Matthew 12 3

Matthew 12:3 kjv

But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

Matthew 12:3 nkjv

But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:

Matthew 12:3 niv

He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

Matthew 12:3 esv

He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:

Matthew 12:3 nlt

Jesus said to them, "Haven't you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

Matthew 12 verses

Matthew 12 3 Meaning

Matthew 12:3 recounts Jesus's direct challenge to the Pharisees' accusation that His disciples broke the Sabbath. Jesus responds with a rhetorical question, appealing to the Pharisees' own knowledge of the Scriptures. He reminds them of an event from the Old Testament concerning David, a figure revered by all Israelites, who, out of necessity, ate the consecrated showbread, an act ordinarily reserved only for priests. This serves as Jesus's initial defense, highlighting that exceptional circumstances, particularly human need and hunger, can take precedence over strict ritualistic interpretations of the law, foreshadowing a deeper theological principle of mercy over sacrifice.

Matthew 12 3 Context

Matthew 12 opens with a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees over Sabbath observance. Jesus's disciples, while walking through grain fields, became hungry and began to pick heads of grain and eat them, an action allowed by Deuteronomic law for sustenance (Deut 23:25) but deemed "work" by the Pharisees on the Sabbath. This accusation reflects the legalistic rigidity of some Jewish leaders who prioritized their interpretations of the law over its underlying compassionate intent. Jesus's response in Matthew 12:3 initiates His counter-argument by drawing on established biblical precedent and a well-known historical figure (David) to expose the flaw in their judgmental reasoning, challenging their authority and legalistic understanding of God's commands. Historically, Jewish interpretations of Sabbath law, particularly among the Pharisees, had become very detailed and burdensome, sometimes losing sight of the day's purpose of rest and restoration for humanity (Mk 2:27).

Matthew 12 3 Word analysis

• He said (εἶπεν - eipen): From the Greek verb lego, meaning "to speak, say." It signifies Jesus's authoritative response and direct engagement with the Pharisees, challenging their legalistic mindset.

• to them (αὐτοῖς - autois): Refers to the Pharisees, as explicitly stated in Matthew 12:2, who were accusing Jesus's disciples. This highlights the confrontational nature of the dialogue between Jesus and the religious authorities.

• Have you not read (Οὐκ ἀνέγνωτε - Ouk anegnote): This is a rhetorical question, characteristic of rabbinic argumentation. Anaginōskō means "to read aloud, to study carefully, to acknowledge through reading." It implies that the Pharisees, as experts in the Law and Prophets, should have known these Scriptures intimately. Jesus suggests their extensive reading has not led to true understanding or spiritual insight. This challenges their presumed expertise and moral authority.

• what David did (τί ἐποίησεν Δαυείδ - ti epoiēsen Dauid): Refers to a specific event recorded in 1 Samuel 21:1-6. David, a foundational figure in Israel's history and an ancestor of the Messiah, acts as a precedent. His actions, under dire necessity, were never condemned in Scripture. This comparison sets up an important parallel: David, a righteous king, broke a ceremonial law due to necessity, and now Jesus’s disciples, ministering with the Lord, do the same.

• when he and his companions were hungry (ὅτε ἐπείνασεν αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ μετ’ αὐτοῦ - hote epeinasen autos kai hoi met' autou): This phrase emphasizes the mitigating circumstance: severe hunger (ἐπείνασεν - epeinasen meaning "to be hungry," specifically pointing to actual need). It establishes a direct parallel between David's situation and that of the disciples, indicating that human necessity can, in certain circumstances, take precedence over ritual law, aligning with the spirit of compassion.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "He said to them, 'Have you not read...?'": Jesus is using the Pharisees' own framework against them. Their reliance on external adherence to the law is questioned by their lack of spiritual comprehension of its deeper principles, especially as demonstrated by well-known biblical events and figures they supposedly honored.
  • "what David did when he and his companions were hungry?": This phrase frames the argument in terms of an ethical dilemma involving legitimate human need (hunger) overriding a cultic prescription (showbread for priests only). It establishes a significant parallel between the urgency and the necessity of the circumstances that led David to act outside the established priestly rules and the present hunger of Jesus's disciples, which similarly justified their "unlawful" act in the Pharisees' eyes. This subtly prepares the ground for Jesus's assertion of authority and His emphasis on mercy.

Matthew 12 3 Bonus section

The Rabbis of Jesus's day were known for their sophisticated methods of scriptural interpretation, often using precedent and analogical reasoning. Jesus here employs one such method, drawing a "lesser to greater" argument implicitly. If David, Israel's beloved king, was blameless in eating the holy bread due to hunger, how much more blameless are the disciples who, acting in accordance with divine purpose alongside the "Lord of the Sabbath," are satisfying a basic human need? This passage subtly lays groundwork for understanding that Jesus doesn't abolish the Law but correctly interprets and fulfills it, revealing its ultimate purpose to be love for God and neighbor, and ultimately pointing to His identity as the Messiah, greater than David and the Temple (Matt 12:6-8). The polemic is against legalism that loses sight of God's character and compassionate intent, creating burdens for people rather than offering rest and grace.

Matthew 12 3 Commentary

In Matthew 12:3, Jesus initiates His powerful counter-argument to the Pharisees by employing a tactic of ad hominem logic mixed with scriptural reasoning, demonstrating His mastery of the Old Testament. He appeals to an event well-known to the Pharisees: David, a man after God's own heart, and his companions, in a moment of dire hunger, ate the sacred showbread reserved solely for priests (1 Sam 21:1-6). This act, while technically a violation of cultic law (Lev 24:9), was not condemned by God. Jesus's rhetorical question, "Have you not read?", is a subtle rebuke, implying that the Pharisees, despite their rigorous study of Scripture, failed to grasp its deeper principles of compassion and contextual application. It challenges their superficial interpretation of the law, suggesting they miss the spirit for the letter. By aligning His disciples' act of satisfying hunger with David's, Jesus posits that mercy and human need, particularly under necessity, transcend strict legalistic observances, paving the way for His pronouncements about His own authority and the true meaning of the Sabbath. For instance, Jesus is showing that God's law has a heart of compassion and is not merely a rigid set of rules; necessity can sometimes set aside a literal command without violating God's will. A modern parallel could be prioritizing emergency medical care on a holy day over a customary religious gathering.