Albert Barnes Commentary Mark 2:23

"And it came to pass, that he was going on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears." — Mark 2:23 (ASV)

The corn fields. The fields sown with grain, wheat, or barley. The word corn, in the Bible, refers only to grain of that kind, and never to maize or Indian corn.

To pluck the ears of corn. They were hungry, (Matthew). They therefore gathered the wheat, or barley, as they walked, and rubbed it in their hands to shell it, and thus to satisfy their appetite.

Though our Lord was with them, and though he had all things at his control, yet he allowed them to resort to this method to supply their wants. When Jesus, thus with his disciples, allowed them to be poor, we may learn that poverty is not disgraceful, that God often allows it for the good of his people, and that he will take care, in some way, that their wants will be supplied.

It was lawful for them thus to supply their wants. Though the property belonged to another, yet the law of Moses allowed the poor to satisfy their wants when hungry. See Deuteronomy 23:25.