Matthew 12:1-8

Matthew 12:1-8

[1] 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.  [2] But  when the Pharisees  it, they said  unto him,  Behold,  disciples  do  that which  not  lawful  to do  upon  the sabbath day.  [3] But  he said  unto them,  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  did eat  the shewbread,  which  not  lawful  for him  to eat,  neither for  them which  were with him,  only  for the priests?  [5] Or  not  read  in  the law,  how that  on the sabbath days  the priests  in  the temple  profane  the sabbath,  and  blameless?  [6] But  I say  That  in this place  the temple.  [7] But  if  ye had known  what  I will have  mercy,  and  not  sacrifice,  ye would  not  have condemned  the guiltless.  [8] For  the Son  of man  Lord  of the sabbath day. 

What does Matthew 12:1-8 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The immediate connection between this section and what precedes is twofold. The first is the theme of rising opposition ( Matthew 11:2 to Matthew 13:53), and the second is the heavy yoke of Pharisaic tradition that made the Israelites weary and heavy laden ( Matthew 11:28-30). The aim of the Sabbath was to provide rest, which Jesus said those who took His yoke upon themselves would find. It was not to provide a burden, which the Pharisees had made it by their traditions.
Matthew recorded that Pharisaic opposition began when Jesus forgave sins ( Matthew 9:1-8). It increased when Jesus associated with tax collectors and sinners ( Matthew 9:9-13). Now it boiled over because Jesus did not observe the Pharisees" legalistic traditions. [1]
". . . the leaders (Pharisees), in charging the disciples with breaking the law by plucking grain on the sabbath and hence working, do what they heretofore have not done: they engage Jesus himself in direct debate ( Matthew 12:1-8)." [2]