Divinity of Jesus in the Synoptics: Matthew 12:1-8

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Can any honest person, even a skeptic, read Matthew chapter 12 and still say that Jesus does not present himself as divine in the synoptics?

“At that time Jesus went through the cornfields one Sabbath day. His disciples were hungry and began to pick ears of corn and eat them. The Pharisees noticed it and said to him, ‘Look, your disciples are doing something that is forbidden on the Sabbath.’ But he said to them, 'Have you not read what David did when he and his followers were hungry-how he went into the house of God and they ate the loaves of the offering although neither he nor his followers were permitted to eat them, but only the priests? Or again, have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath day the Temple priests break the Sabbath without committing any fault?
Now here, I tell you, is something greater than the Temple. And if you had understood the meaning of the words: Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the blameless. For the Son of man is master of the Sabbath.”

Regarding Matthew 12:6, I’ll let Bishop Robert Barron explain it better than I could: “[Jesus] is affirming unambiguously that he is divine, since for first century Jews, only Yahweh himself would be greater than the Jerusalem Temple.”

 
The gospel of John is not one of the Synoptic’s, but I find this biblical historical scene very convincing of Jesus divinity. When I contemplate Jesus Word’s in the bold, proves to me, Jesus is proclaiming both His divine divinity and His person in Presence as the divine Son of God.

John 10:24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; *no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, **‘I have said you are “gods” ? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said,

> ‘I am God’s Son?'

’?** 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.
 
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Here is what John the Baptist said about Jesus;

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”)… 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
 
I’ve heard it said that for those who Believe no “proof” is necessary and that for those who refuse to Believe no “proof” is enough.

Jesus uses this in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man as He puts in the mouth of Abraham the “proof:” ‘they have the Law and the Prophets; if they do not believe, they will not believe even if a man (Jesus) returns from the dead.’

As you’ve pointed out this, and many other examples, demonstrate that Jesus is claiming His Divinity–yet, those who do not wish to hear or see will remain blind and deaf.

Maran atha!

Angel
 
I recommend reading Dr. Brant Pitre’s The Case For Jesus. Pitre deals directly with the question of Jesus’ divinity in the synoptic Gospels as well as the question of the reliability (i.e., authorship and dating) of the synoptic Gospels. Pitre’s doctorate work was in New Testament and Judaism, excellent areas for dealing with this question.
 
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I read and enjoyed it. Looking forward to Pitre’s new book on the Old Testament being published this May.
 
Me too! Between Pitre and his co-author, John Bergsma, it should be well worth the wait.
 
Jesus said many times that his authority was given him by God.
Can any honest person, even a skeptic, claim that God needed to be given authority?
 
I think you’re too mad to pay attention to what is being said.

If you are to take this literally, how do you reconcile with Jesus Giving everything to the Holy Spirit Because everything that Belongs to the Father is His?

The language and resolution makes it possible for us to begin to understand God–it never limits God!

Maran atha!

Angel
 
God is ineffable. The word “given” may simply be the best word we have in English; the true meaning is most likely beyond our comprehension.
 
Jesus is never said to "everything to the Holy Spirit ".
Everything that Belongs to the Father is his- because it was GIVEN to him.
God already HAD it…
 
So what, you’re a Jehovah’s Witness then right? Love to hear you explain “something greater than the temple is here”? Or, you know, the entire Gospel of John.
 
No, I know what it was: Jesus. God. Jesus is referring to himself as greater than the temple, period.

It was not a condescending question. I am interested in your interpretation of this passage since you deny Jesus’ divinity. And like I said, the entire Gospel of John, too.
 
I agree it WAS Jesus.
God did not come Himself- but sent his son, though.
 
Only God himself would be greater than the temple to a first century Jew. Any other interpretation of this passage lacks the proper context. At least in my opinion; you are welcome to yours.
 
KJW5551 said:
Only God himself would be greater than the temple to a first century Jew. Any other interpretation of this passage lacks the proper context. At least in my opinion; you are welcome to yours.
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Heb 1:1- Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2- but in lastly He has spoken to us by his son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world.

The one He sent as King of Kings was as still IS greater.
 
I concur.

Yet, the Word existed from the Beginning with God and the Word, that Existed from the Beginning was God–the Revelation about the Father and the Son and the Distribution/Delegation of Power and Authority is only a medium to convey God’s Reality in terms that the human mind can assimilate… or are you caught in that trap that the Jehovah Witnesses find themselves in where they appeal to Scriptures (God’s Revelation about God) but refuse God’s Word while embracing their own interpretations?

We cannot choose to accept Scriptures where they seem to define Christ as human or a demigod while ignore Scriptures where Christ’s Divinity is fully stated.

Maran atha!

Angel
 
The Temple was meant to be God’s dwelling place on earth. Since Jesus is God incarnate, “something greater than the Temple” is exactly what Jesus is.
 
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