And when he was departed thence ( καὶ μεταβὰς ἐκεῖθεν). The phrase implies more than removal from that place in the corn-fields where he had been accused by the Pharisees, and is to be understood of removal from one town to another, the words that originally preceded this narrative not being recorded (cf.
infra, and Matthew 11:1, note). When. therefore, it took place we have absolutely no means of knowing, save that it was not on the same day as the event recorded in Matthew 12:1-8 (cf. Luke, "on another sabbath"), anti that it was later on in his ministry.
He went into their synagogue. Whose? Hardly the Pharisees mentioned in Matthew 12:2, as this was a different occasion. Possibly the Galilaeans, among whom he then was (of. Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35), or probably the Jews generally (cf.
Matthew 11:1, note). In the two last eases the subject of "they asked," in Matthew 12:10, would be the same as that of "they watched." in Mark (Mark 3:2), namely, the frequenters of the synagogue. among whom the Pharisees naturally took a prominent place.
But it is quite possible that we have here a trace of the use of a fresh source, the αὐτῶν being quite intelligible in its original context.