Matthew 12:1 - Exposition

At that time ( Matthew 11:25 , note) Jesus went ( ἐπορεύθη ) . It has been suggested that he was now on his way to the synagogue spoken of in Matthew 12:9 (but see note there). Wherever he was going, it must have been within about three quarters of a mile distance (two thousand cubits; see Dr. Lumby, on Acts 1:12 , "a sabbath day's journey;" and Schurer, II . 2:102). On the sabbath day . Defined in the Received Text of Luke by the anomalous term "second-first," for the genesis of which see especially Westcott and Hort, 'App.' Through the corn ; the corn-fields (Revised Version, as also Authorized Version in the parallel passages). If it was barley harvest, the time would be probably the beginning of May; if wheat harvest, as seems more likely, about the beginning of June. And his disciples were a hungred . So that it was not for his own sake that our Lord acted as he did. And began . They could therefore hardly have eaten much when the complaint was made. To pluck the ears of corn, and to eat . It was legal to pluck corn from a field through which one passed ( Deuteronomy 23:25 ), and it is said to be allowed still; but as it was held by the scribes to be a form of reaping, and perhaps of threshing also, it was considered illegal on the sabbath (cf. Edersheim, 'Life,' 2.56).