Parallel Texts
Sabbath Controversy
New Revised Standard Version
Last Revised: 1/17/01
Matthew 12:1-8 Mark 2:23-28 Luke 6:1-5 John
        12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 12:2 When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath." 12:3 He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 12:4 He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests. 12:5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? 12:6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 12:7 But if you had known what this means, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. 12:8 For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath."          2:23 One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 2:24 The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" 2:25 And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? 2:26 He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions." 2:27 Then he said to them, "The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; 2:28 so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath."          6:1 One sabbathF51 while JesusF52 was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. 6:2 But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawfulF53 on the sabbath?" 6:3 Jesus answered, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 6:4 He entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and gave some to his companions?" 6:5 Then he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath." 


FOOTNOTES:
F51: Other ancient authorities read [On the second first sabbath] 
F52: Gk [he] 
F53: Other ancient authorities add [to do]