Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 12:1

"At that season Jesus went on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck ears and to eat." — Matthew 12:1 (ASV)

The Jewish rules of conduct about the Sabbath were extremely detailed, though for many Jews of Jesus’ day, the Sabbath was a joyful festival, a sign of the covenant, a reminder of divine creation in six days, and, provided the rules were obeyed, a means of gaining merit for Israel.

The point at issue in this section is burdensome Pharisaic regulations (cf.

contrast to 11:28–30). The scene depicted here seems to be the disciples going on a Sabbath afternoon stroll within the permitted legal distance (a Sabbath day’s journey); otherwise the Pharisees would not have been there. As they were doing so, they picked some grain along the path .