Matthew 12:1-8

1 Not long afterward Jesus was walking through some wheat fields on a Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began to pick heads of wheat and eat the grain. 1
2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Jesus, "Look, it is against our Law for your disciples to do this on the Sabbath!"
3 Jesus answered, "Have you never read what David did that time when he and his men were hungry? 2
4 He went into the house of God, and he and his men ate the bread offered to God, even though it was against the Law for them to eat it - only the priests were allowed to eat that bread. 3
5 Or have you not read in the Law of Moses that every Sabbath the priests in the Temple actually break the Sabbath law, yet they are not guilty? 4
6 I tell you that there is something here greater than the Temple.
7 The scripture says, "It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices.' If you really knew what this means, you would not condemn people who are not guilty; 5
8 for the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

Cross References 5

  • 1. 12.1Deuteronomy 23.25.
  • 2. 12.3, 4 1 Samuel 21.1-6.
  • 3. 12.4Leviticus 24.9.
  • 4. 12.5Numbers 28.9, 10.
  • 5. 12.7 aMatthew 9.13; bHosea 6.6.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.