Big Idea: Matthew portrays Jesus (versus the Jewish leaders) as the true interpreter of the Torah, who understands its center to be mercy and who keeps the Sabbath while also being Lord over it.

Understanding the Text

This passage, which focuses on Jesus as rightly interpreting the Torah, follows directly Matthew’s comparison of Jesus to Wisdom, whose instruction (yoke) is “easy” (11:28–30; cf. 11:19). Here Matthew begins to narrate the heightened conflict between the Galilean Jewish leaders, specifically the Pharisees, and Jesus. This conflict will be the focus of chapter 12. Jesus’ earlier altercations with Galilean Pharisees resulted from his eating with tax collectors and sinners (9:9–13) and his healing activity (9:34). In chapter 12 the conflict arises from his interpretation of Sa…