Matthew 12:1-9

1 One Sabbath, Jesus was strolling with his disciples through a field of ripe grain. Hungry, the disciples were pulling off the heads of grain and munching on them.

2 Some Pharisees reported them to Jesus: "Your disciples are breaking the Sabbath rules!"

3 Jesus said, "Really? Didn't you ever read what David and his companions did when they were hungry,

4 how they entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, bread that no one but priests were allowed to eat?

5 And didn't you ever read in God's Law that priests carrying out their Temple duties break Sabbath rules all the time and it's not held against them?

6 "There is far more at stake here than religion.

7 If you had any idea what this Scripture meant - 'I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual' - you wouldn't be nitpicking like this.

8 The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath; he's in charge."

9 When Jesus left the field, he entered their meeting place.