'At that time Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath (Mt. 12:1-8).”
Jesus continued to challenge the Pharisees and tried to show them the true interpretation of the Law. He is not against the Torah (The Law) or the sabbath but the additional laws the Pharisees have added for the Israelites to observe were not in keeping with God’s intent. For example, God said to keep the sabbath day holy (Ex. 20: 8-11) but the Rabbis added 39 different kinds of work that were forbidden. Jesus taught that the sabbath rest was not broken by service to God or neighbor. The disciples were hungry not Jesus and Matthew gave four reasons why the disciples were not breaking the sabbath rest; David ate the holy bread that only the priests were allowed to eat (1 Sam 21:1-7), the priests ate bread and grain (Lev. 23:10-14), God’s mercy, and Jesus is Lord of the sabbath. The Pharisees rejected Jesus’ works despite all the miracles he did. If one does not have a merciful heart, it is difficult for one to recognize God’s works.
Almighty God, in your mercy help us to keep your commandments in the way you desire. Let us not be discouraged by things of little consequence and grant us the grace to discern what is meaningful in your eyes and what will lead us to your kingdom. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
Jose M. Casciaro, Santiago Ausin, Gonzalo Aranda, Claudio Basevi, Vincente Balaguer, Francisco Varo, James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy & Thomas McGovern (Eds.). (2017). The Navarre Bible - New Testament. Dublin 8, Ireland: Four Courts Press.
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