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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Mark 2:18-28

Christ had been put to justify himself in conversing with publicans and sinners: here he is put to justify his disciples; and in what they do according to his will he will justify them, and bear them out. I. He justifies them in their not fasting, which was turned to their reproach by the Pharisees. Why do the Pharisees and the disciples of John fast? They used to fast, the Pharisees fasted twice in the week (Luke 18:12), and probably the disciples of John did so too; and, it should seem, this... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 2:23-28

2:23-28 One Sabbath day Jesus was going through the corn fields. His disciples began to pluck the ears of corn as they made their way along. The Pharisees began to say to him, "Look! Why are they doing what is not allowed on the Sabbath?" "Have you never read," he said, "what David did when he and his friends were in need and hungry? Have you never read how he went into the house of God, when Abiathar was High Priest, and ate the shewbread--which none is allowed to eat except the priests--and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 2:24

And the Pharisees said unto him ,.... To Christ, the same they said to his disciples, Luke 6:2 . Behold, why do they on the sabbath day, that which is not lawful ? see how they pluck the ears of corn and rub them, and eat things, which by the law, especially by the traditions of the elders, were not lawful to be done on the sabbath day; See Gill on Matthew 12:2 . read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 2:24

Verse 24 Mark 2:24.Why do they on the Sabbath what is not lawful? The Pharisees do not blame the disciples of Christ for plucking ears of corn from a field that was not their own, but for violating the Sabbath; as if there had been a precept to this effect, that famishing men ought rather to die than to satisfy their hunger. Now the only reason for keeping the Sabbath was, that the people, by sanctifying themselves to God, might be employed in true and spiritual worship; and next, that, being... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:23-28

The sabbath. The grounds upon which the Pharisees and scribes took offense at our Lord and his ministry were various. Some of these—as, e.g. , his claim to pardon sin—were very serious; for in such a case Jesus was either an impostor and blasphemer, or he was the Son of God. Others were very trivial, as, e.g. , his neglect of some unauthorized traditions, or his preference of moral duty to observance of the ceremonial law. In this and in the following incident, the sabbath was the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:23-28

The sabbath made for man. I. The purpose of The sabbath IS TO BE KEPT IN VIEW IN INTERPRETING ITS OBLIGATIONS . II. RULES WHICH DO NOT HAVE REGARD TO THIS MAY VIOLATE WHAT THEY PROFESS TO PRESERVE . 1 . The disciples were within the written permission of the Law. "To pluck and rub with the hand ears from the field of a neighbor was allowed; Moses forbade only the sickle ( Deuteronomy 23:25 ). But the matter belonged to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:23-28

Love greater than law. I. HUMAN LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE MEANS OF LIVING . All laws, ceremonial or otherwise, may be regarded as means towards ends. What end do we know higher than human weal and bliss? Christ points out that this is the real end of legislation—man, his education, his good, physical and spiritual. II. IT IS A GROSS FALLACY TO PUT THE MEANS BEFORE THE END . This the Pharisees did. They said, "Man for the sabbath." Christ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:23-28

Parallel passages: Matthew 12:1-8 ; Luke 6:1-5 .— Sabbath observance. I. WORSHIP , NOT AMUSEMENT , SUITS THE SABBATH . The common heading of this section in the Gospels is, "The disciples pluck the ears of corn on the sabbath day," On this occasion our Lord and his disciples were out walking on the sabbath; but they were not walking for pleasure or even for health. They were on their way to the house of God, as we learn from the parallel passage in St. Matthew, where we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:24

That which is not lawful . The supposed unlawfulness was not the plucking of the ears of corn with the hand, which was expressly permitted by the Law ( Deuteronomy 23:25 ), but the plucking and eating on the sabbath day. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Mark 2:23-28

See Matthew 12:1-8.The cornfields - The fields sown with wheat or barley. The word “corn,” in the Bible, refers only to grain of that kind, and never to “maize” or “Indian corn.”To pluck the ears of corn - They were hungry, Matthew 12:1. They therefore gathered the wheat or barley as they walked and rubbed it in their hands to shell it, and thus to satisfy their appetite. Though our Lord was with them, and though he had all things at his control, yet he suffered them to resort to this method of... read more

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