Matthew 12 · Verse 6

Matthew 12:6

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
Matthew 12:6, King James Version

Matthew 12:6 in other translations

BSBBut I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.
WEBBut I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.
ASVBut I say unto you, that one greater than the temple is here.
YLTand I say to you, that a greater than the temple is here;
DARBYBut I say unto you, that there is here what is greater than the temple.
BBEBut I say to you that a greater thing than the Temple is here.
WebsterBut I say to you, that in this place is one greater than the temple.

What does Matthew 12:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. 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.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 6. One greater than the temple. Here he 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 the Jewish 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 men to do a thing contrary to the Divine laws. He refers them again to a passage he had before quoted, Mt 9:13 showing that God preferred acts of righteousness, rather than a precise observance of a ceremonial law.

Mark adds, Mk 2:27 "the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." That is, the Sabbath was intended for the welfare of man; designed to promote his happiness; and not to produce misery, by harsh, unfeeling requirements. It is not to be so Interpreted as to produce suffering, by making the necessary supply of wants unlawful. Man was not made for the Sabbath. Man was created first, and then the Sabbath was appointed for his happiness, Gen 2:1-3. His necessities, his real comforts and wants, are not to bend to that which was made for him. The laws are to be interpreted favourably to his real wants and comforts. This authorizes works only of real necessity, not of imaginary wants, or amusement, or common business, and worldly employments.

To crown all, Christ says that he was Lord of the Sabbath. He had a right to direct the manner of its observance--undoubted proof that he is Divine.

(q) "greater than" 2Chr 6:18, Mal 3:1, Mt 23:17-21

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 In this place is one greater than the temple - Does not our Lord refer here to Mal 3:1? Compare this with Heb 3:3. The Jews esteemed nothing greater than the temple, except that God who was worshipped in it. Christ, by asserting he was greater than the temple, asserts that he was God; and this he does, in still more direct terms, Mat 12:8, The Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath - is Institutor and Governor of it. Compare this with Gen 2:3 (note), and see the notes there.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 12:1-8

Being in the corn-fields, the disciples began to pluck the ears of corn: the law of God allowed it, De 23:25. This was slender provision for Christ and his disciples; but they were content with it. The Pharisees did not quarrel with them for taking another man's corn, but for doing it on the sabbath day. Christ came to free his followers, not only from the corruptions of the Pharisees, but from their unscriptural…

Read the full comment on Matthew 12:1-8 →

Matthew 12:6 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.

λέγωlegōI sayG3004
δὲdehoweverG1161
ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771
ὅτιhotithatG3754
τοῦtouthan theG3588
ἱεροῦhi'eroutempleG2411
μεῖζόνmeizona greaterG3173
ἐστινestinisG1510
ὧδε.hōdehere.G5602

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

Cross references for Matthew 12:6

  • Matthew 12:41-42

    The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

  • 2 Chronicles 6:18

    But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!

  • 1 Peter 2:4-5

    To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

  • Malachi 3:1

    Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

  • Haggai 2:7-9

    And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.

  • John 2:19-21

    Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.

  • Ephesians 2:20-22

    And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

  • Matthew 23:17-21

    Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. …

  • Colossians 2:9

    For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
41,42; 23:17-21; 2Ch 6:18; Hag 2:7-9; Mal 3:1; Joh 2:19-21
Eph 2:20-22; Col 2:9; 1Pe 2:4,5

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

Context

  • Matthew 12:5

    Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

  • Matthew 12:6

    But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

  • Matthew 12:7

    But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

Read all of Matthew 12

Matthew 12:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Pues os digo que uno mayor que el templo está aquí.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais je vous dis qu’il y a ici quelque chose de plus grand que le temple.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich sage euch aber: Größeres als der Tempel ist hier.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dico autem vobis, quia templo major est hic.