Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 6:3

"And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read even this, what David did, when he was hungry, he, and they that were with him;" — Luke 6:3 (ASV)

Jesus’ response (v.3) centers in an analogy from Scripture (1 Samuel 21:1–6). He calls to mind an instance in which the infringement of a rule to meet human need received no condemnation. Note too that the Scriptural analogy and the present incident involve a Davidic figure and his companions. The point is that ceremonial rites must give way to a higher moral law.