The Pulpit Commentary on Matthew 12:12

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

How much then is a man better than a sheep? (Matthew 6:26; Matthew 10:31). Wherefore it is lawful to do well (to do good, Revised Version) on the sabbath days. He answers their question about healing (Matthew 12:10) by enunciating a general principle which would cover more.

"Doing good" (perhaps merely "well-doing," Acts 10:33; 1 Corinthians 7:37; but probably "doing good to" another, cf. Luke 6:26, Luke 6:27; and the parallel passages here, ἀγαθοποιῆσαι ἢ κακοποιῆσαι) is to be one test by which the duty of resting or of working on the sabbath is to be determined.

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