Matthew 12:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Here stands the Lord of the sanctuary, the embodiment of Truth rather than mere appearances. Thus, He proclaimed, ‘I say unto you, that the church is greater here.’ Despite hearing such significant words, the Pharisees were silent, for the teaching presented did not pertain to humanity's salvation. When this teaching seemed burdensome to the audience, the Lord swiftly clarified the matter, reaffirming His disciples through His words while admonishing the Pharisees. He stated, ‘If thou hadst known what is, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice; thou wouldst not have condemned the innocent.’ Notice how He once more defends the disciples through His message and simultaneously indicates that they do not require justification. He asserts that they would not condemn the innocent. Previously, He had referred to the priests as the innocent, and now He bestows that same designation upon His disciples. However, He does not assert this solely on His authority but draws upon the law, citing a prophetic statement.

You argue that they were priests and the disciples were not. I respond that He who is more significant than the temple is present. In other words, because I, the Lord, surpass the temple and am among my disciples, they hold a greater authority to observe the Sabbath than the priests do.

It should be noted that the act perceived as unlawful by the Jews was the disciples harvesting grain on the Sabbath. An illustration of this can be found in the actions of David, who, exercising his royal authority, did something similar. Additionally, there are examples from the priestly ministry, where those serving in the temple may desecrate the Sabbath. However, these instances are less related to the act of gathering grain on the Sabbath. The one who embodies both true Kingship and true Priesthood, being the Lord of the Sabbath, offers a profound perspective on this matter.

The term "hie" does not function as a pronoun but rather as an adverb indicating location. Its significance lies in expressing that the presence of the Lord of the temple surpasses the temple itself.

The presence of the Lord of the temple is palpable here. If the priests of the temple acting on the Sabbath are blameless, then even more so are the disciples of the Lord Himself. Just as those priests are justified for their legitimate reasons—due to their offering of sacrifices and performance of holy rituals—so too are these disciples. For the Jews, in their frailty, God designated one day of the week as a time of rest, the Sabbath, to allow them, their servants, and their livestock to be liberated from daily labors, that they might focus on the reading of the Law and offerings. However, He instructed the Christians, who are more resilient, to dedicate the entire week to reading and spiritual offerings.

The Lord also calls to mind another prophecy so that they may understand that all that was foretold in the law finds its fulfillment in Him. The priests in the temple perform their duties on the Sabbath without incurring blame, illustrating that He Himself embodies the Temple. While the adherents of the law remained in disbelief, salvation through the teachings of the apostles is offered to the Gentiles. Indeed, He is greater than the Sabbath, and faith in the gospel is realized in Christ without the burden of transgressing the law.

The distinction between law and grace is illuminated by the Lord Himself, who declares, ‘He who is greater than the temple is here’ (Matt. 12:6). This is further emphasized by the Apostle, who states, ‘If he who rejects the law of Moses, in the presence of two or three witnesses, without mercy, is punished with death, how much more grievous a punishment do you think he will suffer who tramples on the Son of God, and does not regard the blood of the covenant as holy, and offends the Spirit of grace’ (Heb. 10:28-29).

They are indeed superior to the priests because the Lord of the temple is present, the embodiment of Truth rather than just a mere representation: BUT I TELL YOU THAT HE IS HERE WHO IS GREATER THAN THE TEMPLE. If those who serve the temple are found guilty of transgressing the Sabbath, how much more so are the servants of the Lord of the temple. It is unfortunate for you that your focus has been on the strict adherence to the Law, while its deeper significance and true spirit have eluded your understanding; you have shown little interest in grasping its essence, leading to a lack of compassion and a hardened heart in your treatment of others.

During the following two Sabbaths, the significance of the Sabbath and the sanctity of its rest, which had been insufficiently addressed previously due to ongoing disputes with the Pharisees, became much clearer and was articulated more definitively. The first instance occurred when the Lord’s disciples, while traveling from Jerusalem and feeling hungry, plucked heads of grain from a field and ate them after rubbing them in their hands. The second instance involved the miraculous restoration of a man with a withered hand in the synagogue, accomplished solely through His word. This latter event took place in Galilee.

If those who tend to the temple are blameless for interrupting the Sabbath rest, then certainly the servants of the One who is far greater than the temple cannot be held at fault.

If the Rabbis themselves concluded that there is no observance of the Sabbath within the temple, allowing the priests to cut wood, light fires, arrange freshly baked loaves of offerings, slaughter sacrificial animals, and perform circumcisions—even if these actions went against the Sabbath laws they had established and rigidly upheld, being permitted by the law itself (Num. 26:9)—then if the Sabbath can be set aside for the temple’s sake, surely it can also be set aside for the One who is far greater than the temple.

"Here is He who is greater than the temple" captures the Lord's profound assertion of His own greatness as the sovereign of the temple. The temple, along with its structures, rituals, and offerings, serves merely as a shadow of reality, whereas Christ embodies Truth itself; thus, He surpasses the temple as reality exceeds its shadow. If the temple's priests, who serve the symbol, can carry out their duties on the Sabbath without fault, then surely the ministers of the ultimate Truth, who possess the authority to set aside the Sabbath ordinances, are not more culpable for disrupting the Sabbath than when they, out of necessity, gather grains and partake in sustenance for the glory of God on that day.

In relation to the Sabbath, Jesus Christ questioned whether it was not stated in the law that the priests within the temple desecrate the Sabbath and incur guilt. However, He declared that the temple is no longer present. While the law prohibited lighting fire in homes on the Sabbath (Exodus 35:3), it simultaneously commanded the offering of two lambs in addition to the daily sacrifices on this day (Numbers 28:9). In fulfilling this command, the priests were required to slaughter the sacrificial animals, prepare them, and offer them by fire—actions that may seem contradictory to the rest of the Sabbath, yet were not held against them since they were performed within the tabernacle and temple as per God’s directive.