The Incident In The Grainfields (12:1-8).
The first incident arises when Jesus and His disciples are walking through some grainfields. Being hungry they pluck some of the grain, and eat it. This is then picked up by the Pharisees who basically claim that by doing so they are reaping and threshing the grain, an activity which was ‘work', and therefore forbidden on the Sabbath.
Analysis.
a At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the grainfields, and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck ears and to eat (Matthew 12:1).
b But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, “Behold, your disciples do what it is not lawful to do on the sabbath” (Matthew 12:2).
c But he said to them, “Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him, how he entered into the house of God, and ate the showbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?” (Matthew 12:3-4).
d “Or have you not read in the law, that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless?” (Matthew 12:5).
c “But I say to you, that one greater than the temple is here” (Matthew 12:6).
b “And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice', you would not have condemned the guiltless” (Matthew 12:7).
a “For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath.”
Note that in ‘a' the disciples break the traditions of the elders concerning the Sabbath and in the parallel Jesus declares that as Son of Man He is lord of the Sabbath. In ‘b' the declaration is that they have done what was not lawful, and in the parallel Jesus accuses them of condemning the guiltless. In ‘c' David's behaviour in connection with God's house is declared, and in the parallel Jesus points out that He is greater than God's house. In ‘d' and centrally He makes the point that the priest can break the Sabbath rules and yet remain guiltless, thus there are some things that do genuinely override the Sabbath.