Matthew 12:14

¶ Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

Then {G1161} the Pharisees {G5330} went out {G1831}, and held {G2983} a council {G4824} against {G2596} him {G846}, how {G3704} they might destroy {G622} him {G846}.

But the P'rushim went out and began plotting how they might do away with Yeshua.

But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

But the Pharisees went out, and took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.

Commentary

Context of Matthew 12:14

Matthew 12:14 immediately follows a pivotal encounter where Jesus performed a miraculous healing on the Sabbath day, restoring a man's withered hand (Matthew 12:10-13). Jesus' actions, which He justified by asking if it was lawful to do good or to save life on the Sabbath, directly challenged the strict interpretations and traditions of the Pharisees. They viewed His acts of healing on the Sabbath as a violation of their rigid understanding of the Law, particularly concerning the Sabbath rest, and saw it as a direct affront to their religious authority. This verse captures their immediate, hostile reaction to Jesus' display of divine power and compassion.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Escalating Hostility: This verse marks a significant turning point in the conflict between Jesus and the religious establishment. The Pharisees move beyond verbal disputes and questioning to actively plotting Jesus' destruction. Their opposition is no longer merely theological but becomes a deadly conspiracy.
  • Legalism vs. Compassion: The Pharisees' rigid adherence to external rules and traditions, even at the expense of human well-being and genuine compassion, is starkly contrasted with Jesus' emphasis on love and the true spirit of the Law. Their concern for their interpretation of the Sabbath superseded their concern for the suffering man or the divine authority of Jesus.
  • Conspiracy Against Truth: The phrase "held a council against him" reveals a deliberate and organized effort to silence and eliminate Jesus. They perceived Him as a dangerous threat to their power, influence, and established religious order. This foreshadows the ultimate betrayal and crucifixion of Jesus.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "held a council against him" translates the Greek symboulion elabon (συμβούλιον ἔλαβον), which literally means "they took counsel" or "they formed a plan." This was not a casual discussion but a formal, concerted effort to devise a strategy. The word "destroy" (Greek: apollymi - ἀπολλύμι) is significant, meaning to kill, ruin, or utterly abolish. It emphasizes the extreme nature of their intent; they sought to end Jesus' life, not merely to discredit or rebuke Him.

Practical Application and Reflection

Matthew 12:14 offers several enduring lessons for believers today:

  • The Cost of Righteousness: Standing for truth, compassion, and God's true will, especially when it challenges entrenched traditions, religious legalism, or powerful interests, often invites opposition and even hostility. Jesus' life demonstrates that faithfulness can come at a great personal cost.
  • Beware of Religious Blindness: This verse serves as a powerful caution against a form of religiosity that prioritizes human rules and traditions over the spirit of God's law, leading to a loss of compassion, spiritual blindness, and even active opposition to God's work.
  • God's Sovereignty: Despite the malicious intent of the Pharisees and their plots to destroy Jesus, God's divine plan for His Son's life and redemptive mission continued to unfold. This early conspiracy foreshadows the path to the cross, which was ultimately part of God's sovereign plan for the salvation of humanity (Acts 2:23).
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 11:53

    Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

  • Luke 6:11

    And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

  • John 10:39

    ¶ Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

  • Mark 3:6

    And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

  • John 5:18

    Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

  • Matthew 26:4

    And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill [him].

  • John 11:57

    Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew [it], that they might take him.
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