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Matthew 12:6

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 12:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But I say unto you, that one greater than the temple is here.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But I say unto you, that one greater than the temple is here.
Matthew 12:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him;
4how he entered into the house of God, and ate the showbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests?
5Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless?
6But I say unto you, that one greater than the temple is here.
7But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
8For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath.
9And he departed thence, and went into their synagogue:
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But I say unto you, etc.] Who Christ knew would be ready to object, as above, and therefore prevents them, by saying, that in this place is one greater than the temple; meaning himself, who was the Lord and Proprietor of the temple, and in his human nature the antitype of it; (see <430219>John 2:19) and was infinitely more sacred than that. Some copies read meizon, “something greater”; referring either to the human nature of Christ, in which the Godhead dwells bodily, and so infinitely greater than the temple; or to the health of his disciples, which was in danger, through hunger: or to the ministry of the apostles, which, by satisfying nature, they were more capable of performing; either of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple--or rather, according to the reading which is best supported, "something greater." The argument stands thus: "The ordinary rules for the observance of the sabbath give way before the requirements of the temple; but there are rights here before which the temple itself must give way." Thus indirectly, but not the less decidedly, does our Lord put in His own claims to consideration in this question--claims to be presently put in even more nakedly.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“One greater than the temple - Here the Saviour refers to himself, and to his own dignity and power. “I have power over the laws; I can grant to my disciples a dispensation from those laws. An act which I command or permit them to do is therefore right.” This proves that he was divine. None but God can authorize people to do a thing contrary to the divine laws. He refers them again Matthew 12:7 to a passage he had before quoted (See the notes at Matthew 9:13), showing that God preferred acts of righteousness, rather than a precise observance of a ceremonial law. Mark adds Mark 2:27 “the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” That is, the Sabbath was intended for the welfare…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Mat 12:41, Mat 12:42, Mat 23:17-21; Ch2 6:18; Hag 2:7-9; Mal 3:1; Joh 2:19-21; Eph 2:20-22; Col 2:9; Pe1 2:4, Pe1 2:5 Matthew 12:7”
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Related study paths

Read Matthew 12 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification