7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
7 And if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.
7 If you had any idea what this Scripture meant - 'I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual' - you wouldn't be nitpicking like this.
7 But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.
7 But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.'
12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
12 Surely kindness to people is as legal as kindness to animals!"
12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath."
(Read Matthew 12:9-13)
Christ shows that works of mercy are lawful and proper to be done on the Lord's day. There are more ways of doing well upon sabbath days, than by the duties of worship: attending the sick, relieving the poor, helping those who need speedy relief, teaching the young to care for their souls; these are doing good: and these must be done from love and charity, with humility and self-denial, and shall be accepted, Genesis 4:7. This, like other cures which Christ wrought, had a spiritual meaning. By nature our hands are withered, and we are unable of ourselves to do any thing that is good. Christ only, by the power of his grace, cures us; he heals the withered hand by putting life into the dead soul, works in us both to will and to do: for, with the command, there is a promise of grace given by the word.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 12:7
Commentary on Matthew 12:1-8
(Read Matthew 12:1-8)
Being in the corn-fields, the disciples began to pluck the ears of corn: the law of God allowed it, Deuteronomy 5:14. No law must be understood so as to contradict its own end. And as Christ is the Lord of the sabbath, it is fit the day and the work of it should be dedicated to him.