Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath^(A)

²³ One Sabbath day, as Jesus was walking through some fields of grain, his ·followers [disciples] began to [make a path and] pick some grain to eat [Deut. 23:25]. ²⁴ The Pharisees said to Jesus, “Why are your followers doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath day?” [^CGleaning was viewed as work, and therefore forbidden on the Sabbath; Ex. 34:21.]

²⁵ Jesus answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and ·those with him [his companions] were hungry and needed food [1 Sam. 21:1–6]? ²⁶ ·During the time of Abiathar [or, In the account about Abiathar] the high priest, David went into God’s house and ate the ·holy bread [consecrated bread; ^Lbread of presentation], which is lawful only for priests to eat [Ex. 25:30; Lev. 24:5–9]. And David also gave some of the bread to those who were with him.”

²⁷ Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, “The Sabbath day was made ·to help people [^Tfor man]; ·they were not made to be ruled by [^Tnot man for] the Sabbath day. ²⁸ So then, the Son of Man is ·Lord [Master] even of the Sabbath day.”

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath^(A)

12 At that time Jesus was walking through some fields of grain on a Sabbath day. His ·followers [disciples] were hungry, so they began to pick the grain and eat it [Deut. 23:25]. ² When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Jesus, “Look! Your ·followers [disciples] are doing what is ·unlawful to do [forbidden] on the Sabbath day.” [^CGleaning was viewed as work, and therefore forbidden on the Sabbath; Ex. 34:21.]

³ Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and ·the people with him [his companions] were hungry? ⁴ He went into God’s house, and he and ·those with him [his companions] ate the ·holy bread [consecrated bread; ^Lbread of presentation], which was ·lawful [allowed] only for priests to eat [Ex. 25:30; Lev. 24:5–9]. ⁵ And have you not read in the ·law of Moses [^LLaw] that on every Sabbath day the priests in the Temple ·break this law about [violate; desecrate; profane] the Sabbath day [^Cby working when they offer sacrifices]? But the priests are ·not wrong for doing that [^Linnocent; not guilty]. ⁶ I tell you that there is ·something [or someone; ^Cmay refer to Jesus himself or to the arrival of the kingdom] here that is greater than the Temple. ⁷ The Scripture says, ‘I want ·kindness more than I want animal sacrifices [^Lmercy and not sacrifice; Hos. 6:6].’ If you ·understood [had known] what these words mean, you would not have ·judged those who have done nothing wrong [condemned the innocent/guiltless].

⁸ “·So [For] the Son of Man is ·Lord [Master] of the Sabbath day.”

Jesus Is Lord over the Sabbath^(A)

6 One Sabbath day Jesus was walking through some fields of grain. His ·followers [disciples] picked the heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them [Deut. 23:25]. ² Some Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is ·not lawful [forbidden] on the Sabbath day?” [^CGleaning was viewed as work, and therefore forbidden on the Sabbath; Ex. 34:21.]

³ Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and ·those with him [his companions] were hungry [1 Sam. 21:1–6]? ⁴ He went into God’s house and took and ate the ·holy bread [consecrated bread; ^Lbread of presentation], which is ·lawful [allowed] only for priests to eat [Ex. 25:30; Lev. 24:5–9]. And he gave some to ·the people who were with him [his companions].” ⁵ Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, “The Son of Man [^Ca title for the Messiah; Dan. 7:13–14] is ·Lord [Master] of the Sabbath day.”