The Jewish Annotated New Testament (194 page)

12.1
–14: Sabbath instructions
(Mk 2.23–3.6; Lk 6.1–11).

1
:
Hungry
, added by Matthew.
Pluck heads of grain
, the thirty-nine types of work forbidden on the Sabbath according to rabbinic law (Ex 34.21) include reaping, but not explicitly plucking;
m. Pesah
. 4.8;
m. Shabb
. 7.2;
b. Shabb
. 73b).

2
:
Not lawful
, the disciples do not violate Torah (which prohibits “work” [Ex 20.10; Deut 5.14]) since the Sabbath should be a time of joy (Isa 58.13). Health supersedes Sabbath prohibitions (
m. Yoma
8.6;
b. Men
. 96a;
t. Shabb
. 15.16).

3
–4:
What David did
, 1 Sam 21.1–6; Jesus argues from biblical precedent. See also Lev 24.5–9.

5
:
Num 28.9–10.

6
:
Greater than the Temple
, Jesus’ presence grants his disciples authority to define Sabbath practices.

7
:
Mercy and not sacrifice
, see 9.13n.

8
:
Son of Man
, see 8.20n. According to the Torah, the Sabbath was God’s gift to the people (Ex 16.29; see also
Mek
. 31.12–17). In Matthew, Jesus is the authoritative interpreter of the Sabbath laws.

10
–12:
See 9.26n. Rabbinic law permitted alleviating an animal’s distress on the Sabbath (
t. Shabb
. 15.1;
b. Shabb
. 128b), although some Jews disagreed (CD 11.13).

13
:
It was restored
, the passive construction both suggests divine healing and indicates that Jesus did no “work.”

12.15
–21: Healing the multitudes
(Mk 3.7–12; Lk 6.17–19).

16
:
Not to make him known,
messianic secret: see 8.4n.

18
–21:
Isa 42.1–4, but not an exact quotation of either Hebrew or Greek texts.

18
:
My servant
, here meaning the Messiah (cf.
2 Bar
. 70.9). The “servant” usually referred to Israel (Isa 42.18–29; 44.1,21; 49.3,5–7;
Pss. Sol
. 12.6; 17.21).

21
:
Gentiles
, 8.10; 15.28; 18.6; 21.21; 24.13–14; 28.20. Here Matthew is closer to LXX Isaiah.

12.22
–37: Jesus’ powers
(Mk 3.20–30; Lk 11.14–23; 12.10; 6.43–45).

22
–24:
See 9.34n.
Son of David
, 1.1n.
Beelzebul
, 10.25n.

26
:
Satan casts out Satan
, a demon would not expel fellow demons (cf.
T. Sol
. 5.5; 15.8).

27
:
Cf. 7.22–23; Mk 9.38; Acts 19.13–19.
Your own exorcists
, see
Ant
. 8.46–49.

28
:
Kingdom of God
, see 3.2n.

30
:
Is against me
, a dualistic view of humanity.

31
:
See 9.3n.
Blasphemy against the Spirit
, certain sins against God are not forgiven (cf. Ex 20.7; Num 15.30–31;
Jub
. 15.34; 1QS 7.15–17, 22–23; CD 10.3;
Sifre Deut
. 328).

32
:
See 8.20n.; 10.23n.
Son of Man
, see 8.20n.
Age to come
, Heb “Olam ha-ba,” the messianic age (
m. Sanh
. 10.1;
b. Sanh
. 90a;
b. Shabb
. 127a;
b. Men
. 44a;
b. Pesah
. 50a;
b. Qidd
. 39b, etc.).

34
:
Brood of vipers,
see 3.7n.; 23.33.

36
:
Day of judgment
, see 7.22n.

37
:
Justified
, put in a right relationship with God.

12.38
–42: Demand for a sign
(16.1–4; Mk 8.11–13; Lk 11.29–32; Jn 6.30).

38
:
A sign from you
, the Pharisees ask Jesus to prove he is the Messiah.

39
:
Jon 1.17.
Evil and adulterous
, sinful (Deut 1.35; 32.5; Hos 1.2; 2.2; 4.15,18; 9.1;
Jub
. 23.14; 1QSb 3.7). In Matthew, those who lack faith in Jesus (12.39; 16.4; cf. Mk 8.38).

40
:
Jonah
, see Jon 2.1.
In the heart of the earth
, often linked to the legend of Jesus’ harrowing of hell (Acts 2.27,31; 1 Pet 3.19; 4.6) to redeem faithful people who died before his crucifixion. Early Christian sarcophagi frequently depicted Jonah as a symbol of resurrection.

41
:
Jon 3.5; see
y. Sanh
. 11.5.

42
:
Queen of the South
, Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10.1–13; 2 Chr 9.1–12).

12.43
–45: The return of the unclean spirit
(Lk 11.24–26). The description accounts for failed exorcisms or medical relapses.

45
:
Evil generation
, see 12.39n.

12.46
–50: Jesus’ true family
(Mk 3.31–35; Lk 8.19–21). See 13.55; Jude 1.1. The true family includes only those who have faith.

46
:
Mother and his brothers,
see 1.25n.

50
:
Will of my Father
, see 6.10n. Jewish sources cite a similar belief as it relates to faith in God (Deut 33.9; Prov 4.3; 1QS 1–9;
y. Qidd
. 1.7).

13.1
–53: Parables of the kingdom.

1
–2: Introduction to the parables
(Mk 4.1).

3
:
Parables
, Gk “parabolē, meaning “comparison” (Heb “mashal”). Parables appear in various forms throughout Jewish literature (2 Sam 12.1–7; Isa 5.1–7;
1 En
. 1.2–3; 37–71; Sir 1.24; 3.29; 20.20; 39.2; 47.17;
T. Job
18.7–8;
m. Sot
. 9.15;
t. Sot
. 5.9;
b. Ber
. 61b; see “Midrash and Parables in the NT,” p.
565
).

13.3
–9: Parable of the sower
(Mk 4.2–9; Lk 8.4–8). Cf.
Gos. Thom
. 9.

3:
Sower
, refers to Jesus (13.37). “Sowing” related to doing the work of God (Jer 31.27–28; Ezek 36.9; Hos 2.21–23;
4 Ezra
9.31;
2 Bar
. 32.1).

4
:
Seeds
, later identified as “the word of the kingdom” (13.19; cf.
b. Ta’an
. 4a).

13.10
–23: Jesus explains his teaching
(Mk 4.10–12; Lk 8.9–10,18; 19.26; Jn 12.40).

11
:
Secrets
, indicating a divine plan previously unrevealed (Dan 2.18,19,27; 1QpHab 7.8; 1QS 3.23; 1QM 3.9).

13
:
Nor do they understand
, the message is open to a select few (like the disciples; see 13.16–17) having faith in Jesus.

14
–15:
Isa 6.9–10; Lk 8.10; Jn 12.37–41; Acts 28.26–27; admonition aimed at those who fail to grasp Jesus’ teachings. Even though Isa 6 refers to the audience contemporary with the prophet, it is understood here as being fulfilled more than seven hundred years later.

16
–17:
Lk 10.23–4.

18
–23:
Mk 4.13–20; Lk 8.11–15. Jewish parables often included explanations (e.g., Isa 5;
4 Ezra
4.13–18,20–21).

19
:
Evil one
, see 8.16n.; 6.13; 13.19,38; Jn 17.15;
Jub
. 11.11–12;
Apoc. Abr
. 13.

13.24
–30: Parable of the wheat and the weeds
(Mk 4.13–20; Lk 8.11–15). Cf.
Gos. Thom
. 57.

25
:
Enemy
, identified as the devil (13.39).

30
:
Both of them grow together
, unfaithful people in the church will be rooted out in the eschaton; even those expelled should be re-evangelized (see 18.17n.).
Harvest
, metaphor for final judgment (Jer 51.33; Hos 6.11; Joel 3.13).