Mark 2:24

Mark 2:24, in plain English

The Pharisees challenged Jesus, 'Look—why are Your disciples doing something that's not allowed on the Sabbath?'

Why it's here

The Pharisees had added so many rules to the Sabbath that a simple act of eating had become a legal violation. They were so focused on the rules that they missed the whole point.

Who's speaking

The Pharisees confront Jesus about His disciples' perceived Sabbath violation.

Where it sits in the story

It's a familiar pattern: religious people so focused on the letter of the law that they lose sight of its spirit. Jesus was about to remind them why the Sabbath existed in the first place.

The scholarly reading

The Pharisees challenged Jesus: 'Look (ide), why are they doing what is not lawful (ouk exestin) on the Sabbath?'—accusing His disciples of violating the Sabbath through their grain-plucking.

Language and setting

The Pharisees' question was based on their oral tradition's classification of plucking as 'reaping.' Their challenge was aimed at Jesus as the rabbi responsible for His disciples' behavior.

Voice

The Pharisees confront Jesus about His disciples' Sabbath behavior.

Significance

The Pharisees held Jesus responsible for His disciples' actions, as a rabbi was accountable for his students' conduct. This confrontation would elicit one of Jesus' most important teachings about the Sabbath's purpose.

22And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.”

23One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain as they walked along.

24So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

25Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?

26During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.”

Read all of Mark 2 — Jesus forgives sins, eats with outcasts, and lets his disciples skip fasting. The religious leaders can barely keep up with the offenses.