Luke 6:4 kjv
How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?
Luke 6:4 nkjv
how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?"
Luke 6:4 niv
He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions."
Luke 6:4 esv
how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?"
Luke 6:4 nlt
He went into the house of God and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests can eat. He also gave some to his companions."
Luke 6 4 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
1 Sam 21:1-6 | David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest... priest gave him the consecrated bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence... | The historical incident Jesus refers to, David's necessity. |
Matt 12:3-4 | He said to them, “Have you not read what David did...how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence...?” | Synoptic parallel, Jesus' argument regarding David. |
Mark 2:25-26 | He said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and hungry...how he entered the house of God...and ate the bread of the Presence...?” | Synoptic parallel, emphasizes David's hunger/necessity. |
Lev 24:5-9 | You shall take fine flour...and set them in two rows, six in each row, on the pure gold table before the LORD. And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place... | Mosaic Law explicitly detailing the sacredness of the bread of the Presence and its restriction to priests. |
Exod 25:30 | You shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly. | Commandment to continually place the showbread. |
Exod 29:32-33 | Aaron and his sons shall eat the meat of the ram and the bread that is in the basket, at the entrance of the tent of meeting...No one else shall eat it, for it is holy. | Priestly consumption of holy offerings, emphasizing restriction. |
Num 4:7 | Over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth... | Regulations concerning the sacred objects in the tabernacle. |
Deut 23:25 | If you go into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor’s standing grain. | Law permitting gleaning, relevant to disciples' action (Luke 6:1). |
Hos 6:6 | For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. | Divine preference for mercy/compassion over strict ritual observance, often cited by Jesus. |
Matt 9:13 | Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ | Jesus citing Hos 6:6 to challenge Pharisaic legalism, connecting mercy to interpretation of law. |
Matt 12:7 | And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. | Jesus' further application of Hos 6:6 to the Sabbath issue. |
1 Sam 21:7 | Now a certain man of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD; his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul’s herdsmen. | Context of Doeg witnessing David's action, later betraying him, showing potential repercussions for sacred law violations. |
1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession... | Christian believers as a "royal priesthood," hints at expanded access to holy things in Christ. |
Heb 13:10 | We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. | Contrasts Old Covenant practices with Christian understanding, where believers can "eat" spiritual food. |
John 6:35 | Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger...” | Jesus identifies Himself as the true, sustaining bread, superseding ceremonial bread. |
1 Cor 10:16 | The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? | New Covenant "holy food" (communion), accessible to all believers, contrast with Old Covenant restrictions. |
Mark 2:27-28 | And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” | Jesus' assertion of authority over the Sabbath law, leading from the Davidic precedent. |
Luke 6:5 | And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” | Immediate continuation, asserting Christ's authority, interpreting the Davidic precedent. |
Lev 8:31-32 | And Moses said to Aaron and his sons, “Eat the flesh...and the bread that is in the basket of consecration...eat it at the entrance of the tent of meeting, as I have commanded.” | Reinforcement of exclusive priestly consumption during consecration rites. |
Matt 5:17-18 | “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away...” | Jesus' stance on the Law; His actions are fulfillment, not mere disregard. |
John 2:19-21 | Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” ...He was speaking about the temple of his body. | Jesus identifies as a greater "house of God," where access to divine presence is through Him. |
Col 2:16-17 | Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. | New Covenant understanding where ritual observances are shadows fulfilled in Christ. |
Luke 6 verses
Luke 6 4 Meaning
Luke 6:4 recounts how David, in a time of need, entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him. Jesus uses this historical account as a defense for His disciples who had picked grain on the Sabbath, implying that necessity can override strict ritual law, even regarding something sacred.
Luke 6 4 Context
Luke 6:4 is part of a series of Sabbath controversies (Luke 6:1-11). In the verses immediately preceding (Luke 6:1-2), Jesus' disciples are observed plucking grain on the Sabbath, an act the Pharisees deemed unlawful "work." The context highlights the tension between Jesus' teachings and the rigid legal interpretations of the Pharisees concerning the Sabbath law. Jesus defends His disciples by citing David's actions regarding the sacred bread, a powerful precedent that challenged the Pharisees' narrow application of the law. This incident demonstrates Jesus' authority to reinterpret and apply the Law, elevating the principle of mercy and human need over strict ritual observance, setting the stage for His declaration of being "Lord of the Sabbath."
Luke 6 4 Word analysis
- how he entered: Referring to David (from 1 Sam 21). This act of David was a known biblical event.
- the house of God: Greek: οἶκον τοῦ θεοῦ (oikon tou theou). In the context of 1 Samuel 21, this refers to the tabernacle at Nob where the priest Ahimelech served. It signifies a consecrated place dedicated to God's presence and worship. David's entry into this sacred space during an unusual circumstance highlights the extreme nature of his need.
- and took: An act of appropriation, not of theft, but a request and reception from the priest, based on desperate necessity.
- the bread of the Presence: Greek: τοὺς ἄρτους τῆς προθέσεως (tous artous tēs protheseōs). Also known as showbread. These were twelve loaves, always fresh, placed on the golden table in the Holy Place of the tabernacle/temple (Exod 25:30; Lev 24:5-9). They represented Israel's covenant communion with God. They were extremely holy, renewed weekly, and strictly reserved for the priests as a holy portion.
- which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat: This highlights the violation of a clear Mosaic Law (Lev 24:9). The law was precise and limited consumption of this bread to the Aaronic priesthood alone, emphasizing its unique sanctity.
- and also gave it: David not only ate it himself but shared it with his hungry men. This demonstrates a shared breaking of the ritual law, emphasizing David's leadership and the severity of the hunger impacting his companions.
- to those with him: David's companions, desperate and hungry like him. This further reinforces the principle of necessity applying not just to David but to others under his care.
Luke 6 4 Bonus section
- The Davidic precedent chosen by Jesus is particularly potent as David was an ancestor of the Messiah and a highly respected figure in Jewish tradition. His actions carried significant weight, making it difficult for the Pharisees to easily dismiss.
- Jesus presents David's act not as a sin, but as a righteous act justified by necessity and accepted by God. This implicitly sanctifies acts of compassion and mercy, even if they deviate from rigid ritual norms.
- The comparison between David, who was establishing his kingdom, and Jesus, who was initiating His Messianic kingdom, hints at Jesus' even greater authority to redefine religious practices, especially those pertaining to access to the "holy" (like the bread). This moves toward the New Covenant understanding where access to God is no longer restricted by a Levitical priesthood or specific ceremonial laws, but is open to all through Christ.
Luke 6 4 Commentary
Luke 6:4 is Jesus' masterful use of an Old Testament precedent to address the Pharisees' legalistic condemnation of His disciples. By recalling David's action, Jesus highlights several crucial points:
- Necessity Overrides Ritual: Even holy laws, such as the exclusive consumption of showbread by priests, can be superseded by dire human need (hunger). David, Israel's most revered king, broke a sacred ritual law not due to disrespect, but necessity.
- Authority and Righteousness: David was considered a man after God's own heart. His act, though a technical violation, was deemed acceptable by God due to the circumstances. Jesus implicitly aligns Himself and His disciples with David's righteous conduct under duress.
- God's Compassion: This incident underscores God's valuing of human life and mercy over rigid adherence to ceremonial law. This aligns with Jesus' repeated emphasis on God desiring "mercy, not sacrifice" (Hos 6:6; Matt 9:13; 12:7).
- Forecasting New Covenant Freedom: This passage begins to lay the groundwork for understanding the greater authority of Christ. If David, a king, could permit his men to break a sacred ritual law out of necessity, then Jesus, the Messiah and Son of God, has ultimate authority, especially over the Sabbath and other ceremonial laws. The episode suggests a re-evaluation of how laws, especially those that become a burden rather than a blessing, should be understood under divine authority.The core message is that laws, even sacred ones, are meant to serve humanity for their good, and their strict interpretation can sometimes hinder divine compassion and human flourishing.