But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.
Parallel translations
- KJV But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
- BSB But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.
- NKJV Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple.
- NASB But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.
- NLT I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus declares that one greater than the temple is here, namely Himself. His presence and authority surpass even the holiest institution of Israel.
Overview
If temple service rightly overrides Sabbath strictness, how much more does the One greater than the temple. Jesus claims an authority above the center of Israel's worship, an implicit assertion of His divine identity and lordship over the Sabbath (12:8). He is the true meeting place of God and man, to whom the temple itself pointed.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Matt 12:41–42The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here.
- 1 Pet 2:4–5coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.
- 2 Chr 6:18“But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house which I have built!
- Hag 2:7–9and I will shake all nations. The precious things of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says Yahweh of Armies.
- Eph 2:20–22being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
- Mal 3:1“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!” says Yahweh of Armies.
- John 2:19–21Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
- Matt 23:17–21You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?
- Col 2:9For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 12:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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