What does Jesus mean in Matthew chapter 12 verses 11 to 12?

Answer 1

He was dining with the "lowlife" and "scum" of society. The "elite" members of society were wondering why, if He was who He was claiming to be, He would want to associate with those people.

The theme of His ministry was salvation. He came to the earth to die on the cross and rise again. He came to heal. People that are well and have nothing wrong with them do not need a doctor.

The "elite" thought to themselves they did not need salvation, so Jesus did not come to them. He came to those that knew they needed salvation. He was there with those that came to Him for what He had to offer. In that case it was the "low-life" and "scum".

Jesus came to save us from being saved by the Law. The Pharisees were working to be saved by keeping the Law and Jesus was telling them that, in their own eyes, they were not in need of any help. They believed they were just fine, thank you all the same. The people Jesus was associating with were 'sinners'; people who knew they could never live up to the demands of the Law to be righteous and so they knew they needed help. Jesus came to give that help; or in his metaphor, be their doctor; so that the rift between man and God could be healed. Remember it was man who created the and not God.

Answer 2

This is what Gill says in his commentary:

and came into his own city; not Bethlehem, where he was born, nor Nazareth, as Jerom thought, where he was educated, but Capernaum, as is clear from Mar_2:1 where he much dwelt, frequently conversed, and his disciples: here he paid tribute as an inhabitant, or citizen of the place, .....

Answer 3

I will iclude the verses to save others looking them up "12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

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.

The over zealous Jews added to what you could and what you could not do on the sabbth day to the extreme. Even to do good as explained in the above verses.

If your cow fell into a pit and would die if not pulled out until the following day, would it not be better to save the cow there by saving it from an agony it might suffer. To do any kindness on the sabbath was a good thing so long as that kindness was in accordance with the will of God. The sabbath does not exclude doing that which is good.

Answer 4

Jesus was at the house of Levi and tax collectors and sinners were in attendance. The Pharisee's saw this and complained asking, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? "Jesus who heard them answered those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Jesus is eating with those who need God and salvation. He is not eating with friends who already know the Lord. The Pharisee's can't understand this and they consider themselves as those who have already attained God's favor, but in reality have not.

Jesus tells them they need to go and truly find God instead of ignoring the inward, eternal precepts of God's law and not just merely preform the outward ceremonies which will not bring them salvation. God desires mercy, loyalty and true worship rather than just sacrifice animals to Him. Jesus' desire was to reachout to sinners and bring them to the knowledge of God.