But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
Parallel translations
- WEB But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.
- 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 shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
- 1 Pet 2:4–5To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
- 2 Chr 6:18But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!
- Hag 2:7–9And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
- Eph 2:20–22And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
- Mal 3:1Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
- John 2:19–21Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
- Matt 23:17–21Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
- Col 2:9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead 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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