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

¹ About that time Jesus passed on the Sabbath through the wheatfields; and His disciples became hungry, and began to gather ears of wheat and eat them. ² But the Pharisees saw it and said to Him, "Look! your disciples are doing what the Law forbids them to do on the Sabbath."

³ "Have you never read," He replied, "what David did when he and his men were hungry? ⁴ how he entered the House of God and ate the Presented Loaves, which it was not lawful for him or his men to eat, nor for any except the priests? ⁵ And have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the Temple break the Sabbath without incurring guilt? ⁶ But I tell you that there is here that which is greater than the Temple. ⁷ And if you knew what this means, 'It is mercy I desire, not sacrifice', you would not have condemned those who are without guilt. ⁸ For the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath."

²³ One Sabbath He was walking through the wheatfields when His disciples began to pluck the ears of wheat as they went. ²⁴ So the Pharisees said to Him, "Look! why are they doing what on the Sabbath is unlawful?"

²⁵ "Have you never read," Jesus replied, "what David did when the necessity arose and he and his men were hungry: ²⁶ how he entered the house of God in the High-priesthood of Abiathar, and ate the Presented Loaves--which none but the priests are allowed to eat--and gave some to his men also?" ²⁷ And Jesus said to them: "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath; ²⁸ so that the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

¹ Now on the second-first Sabbath while He was passing through the wheatfields, His disciples were plucking the ears and rubbing them with their hands to eat the grain. ² And some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what the Law forbids on the Sabbath?"

³ "Have you never read so much as this," answered Jesus--"what David did when he and his followers were hungry; ⁴ how he entered the house of God and took and ate the Presented Loaves and gave some to his followers--loaves which none but the Priests are allowed to eat?" ⁵ "The Son of Man," He added, "is Lord of the Sabbath also."