Matthew 12:3 - But he said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him;
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What does "Matthew 12:3" mean?
This verse, Matthew 12:3, is part of a larger passage where Jesus is being criticized by the Pharisees for allowing his disciples to pluck grain on the Sabbath. The Pharisees considered this work and therefore a violation of the Sabbath law.
Jesus' response, starting with this verse, uses a rhetorical question to challenge the Pharisees' interpretation of the law. He's asking:
"Haven't you read what David did...?"
Essentially, Jesus is saying, "Don't you know your own scriptures? Haven't you read this story from the Old Testament?"
He's referring to the story of David and his men in 1 Samuel 21:1-6. In that story, David, fleeing from King Saul and in desperate need of food, went to the tabernacle and ate the consecrated bread (the bread of the Presence, or showbread) which was only meant for the priests.
What it Means:
Jesus is using David's example to argue that:
1. Necessity overrides strict adherence to the law: David and his men were hungry and in need. Their need superseded the usual restriction about who could eat the consecrated bread. Jesus is implying that his disciples' hunger similarly justifies their action.
2. The Law is not absolute or inflexible: Jesus suggests the Pharisees' interpretation is too rigid. He's implying the law is meant to serve people, not the other way around. There are times when the spirit of the law (compassion, meeting genuine needs) should take precedence over the literal letter of the law.
3. He is greater than David: By bringing up David, a revered figure in Jewish history, Jesus subtly hints at his own authority. He is about to make a further argument that he is the "Lord of the Sabbath" (Matthew 12:8), suggesting he has the authority to interpret and even modify Sabbath observances.
In short, Jesus is using a past example from Jewish scripture to defend his disciples' actions, challenging the Pharisees' narrow and legalistic view of the Sabbath, and hinting at his own authority as the Messiah.
Matthew 12:3 - But he said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him;
What does "Matthew 12:3" mean?
This verse, Matthew 12:3, is part of a larger passage where Jesus is being criticized by the Pharisees for allowing his disciples to pluck grain on the Sabbath. The Pharisees considered this work and therefore a violation of the Sabbath law.
Jesus' response, starting with this verse, uses a rhetorical question to challenge the Pharisees' interpretation of the law. He's asking:
"Haven't you read what David did...?"
Essentially, Jesus is saying, "Don't you know your own scriptures? Haven't you read this story from the Old Testament?"
He's referring to the story of David and his men in 1 Samuel 21:1-6. In that story, David, fleeing from King Saul and in desperate need of food, went to the tabernacle and ate the consecrated bread (the bread of the Presence, or showbread) which was only meant for the priests.
What it Means:
Jesus is using David's example to argue that:
1. Necessity overrides strict adherence to the law: David and his men were hungry and in need. Their need superseded the usual restriction about who could eat the consecrated bread. Jesus is implying that his disciples' hunger similarly justifies their action.
2. The Law is not absolute or inflexible: Jesus suggests the Pharisees' interpretation is too rigid. He's implying the law is meant to serve people, not the other way around. There are times when the spirit of the law (compassion, meeting genuine needs) should take precedence over the literal letter of the law.
3. He is greater than David: By bringing up David, a revered figure in Jewish history, Jesus subtly hints at his own authority. He is about to make a further argument that he is the "Lord of the Sabbath" (Matthew 12:8), suggesting he has the authority to interpret and even modify Sabbath observances.
In short, Jesus is using a past example from Jewish scripture to defend his disciples' actions, challenging the Pharisees' narrow and legalistic view of the Sabbath, and hinting at his own authority as the Messiah.