of this before we read 12,24-37.

In conclusion, the way Matthew has changed Mark in the middle of chapter 12 indicates his agenda. Mark is presenting the true family of Jesus. Matthew it seems is continuing his controversy with the Pharisees. We will need to keep this in mind as we read.

Reading Plan

From all this, we will read this chapter with the following pages.
The sign of Jonah we will read on the same page as the true family of Jesus. This is partly to keep page lengths balanced. It's useful as well to highlight the unity of 12,24-37.

We can return now to the main page.