Jesus Answers the Pharisees in the Grain FieldBible World
12:3Matthew 12:3
But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
Jesus answered the Pharisees who accused His hungry disciples of breaking the Sabbath for plucking heads of wheat and eating the kernels by pointing to David when he was hungry entering the house of God and eating the shewbread lawful only for priests. He defended His disciples with divine authority and declared them guiltless, because gathering and eating to satisfy hunger was in harmony with the Sabbath commandment and not a violation of it. Pressing human need is met above the letter of the rule, so mercy takes precedence over ceremonial restriction and relieving the suffering of man or beast on the Sabbath is lawful. He violated no commandment of the Decalogue and was without fault, while His accusers acted from ignorance of the Scriptures and the true principles of the law, rejecting human rules that misrepresented God even as they accused the Maker and Lord of the Sabbath of breaking it. He answered by directing people to what Scripture says rather than to human authority, showing Scripture is the living Word and a sure guide for truth and work.
Context and Sabbath Vindication
The question was put to the accusers after they had followed to hinder healing of the sick and preaching to the poor, bringing a charge of Sabbath-breaking against hungry disciples who had plucked heads of wheat, rubbed out the kernels in their hands, and eaten them. The answer pointed to what David did when he was hungry with his men, entering the house of God and eating the shewbread that was lawful only for the priests. That precedent of David and his hungry companions was applied to the disciples plucking grain in the field, to prove them guiltless.
The setting is hunger, and a hungry person passing through was permitted to take and eat food from another person's field, so the disciples' action in passing through the field accorded with that law. The saying belongs to the account of going through the cornfield plucking ears of grain. That account is discussed together with the healing of the withered hand. It also belongs to Sabbath travels in which teaching was given outdoors by the lakeside, showing Sabbath instruction did not have to take place within enclosed walls.
The charge that gathering and rubbing grain to satisfy hunger broke the Sabbath was denied, and those who so acted were declared guiltless. Gathering and eating to satisfy hunger was in harmony with the Sabbath commandment, not a violation of it. The defense was made with divine authority, establishing the innocence of the disciples.
Sabbath Principle and Scripture
Pressing human need is met above the letter of the rule, for the appeal to David when he was hungry with his men entering the house of God and eating the shewbread lawful only for priests proves the hungry disciples guiltless. Human need and mercy take precedence over ceremonial restriction, so relieving the suffering of man or beast on the Sabbath is lawful and in harmony with God's commandment. No commandment of the Decalogue was violated, and Christ was without fault. His accusers acted from ignorance of the Scriptures and of the true import and principles of the law He Himself had given in the pillar of cloud, and had they known what I will have mercy, and not sacrifice means, they would not have condemned the guiltless. So groundless was the charge that false witnesses had to be hired to condemn Him.
In this Sabbath controversy human rules that misrepresented God were rejected, and the Sabbath was kept according to God's law despite hostility. The dispute accused the One who made the Sabbath and is its Lord of breaking it. That human judgment could condemn even the greatest Teacher despite clear evidence He was sent by God reveals blindness to the Sabbath's purpose and object.
Questions were answered by directing people to what Scripture says rather than by relying on human authority or merely giving His own answer. Scripture is the living Word and a sure guide for understanding truth and carrying out the work God gives. As in His temptation, its testimony drives Satan back and protects the soul that relies on it.
Jesus answered the Pharisees who accused His hungry disciples of breaking the Sabbath for plucking heads of wheat and eating the kernels by pointing to David when he was hungry entering the house of God and eating the shewbread lawful only for priests.
He defended His disciples with divine authority and declared them guiltless, because gathering and eating to satisfy hunger was in harmony with the Sabbath commandment and not a violation of it.
Pressing human need is met above the letter of the rule, so mercy takes precedence over ceremonial restriction and relieving the suffering of man or beast on the Sabbath is lawful.
He violated no commandment of the Decalogue and was without fault, while His accusers acted from ignorance of the Scriptures and the true principles of the law, rejecting human rules that misrepresented God even as they accused the Maker and Lord of the Sabbath of breaking it.
He answered by directing people to what Scripture says rather than to human authority, showing Scripture is the living Word and a sure guide for truth and work.
Context and Sabbath Vindication
The question was put to the accusers after they had followed to hinder healing of the sick and preaching to the poor, bringing a charge of Sabbath-breaking against hungry disciples who had plucked heads of wheat, rubbed out the kernels in their hands, and eaten them. The answer pointed to what David did when he was hungry with his men, entering the house of God and eating the shewbread that was lawful only for the priests. That precedent of David and his hungry companions was applied to the disciples plucking grain in the field, to prove them guiltless.
The setting is hunger, and a hungry person passing through was permitted to take and eat food from another person's field, so the disciples' action in passing through the field accorded with that law. The saying belongs to the account of going through the cornfield plucking ears of grain. That account is discussed together with the healing of the withered hand. It also belongs to Sabbath travels in which teaching was given outdoors by the lakeside, showing Sabbath instruction did not have to take place within enclosed walls.
The charge that gathering and rubbing grain to satisfy hunger broke the Sabbath was denied, and those who so acted were declared guiltless. Gathering and eating to satisfy hunger was in harmony with the Sabbath commandment, not a violation of it. The defense was made with divine authority, establishing the innocence of the disciples.
Sabbath Principle and Scripture
Pressing human need is met above the letter of the rule, for the appeal to David when he was hungry with his men entering the house of God and eating the shewbread lawful only for priests proves the hungry disciples guiltless. Human need and mercy take precedence over ceremonial restriction, so relieving the suffering of man or beast on the Sabbath is lawful and in harmony with God's commandment. No commandment of the Decalogue was violated, and Christ was without fault. His accusers acted from ignorance of the Scriptures and of the true import and principles of the law He Himself had given in the pillar of cloud, and had they known what I will have mercy, and not sacrifice means, they would not have condemned the guiltless. So groundless was the charge that false witnesses had to be hired to condemn Him.
In this Sabbath controversy human rules that misrepresented God were rejected, and the Sabbath was kept according to God's law despite hostility. The dispute accused the One who made the Sabbath and is its Lord of breaking it. That human judgment could condemn even the greatest Teacher despite clear evidence He was sent by God reveals blindness to the Sabbath's purpose and object.
Questions were answered by directing people to what Scripture says rather than by relying on human authority or merely giving His own answer. Scripture is the living Word and a sure guide for understanding truth and carrying out the work God gives. As in His temptation, its testimony drives Satan back and protects the soul that relies on it.