1
On a certain Sabbath Jesus was walking through a field of ripe grain. His disciples were pulling off heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands to get rid of the chaff, and eating them.
2
Some Pharisees said, "Why are you doing that, breaking a Sabbath rule?"
3
But Jesus stood up for them. "Have you never read what David and those with him did when they were hungry?
4
How he entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, bread that no one but priests were allowed to eat? He also handed it out to his companions."
5
Then he said, "The Son of Man is no slave to the Sabbath; he's in charge."
6
On another Sabbath he went to the meeting place and taught. There was a man there with a crippled right hand.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.