The verse "He departed there, and went into their synagogue" (Matthew 12:9) is a straightforward statement of Jesus's movement and activity. Let's break it down:
"He departed there..." This means Jesus left the place he was in prior to this verse. To understand where he was leaving, you'd need to look at the preceding verses (Matthew 12:1-8). Those verses describe Jesus and his disciples being in a grainfield on the Sabbath. So, "there" refers to the grainfield.
"...and went into their synagogue." This means Jesus went to the local Jewish synagogue.
"Synagogue" was a Jewish house of worship and community gathering place. It served as a center for prayer, scripture reading, teaching, and often legal and social matters.
"Their" is significant. It indicates that this was their synagogue, implying it was a local synagogue, likely in the region he was currently visiting. It was a place frequented and maintained by the local Jewish community.
In essence, the verse describes Jesus leaving the grainfield and entering the local synagogue. It sets the scene for the events that follow. It is a transitional verse indicating that he is now in a new location and that this location is a place of religious importance.
Why is this significant?
Jesus's Regular Practice: It reflects Jesus's common practice of going to synagogues to teach and preach. He would often take the opportunity to engage with the Jewish community in their places of worship.
Foreshadowing Conflict: It sets the stage for potential conflict. Synagogues were often places where Jesus encountered opposition from religious leaders who disagreed with his teachings or challenged his authority. The events in the following verses (Matthew 12:10-13) involving the healing of a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, immediately after this verse, illustrate this potential conflict.
Connection to Judaism: It highlights that Jesus ministered within a Jewish context. He operated within the framework of Jewish religious and social life, even as he offered new interpretations and teachings.
Therefore, while seemingly simple, the verse provides a crucial link in the narrative, showing Jesus's active engagement within the Jewish religious setting and foreshadowing potential confrontations with established religious authorities. It's the "setting the scene" verse before the drama unfolds.
The verse "He departed there, and went into their synagogue" (Matthew 12:9) is a straightforward statement of Jesus's movement and activity. Let's break it down:
"He departed there..." This means Jesus left the place he was in prior to this verse. To understand where he was leaving, you'd need to look at the preceding verses (Matthew 12:1-8). Those verses describe Jesus and his disciples being in a grainfield on the Sabbath. So, "there" refers to the grainfield.
"...and went into their synagogue." This means Jesus went to the local Jewish synagogue.
"Synagogue" was a Jewish house of worship and community gathering place. It served as a center for prayer, scripture reading, teaching, and often legal and social matters.
"Their" is significant. It indicates that this was their synagogue, implying it was a local synagogue, likely in the region he was currently visiting. It was a place frequented and maintained by the local Jewish community.
In essence, the verse describes Jesus leaving the grainfield and entering the local synagogue. It sets the scene for the events that follow. It is a transitional verse indicating that he is now in a new location and that this location is a place of religious importance.
Why is this significant?
Jesus's Regular Practice: It reflects Jesus's common practice of going to synagogues to teach and preach. He would often take the opportunity to engage with the Jewish community in their places of worship.
Foreshadowing Conflict: It sets the stage for potential conflict. Synagogues were often places where Jesus encountered opposition from religious leaders who disagreed with his teachings or challenged his authority. The events in the following verses (Matthew 12:10-13) involving the healing of a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, immediately after this verse, illustrate this potential conflict.
Connection to Judaism: It highlights that Jesus ministered within a Jewish context. He operated within the framework of Jewish religious and social life, even as he offered new interpretations and teachings.
Therefore, while seemingly simple, the verse provides a crucial link in the narrative, showing Jesus's active engagement within the Jewish religious setting and foreshadowing potential confrontations with established religious authorities. It's the "setting the scene" verse before the drama unfolds.