Luke 6:4 - how he entered into God’s house, and took and ate the show bread, and gave also to those who were with him, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?”
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Luke 6:4" mean?
This verse, Luke 6:4, is part of a story Jesus tells to defend his disciples' actions. Let's break it down:
"how he entered into God’s house...": This refers to David (later king David), a significant figure in Jewish history. He entered the tabernacle (a portable sanctuary that preceded the temple) or possibly a later iteration of it.
"...and took and ate the show bread...": The "show bread" (also called the "bread of the Presence") was twelve loaves of unleavened bread that were placed on a special table in the tabernacle/temple. They were replaced every Sabbath, and the old loaves were reserved for the priests to eat.
"...and gave also to those who were with him...": David shared the bread with his companions.
"...which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?": This highlights the transgression. According to Jewish law, only the priests were permitted to eat the show bread.
Meaning and Significance:
The story of David and the show bread is found in 1 Samuel 21:1-6. Jesus uses this story to illustrate a few key points:
1. Human need outweighs rigid adherence to the law in exceptional circumstances: David and his men were hungry and in dire need. Jesus implies that their need justified breaking the ritual law.
2. Jesus claims authority over the law: By using this example and implicitly condoning David's action, Jesus suggests that there is a higher principle than strict adherence to the letter of the law. This is a recurring theme in Jesus' teachings and is central to the conflict between him and the religious leaders of his time.
3. Jesus identifies with David's situation: The disciples of Jesus were in a similar situation to David and his companions – they were hungry. Jesus uses the story to defend his disciples from criticism.
4. Fulfillment of prophecy (sometimes): Some interpretations also see David's actions foreshadowing Jesus. The fact that David, a future king, ate the consecrated bread could be seen as a symbolic parallel to Jesus, who is considered a greater king and the Bread of Life.
Context in Luke 6:
In the broader context of Luke 6, Jesus' disciples were criticized for picking and eating grain on the Sabbath (the Jewish day of rest). The religious leaders argued that this violated the Sabbath laws. Jesus responds with the story of David and the show bread, as well as another argument regarding the purpose of the Sabbath, culminating with the statement: "The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Luke emphasizes the contrast between legalistic interpretations of the law and the needs of people. Jesus uses these examples to show that the law is meant to serve humanity, not the other way around.
Luke 6:4 - how he entered into God’s house, and took and ate the show bread, and gave also to those who were with him, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?”
What does "Luke 6:4" mean?
This verse, Luke 6:4, is part of a story Jesus tells to defend his disciples' actions. Let's break it down:
"how he entered into God’s house...": This refers to David (later king David), a significant figure in Jewish history. He entered the tabernacle (a portable sanctuary that preceded the temple) or possibly a later iteration of it.
"...and took and ate the show bread...": The "show bread" (also called the "bread of the Presence") was twelve loaves of unleavened bread that were placed on a special table in the tabernacle/temple. They were replaced every Sabbath, and the old loaves were reserved for the priests to eat.
"...and gave also to those who were with him...": David shared the bread with his companions.
"...which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?": This highlights the transgression. According to Jewish law, only the priests were permitted to eat the show bread.
Meaning and Significance:
The story of David and the show bread is found in 1 Samuel 21:1-6. Jesus uses this story to illustrate a few key points:
1. Human need outweighs rigid adherence to the law in exceptional circumstances: David and his men were hungry and in dire need. Jesus implies that their need justified breaking the ritual law.
2. Jesus claims authority over the law: By using this example and implicitly condoning David's action, Jesus suggests that there is a higher principle than strict adherence to the letter of the law. This is a recurring theme in Jesus' teachings and is central to the conflict between him and the religious leaders of his time.
3. Jesus identifies with David's situation: The disciples of Jesus were in a similar situation to David and his companions – they were hungry. Jesus uses the story to defend his disciples from criticism.
4. Fulfillment of prophecy (sometimes): Some interpretations also see David's actions foreshadowing Jesus. The fact that David, a future king, ate the consecrated bread could be seen as a symbolic parallel to Jesus, who is considered a greater king and the Bread of Life.
Context in Luke 6:
In the broader context of Luke 6, Jesus' disciples were criticized for picking and eating grain on the Sabbath (the Jewish day of rest). The religious leaders argued that this violated the Sabbath laws. Jesus responds with the story of David and the show bread, as well as another argument regarding the purpose of the Sabbath, culminating with the statement: "The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Luke emphasizes the contrast between legalistic interpretations of the law and the needs of people. Jesus uses these examples to show that the law is meant to serve humanity, not the other way around.