Matthew 12 · Verse 14

Matthew 12:14

Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
Matthew 12:14, King James Version

Matthew 12:14 in other translations

BSBBut the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
WEBBut the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how they might destroy him.
ASVBut the Pharisees went out, and took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.
YLTAnd the Pharisees having gone forth, held a consultation against him, how they might destroy him,
DARBYBut the Pharisees, having gone out, took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.
BBEBut the Pharisees went out and made designs against him, how they might put him to death.
WebsterThen the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

What does Matthew 12:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him--This is the first explicit mention of their murderous designs against our Lord. Luke (Lu 6:11) says, "they were filled with madness, and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus." But their doubt was not, whether to get rid of Him, but how to compass it. Mark (Mr 3:6), as usual, is more definite: "The Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him." These Herodians were supporters of Herod's dynasty, created by Cæsar--a political rather than religious party. The Pharisees regarded them as untrue to their religion and country. But here we see them combining together against Christ as a common enemy. So on a subsequent occasion (Mt 22:15, 16). Jesus Retires to Avoid Danger (Mt 12:15-21).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verses 14-21. This account is found also in Mk 3:6-12.

Verse 14. The Pharisees--held a council, etc. Mark adds, that the Herodians also took a part in this plot. They were probably a political party, attached firmly to Herod. Mt 3:7. The friends of Herod were opposed to Christ, and ever ready to join any plot against his life. They remembered, doubtless, the attempts of Herod the Great against him when he was the Babe of Bethlehem; and they were stung with the memory of the escape of Jesus from his bloody hands. The attempt against him now was the effect of envy. They were enraged also that he had foiled them in the argument; they hated his popularity; they were losing their influence; and they, therefore, resolved to take him out of the way.

(1) "council" or, "took counsel"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 Held a council against him - Nothing sooner leads to utter blindness, and hardness of heart, than envy. There are many who abandon themselves to pleasure-taking and debauchery on the Sabbath, who condemn a poor man whom necessity obliges to work on what is termed a holiday, or a national fast.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 12:14-21
The Pharisees took counsel to find some accusation, that Jesus might be condemned to death. Aware of their design, as his time was not come, he retired from that place. Face does not more exactly answer to face in water, than the character of Christ drawn by the prophet, to his temper and conduct as described by the evangelists. Let us with cheerful confidence commit our souls to so kind and faithful a Friend. Far from breaking, he will strengthen the bruised reed; far from quenching the smoking flax, or wick nearly out, he will rather blow it up into a flame. Let us lay aside contentious and angry debates; let us receive one another as Christ receives us. And while encouraged by the gracious kindness of our Lord, we should pray that his Spirit may rest upon us, and make us able to copy his example.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Matthew 12:14 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἘξελθόντεςExelthontesHaving gone outG1831
δὲdenowG1161
οἱhoitheG3588
ΦαρισαῖοιPharisaioiPhariseesG5330
συμβούλιονsumbouliona counselG4824
ἔλαβονelabonheldG2983
κατ᾽kat᾽againstG2596
αὐτοῦautouHimG846
ὅπωςhopōshowG3704
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
ἀπολέσωσιν.¶apolesōsinthey may destroy.G622

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 12:14

  • 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.

  • Mark 3:6

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

  • John 10:39

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

  • 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.

  • Matthew 27:1

    When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
went.
27:1; Mr 3:6; Lu 6:11; Joh 5:18; 10:39; 11:53,57
held a council. or, took counsel.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 12:13

    Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

  • Matthew 12:14

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

  • Matthew 12:15

    But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

Read all of Matthew 12

Matthew 12:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y salidos los Fariseos, consultaron contra él para destruirle.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et les pharisiens, étant sortis, tinrent conseil contre lui pour le faire périr;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Pharisäer aber gingen hinaus und hielten Rat wider ihn, wie sie ihn umbrächten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Exeuntes autem pharisæi, consilium faciebant adversus eum, quomodo perderent eum.