Matthew 12:1
ESV
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.
NIV
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them.
NASB
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat.
CSB
At that time Jesus passed through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick and eat some heads of grain.
NLT
At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them.
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.
NKJV
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.
What does Matthew 12:1 mean?
In the previous verses, Jesus offered rest for the souls of those who were weary and burdened if they would take His yoke on them (Matthew 11:28–30). His meaning was not about physical work, but the spiritual condition of the people. Jesus' faithful Jewish listeners were weary and burdened due to the excessive legalism and restrictions placed on them by their religious leaders. Most prominent among these were the Pharisees: an extremely legalistic sect who added many layers to the laws given to Moses.This verse begins a confrontation between the Pharisees and Jesus about one of these difficult restrictions.
Jesus and His disciples are walking through a planted field of grain. They begin to pluck off the heads of grain and eat them. This is not theft; the law allowed people to pluck grain or grapes by hand from a neighbor's field or vineyard, so long as one did not harvest the grain with a sickle or put the grapes in a bag (Deuteronomy 23:24–25). This allowed those who were poor to find food in the harvest season without taking too much from the profits of their neighbors.
However, the Pharisees will still pounce on Christ and His followers. This event takes place on the Jewish Sabbath. The Sabbath began at sundown on Friday evening and continued through sundown on Saturday evening. According to Pharisees traditional interpretation of—and addition to—the law, this is "work." That, in their view, violates the fourth commandment (Exodus 20:8–11).
Matthew 12:1–8 finds Jesus' hungry disciples breaking the heads off grain and eating as they walk through a field with Him on the way to the synagogue. Some Pharisees tell Jesus this is unlawful. In their interpretation, this is a violation of the command not to work on the Sabbath. Jesus counters the accusation with a series of questions, showing their manmade restriction cannot stand. Their legalistic, expanded view doesn't reflect God's intended meaning of the Sabbath. The Pharisees must learn that God desires mercy, not sacrifice. He declares Himself greater than the temple, and Lord of the Sabbath.
Matthew 12 features confrontations between the Pharisees and Jesus over several issues. Among these are working on the Sabbath, healing on the Sabbath, and the source of His power to cast out demons. Jesus counters each argument and rebukes the Pharisees sharply for their obstinate unbelief. He even notes that those who maliciously ascribe His miracles to demons are unforgivable. He warns them, and the rest of their current generation, about the judgment to come. Jesus calls the Pharisees a brood of vipers and rejects their demand for another miracle. All they'll be promised is the sign of Jonah. The Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days. Jesus also states that all who do His Father's will are His family.
