Matthew 12:1-8 - Plucking Grain On The Sabbath

¹ About that time Jesus was walking through a grainfield on the Sabbath day. His disciples were hungry so began picking off some heads of grain to eat [the kernels]. [Note: It was an accepted practice for people in that day to be permitted to do this as they walked along paths bordering a grainfield]. ² But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is against the law of Moses to do on a Sabbath day."

³ Jesus replied, "Have you not read what King David did when he and his men were hungry? [I Sam. 21:6] ⁴ He entered the house of God [i.e., the Temple] and ate the 'Bread of Presence', which was not permissible, according to the law of Moses, for him or those with him to do, since it was reserved only for the priests. ⁵ Or, have you not read in the law of Moses that the priests in the Temple defiled the Sabbath day [i.e., by doing the 'work' of offering sacrifices] and were not held guilty [of wrongdoing]? [See Num. 28:9-10] ⁶ But I tell you, someone greater than the Temple is here [with you]. ⁷ If you had [fully] understood what this means: 'I desire mercy and not [only] sacrifice,' you would not have condemned someone who was not guilty [of wrongdoing]. ⁸ For the Son of man is lord [i.e., has authority] over the Sabbath day."

²³ And it happened that Jesus was walking through the grainfields on the Sabbath day and His disciples began picking off heads of grain [to eat] as they traveled along. [Note: It was an accepted custom for people in that day to be permitted to do this as they walked along the paths bordering a grainfield]. ²⁴ And the Pharisees asked Him, "Look, why are they [i.e., Jesus' disciples] doing what is against the law of Moses on the Sabbath day?"

²⁵ And He replied to them, "Did you never read what King David did when he and his men were hungry and needed something to eat? [See I Sam. 21:6]. ²⁶ Or how he entered the house of God [i.e., the Temple] when Abiathar was head priest, and ate the 'Bread of Presence' which was not permissible, according to the law of Moses, for anyone but priests? He even gave [some of it] to those who were with him." ²⁷ And Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath day was made for man's [benefit], and not man for the Sabbath [day's benefit]. ²⁸ So, the Son of man is lord [i.e., has authority] even over the Sabbath day."

¹ Now it happened on a Sabbath day that Jesus was walking through some grainfields. His disciples picked off some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands and ate [the kernels]. [Note: It was an accepted practice for people in that day to be permitted to do this as they walked along paths bordering a grainfield]. ² But certain Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is against the law of Moses on the Sabbath day?"

³ And Jesus answered them, "Have you never read about what King David did when he and his men were hungry [I Sam. 21:6]; ⁴ how he entered the house of God [i.e., the Temple] and took some 'Bread of Presence' and ate it, and also gave some to his men to eat? [This practice] was not permissible according to the law of Moses, [since the bread was reserved] only for the priests." ⁵ Then He said to them, "The Son of man is lord [i.e., has authority over] the Sabbath day."