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It was generally believed that the disciples were walking through a field of grain which was probably barley. The disciples were hungry and decided to eat some of the grain. So they picked some heads of grain. In order to eat the kernels, they would rub the heads in their hands in order to remove the husk from the kernel. The Old Testament allowed people to eat from their neighbor’s field if they were hungry (Deut. 23:24-25). However, the law was very specific and did not allow someone to abuse this privilege. They could not reap the entire field for their own use. So the disciples’ action was permitted according to the Mosaic Law.
But the religious rules of the day did not allow the disciples to eat the grain. God had said in Exodus 20:8-10 that the Israelites were not permitted to work on the Sabbath, but the religious rules of the Pharisees had twisted it to prevent anyone from reaping, threshing, and winnowing grain on that day - even just a small amount to satisfy one’s hunger (Mishnah, Shabbat 7.2). This is one example of some thirty-nine categories of various types of work that the Pharisees said were to be avoided. Their religious rules added to God’s law and missed the point of the Sabbath command.
Pharisees’ Response. Some Pharisees saw Jesus and His disciples picking the grain and objected. But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.” (NASB) Matt. 12:2 Did the Pharisees have a group of “spies” constantly watching Jesus and His disciples in order to find fault? While we do not know the answer, it is clear that some Pharisees had to be in the field in order to observe them picking heads of grain. How likely is it that someone would just notice? These leaders did not like what they saw and confronted Jesus with, “. . . it is not lawful.”
It is common for people to add to God’s law. Some churches, sects, and groups add extra laws, rules, or supposed “rules of righteousness.” Sometimes they are taught, and sometimes they are communicated unintentionally. These additional laws and rules is sometimes unique standards that every member of the church are expected to follow. The motivations are usually good, but they are still excessive - beyond what God requires. We can learn much from the Pharisees. They were masters of legalism. It is amazing that the people followed them.
The 1st Reply. Jesus responded to the Pharisees in five different ways. The first one was a reminder that David and his men had illegally eaten the consecrated bread in the temple.
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