MAT 12:1-8

The Lord of the Sabbath

1At that appointed time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. And his disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and eat.

2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath."

3He said to them: "Have you not read what David did when he and those with him were hungry —

4how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of presentation, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but only for the priests?

5Or have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are guiltless?

6But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.

7And if you had known what it means — 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice' — you would not have condemned the guiltless.

8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Jewish practice, Sabbath observance was a defining marker of Jewish identity, governed by strict halakhic (legal) interpretations. The Pharisees, as guardians of these traditions, scrutinized actions for compliance with Sabbath laws, which included prohibitions against harvesting or preparing food. Plucking grain, even for immediate consumption, could be interpreted as 'work,' violating Sabbath rest. Jesus’ disciples’ actions would have been seen as provocative, especially in the context of Galilee, where Pharisees actively sought to enforce Torah observance. Jesus’ response invokes the story of David eating the showbread (1 Samuel 21:1-6), which was reserved for priests but given to David in his need. This appeal to Scripture challenges the Pharisees’ rigid interpretation, emphasizing mercy over ritual purity. The term 'Lord of the Sabbath' asserts Jesus’ authority to redefine Sabbath observance, situating him above Pharisaic legalism and aligning him with divine prerogative.

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How other translations render this

MAT 12:1

KJV: At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.
BSB: At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
Koinōnos: At that appointed time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. And his disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and eat.

MAT 12:2

KJV: But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
BSB: When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
Koinōnos: But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.

MAT 12:3

KJV: But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
BSB: Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
Koinōnos: He said to them: "Have you not read what David did when he and those with him were hungry —

MAT 12:4

KJV: How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
BSB: He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.
Koinōnos: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of presentation, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but only for the priests?

MAT 12:5

KJV: Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
BSB: Or havenʼt you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent?
Koinōnos: Or have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are guiltless?

MAT 12:6

KJV: But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
BSB: But I tell you that One greater than the temple is here.
Koinōnos: But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.

MAT 12:7

KJV: But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
BSB: If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.
Koinōnos: And if you had known what it means — 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice' — you would not have condemned the guiltless.

MAT 12:8

KJV: For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
BSB: For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Koinōnos: For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Where the historical framing draws from

Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.1.2

›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.1.2

“The Jews had for a great while had three sects of philosophy peculiar to themselves; the sect of the Essens, and the sect of the Sadducees, and the third sort of opinions was that of those called Pharisees”

Cited to ground: The Pharisees, as guardians of these traditions, scrutinized actions for compliance with Sabbath laws

Translator's notes

MAT 12:1

time:The word translated 'time' here refers to a specific, opportune moment or season, rather than just a general span of time. It implies a critical or appointed time for something to happen.
Sabbaths:The term used here, though translated as 'Sabbaths' (plural), often referred to a single Sabbath day in 1st-century usage, emphasizing its recurring nature or the collection of Sabbath observances.

MAT 12:2

it is lawful:The phrase translated 'it is lawful' refers to what is permissible or allowed, particularly in a religious or legal sense, often implying divine or traditional sanction.

MAT 12:4

presentation:The word translated 'presentation' refers to something set before others, often with the purpose of display or offering, as in the 'showbread' placed before God in the temple.