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But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? (NASB) Matt. 12:3-4 The event Jesus refers to is recorded in 1 Samuel 21:1-6. The passage tells us that David and his men were hungry. After they entered the house of God, they asked the priest for something to eat. The priest explained that there was no ordinary bread and gave them the consecrated bread.
Mark 2:26 adds that this event occurred during the “time of Abiathar the high priest.” However, 1 Samuel 21:1 records that Ahimelech was the priest. The two passages are not in conflict because Mark’s wording is precise when he says “during the time” of Abiathar. That is, the event occurred during the time in which Abiathar was alive. He was the man who would some day become the high priest. Abiathar was a constant friend of David and more famous than Ahimelech. Therefore, it is not surprising that Jesus referred to Abiathar. The event did occur during the life of Abiathar. He would become the high priest later.
Both scripture and Josephus tell us that the consecrated bread was actually twelve loaves. The loaves were stacked six in a row and two high (Antiquities of the Jews, 3.6.6; Lev. 24:5-6) on the Table of Showbread which was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. The bread was called the “Bread of the Presence” according to Exodus 25:30. The actual Hebrew wording is the “Bread of the Face.” It symbolizes Jesus’ presence - His life. We live because He lives. Later in our study series Jesus will declare,
I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh. (NASB) John 6:51
Therefore, the table with the bread symbolized spiritual life in Jesus.
According to Lev. 24:9 the bread was supposed to be eaten only by the priests in the Holy Place (Lev. 24:9). Yet, David and his men ate this bread and escaped God’s judgment. Why did they escape? We will see in a few verses that God showed these men compassion. God’s law was broken, but He allowed David and his men to escape. Their hunger was more important than the keeping of the law.
Jesus’ logic was strong and accurate. God’s Sabbath law was for our good and, therefore, He allowed it to be broken. The Pharisees’ Sabbath rules were not equal to or greater than God’s Sabbath law. If God allowed exceptions to His Sabbath law on rare occasions, then shouldn’t the Pharisees?
The 2nd Reply. Then Jesus reminded the Pharisees that even the priests work every Sabbath. They break the Pharisees’ rules. Even God’s law allowed them to work on the Sabbath.
Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent? (NASB) Matt. 12:5 In fact, both Numbers 28:9-10 and Leviticus 24:8-9 required the priests to work twice as hard on the Sabbath, and they escaped punishment. God wanted the priests to minister to the people on the Sabbath. So they worked on the Sabbath. The Sabbath laws were not absolute. The law was for the benefit of the people, and the Pharisees were in violation of God’s law. |
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| Life & Heart of Jesus | ||||||
