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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_12:1-8
1At 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. 2But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, " Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath." 3But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, 4how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? 5Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent? 6But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. 7But if you had known what this means, "I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,'you would not have condemned the innocent. 8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
Mat_12:1 "At that time" Often the Gospel writers used this (and other) time designations as a way to move to a new topic or event, not a pure temporal indicator (cf. Mat_11:25; Mat_12:1; Luk_10:21; Luk_13:1; Act_7:20; Act_12:1; Act_19:23).
▣ "Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath" The Talmud taught that any journey over 2,000 paces on the Sabbath was considered work and therefore not permitted. It is interesting that the crowds, along with the Pharisees and the Scribes, were following Jesus on the Sabbath; therefore, they also were guilty of breaking this Sabbath law. For a full discussion of the origin and theology of the Pharisees, see note at Mat_22:15.
The Gospel writers had to choose certain events and teachings from all that Jesus said and did (cf. Joh_20:30-31) to reveal the new covenant and His Messianic person and work. It almost seems that these writers chose these Sabbath encounters to illustrate how Jesus confronted and dealt with the religious leaders, sects, and traditions of the Talmud. Jesus' good news was different from the legalism and ritualism of Jewish traditions (cf. Mat_5:21-48).
▣ "Sabbath"
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▣ "began to pick the heads of grain and eat" Normally this was legally allowed (cf. Deu_23:25). The problem was that it occurred on the Sabbath (cf. Exo_34:21). From the other Synoptic Gospels we learn that the disciples were hungry. Technically according to the rabbis, they were guilty of several offenses: (1) harvesting, (2) processing, (3) preparing food on the Sabbath and (4) all of this with ceremonially unclean hands.
Mat_12:3 "Have you not read what David did when he became hungry" Jesus' phrasing affirms the inspiration of the OT (cf. Matthew 5; Matthew 17-19). For the historical event see 1Sa_21:1 ff.
Mat_12:4 "the house of God" Mat_12:4 is a historical allusion to the tabernacle (cf. Exodus 25-30) of David's younger days. But it must also refer to the late temple built by Solomon (cf. Mat_12:6). YHWH symbolically dwelt between the wings of the cherubim over the ark of the covenant. Genesis 1 may be YHWH's cosmic temple (see John L. Walton, The Lost World of Genesis One).
NASB "the consecrated bread"
NKJV "the showbread"
NRSV "the bread of the promise"
TEV "the bread offered to God"
NJB "the loaves of the offering"
This referred to "the Showbread" or "the Bread of the Presence" which was placed on the table in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle and later the temple (each weighing over 12 pounds). This seems to have symbolized YHWH's provision and care for His people, not food for YHWH! It was unleavened which linked back to the Exodus (cf. Gen_15:12-21). They became weekly nourishment exclusively for the priests (cf. Lev_24:5-9; Exo_25:30). These twelve loaves were replaced every week. However, under the special conditions of 1 Samuel 21, David was allowed to eat them.
Mat_12:5 "the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent" The Sabbath was a work day for the priests (cf. Num_28:9-10). The verb "break" is literally "treat as common." It is found only here and Act_24:6. The pronominal form is in 1Ti_1:9.
Mat_12:6 "But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here" Some manuscripts have the masculine " someone" (cf. NKJV), but the most attested ancient reading is neuter, "some thing" (cf. NASB, NRSV, TEV, JB). This seems to refer to the Kingdom of God, a veiled Messianic reference (cf. Mat_12:28; Mat_12:41-42). This must have been a shocking statement to these Jews.
Jesus is greater than:
1. the temple, Mat_12:6
2. Jonah, Mat_12:41
3. Solomon, Mat_12:42
4. Jacob, Joh_4:12
5. John the Baptist, Joh_5:36
6. Abraham, Joh_8:53
7. Scripture, Mat_5:21-48; Mar_7:18-19
12: 7 "if you had known what this means" This is a second class conditional sentence called "contrary to fact." Its inference is "If you had known (but you did not), then you would not have condemned the innocent (but you did)."
▣ "I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice"This is a quote from Hos_6:6. It was an example of the preaching of the eighth century prophets, which emphasized attitude over ritual (cf. Mic_6:6-8).
To clarify this theological issue I have included my comments from Hos_6:6.
" I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice" God looks at the heart! Motive is the key (cf. Jer_9:24)! This is one of the key theological passages in the book (cf. Hos_8:7; Hos_11:12). "Loyalty" is the same as Hos_6:4, but here it is true covenant love/loyalty. Jesus used this concept in His discussion with the Pharisees in Mat_9:13; Mat_12:7. This does not imply that God wanted them to stop sacrificing, but to be careful to have the right motive (cf. 1Sa_15:22; Isa_1:11-13; Jer_7:21-23; Amo_5:21-24; Mic_6:6-8). For a good discussion see Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 207-208, 294-295). The sacrificial system was a way to show the seriousness of the sin and the willingness of God to accept sinners into fellowship with Himself. However, when it was turned into ritual without repentance and faith, it became a farce, a barrier to a true interpersonal relationship with God."
Mat_12:8 "For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath" This must have been a great shock to the Jews who had made circumcision and Sabbath keeping almost ultimate (cf. Mar_2:27). Jesus illustrates this truth in His reinterpretations of Moses (cf. Mat_5:20-48). When people raise anything or anyone to the place of ultimate allegiance instead of God Himself (or His Messiah), they become idolaters. For the title "Son of Man" see note at Mat_8:20.