Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 2:26

"How he entered into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the showbread, which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests, and gave also to them that were with him?" — Mark 2:26 (ASV)

Jesus met the accusation of the Pharisees with a counterquestion about the time when David and his companions were hungry and ate the consecrated bread (1 Samuel 21:1–6; cf. Exodus 25:30; 1 Samuel 35:13; 1 Samuel 39:36; Leviticus 24:5–9). Although the action of David was contrary to the law, he was not condemned for it. Jesus does not claim that the Sabbath law has not been technically broken but that such violations under certain conditions are warranted.