| Mark 2:23-28 | Matt. 12:1-8 | Luke 6:1-5 |
| 23 And it came to pass, that he was going on the sabbath day through the cornfields; and his disciples 3began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. 24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? 25 And he said unto them, Did ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? 26 How he entered into the house of God 4when Abiathar was high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat, save for the priests, and gave also to them that were with him? 27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28 so that the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath.b | 1 At that season Jesus went on the sabbath day through the cornfields; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck ears of corn, and to eat. 2 But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do upon the sabbath. 3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4 how he entered into the house of God, and 1did eat the shewbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath [see Num. 28:9-10], and are guiltless? 6 But I say unto you, that 2one greater than the temple is here. 7 But if ye had known what this meaneth [see Hos. 6:6], I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath. | 1 Now it came to pass on a 5sabbath, that he was going through the cornfields [see Deut. 23:25]; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. 2 But certain of the Pharisees said, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath day [see [John 5:10]; Ex. 20:10; Deut. 5:14]? 3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read even this, what David did, when he was an hungred, he, and they that were with him [see Lev. 24:9; 1 Sam. 21:1-6]; 4 how he entered into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests alone? 5 And he said unto them, The Son of man is lord of the sabbath. |
1 Some ancient authorities read they did eat.
2 Gr. a greater thing.
3 Gr. began to make their way plucking.
4 Some ancient authorities read in the days of Abiathar the high priest.
5 Many ancient authorities insert second-first.
a Because in [Mark 3:7] Jesus withdraws to the Sea of Galilee.
b Note the five arguments made by Jesus in defence of the conduct of the disciples on the Sabbath (the historical appeal in the conduct of David, the appeal to the law about the temple service, the voice of prophecy, the purpose of God in the Sabbath, and the lordship of the Messiah over the Sabbath). Jesus had already ([John 5:17]) argued that he was equal to the Father and hence had the right to do certain things (acts of mercy) on the Sabbath.