Luke 6:3

3 Jesus answered them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his men were hungry?

Luke 6:3 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 6:3

And Jesus answering them, said
For they brought the charge against the disciples to him, being desirous to know what he would say, and that they might have something to accuse him of; and who, at once, took up the cause of his disciples, and vindicated them, by observing what David did, when he, and his men were an hungry; how that he went into the tabernacle, and took the showbread, and ate of it, and gave it to his men, who also ate of it; which, according to the law, was only allowed to priests; and by taking notice of another instance, which this evangelist does not relate; namely, how on the sabbath days the priests, by doing various servile works, profaned the sabbath day, and yet were not charged with any blame; (See Gill on Matthew 12:3). (See Gill on Matthew 12:4). (See Gill on Matthew 12:5).

Luke 6:3 In-Context

1 Once, on a day of worship, Jesus was walking through some grainfields. His disciples were picking the heads of grain, removing the husks, and eating the grain.

2 Some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are your disciples doing something that is not right to do on the day of worship?"

3 Jesus answered them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his men were hungry?

4 Haven't you read how he went into the house of God, ate the bread of the presence, and gave some of it to the men who were with him? He had no right to eat those loaves. Only the priests have that right."

5 Then he added, "The Son of Man has authority over the day of worship."