Mark 2:24
New International Version
The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

New Living Translation
But the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look, why are they breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?”

English Standard Version
And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

Berean Standard Bible
So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

Berean Literal Bible
And the Pharisees were saying to Him, "Behold, why do they that which is unlawful on the Sabbaths?"

King James Bible
And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

New King James Version
And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

New American Standard Bible
The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

NASB 1995
The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

NASB 1977
And the Pharisees were saying to Him, “See here, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

Legacy Standard Bible
And the Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

Amplified Bible
The Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

Christian Standard Bible
The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

American Standard Version
And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

Contemporary English Version
Some Pharisees asked Jesus, "Why are your disciples picking grain on the Sabbath? They are not supposed to do that!"

English Revised Version
And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Pharisees asked him, "Look! Why are your disciples doing something that is not permitted on the day of worship?"

Good News Translation
So the Pharisees said to Jesus, "Look, it is against our Law for your disciples to do that on the Sabbath!"

International Standard Version
The Pharisees asked him, "Look! Why are they doing what is not lawful on Sabbath days?"

Majority Standard Bible
So the Pharisees said to Him, ?Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath??

NET Bible
So the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is against the law on the Sabbath?"

New Heart English Bible
And the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And the Pharisees said to him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath that which is not lawful?

Weymouth New Testament
So the Pharisees said to Him, "Look! why are they doing what on the Sabbath is unlawful?"

World English Bible
The Pharisees said to him, “Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the Pharisees said to Him, “Behold, why do they do on the Sabbaths that which is not lawful?”

Berean Literal Bible
And the Pharisees were saying to Him, "Behold, why do they that which is unlawful on the Sabbaths?"

Young's Literal Translation
and the Pharisees said to him, 'Lo, why do they on the sabbaths that which is not lawful?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the Pharisees said to him, Behold, why do they in the sabbaths what is not lawful.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Pharisees said to him: Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

Catholic Public Domain Version
But the Pharisees said to him, “Behold, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbaths?”

New American Bible
At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”

New Revised Standard Version
The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the Pharisees said to him, Look what they are doing on the sabbath! that which is unlawful.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing something that is illegal on the Sabbath?”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And the Pharisees said to him: See, why are they doing on the sabbath-day what is not lawful?

Godbey New Testament
And the Pharisees continued to say to Him, Behold what they are doing on the Sabbath, which is not lawful.

Haweis New Testament
And the Pharisees said to him, See, why are they doing on the sabbath, what is not lawful?

Mace New Testament
upon which the Pharisees said to him, pray observe how they trespass on the sabbath-day.

Weymouth New Testament
So the Pharisees said to Him, "Look! why are they doing what on the Sabbath is unlawful?"

Worrell New Testament
And the Pharisees said to them, "Behold, why are they doing on the sabbath that which is not lawful?"

Worsley New Testament
And the pharisees said to Him, See, why do they what is not lawful to be done on the sabbath-day?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Lord of the Sabbath
23One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain as they walked along. 24So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” 25Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?…

Cross References
Matthew 12:2
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”

Luke 6:2
But some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

Exodus 20:8-11
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. / Six days you shall labor and do all your work, / but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. ...

Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. / Six days you shall labor and do all your work, / but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox or donkey or any of your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest as you do. ...

Matthew 23:4
They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

Luke 13:14
But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. “There are six days for work,” he told the crowd. “So come and be healed on those days and not on the Sabbath.”

Luke 14:3-5
So Jesus asked the experts in the law and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” / But they remained silent. Then Jesus took hold of the man, healed him, and sent him on his way. / And He asked them, “Which of you whose son or ox falls into a pit on the Sabbath day will not immediately pull him out?”

John 5:9-10
Immediately the man was made well, and he picked up his mat and began to walk. Now this happened on the Sabbath day, / so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “This is the Sabbath! It is unlawful for you to carry your mat.”

John 7:22-23
But because Moses gave you circumcision, you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath (not that it is from Moses, but from the patriarchs.) / If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with Me for making the whole man well on the Sabbath?

Acts 15:10
Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?

Colossians 2:16-17
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. / These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.

Galatians 4:10
You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

Romans 14:5
One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

Nehemiah 13:15-22
In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day. / Additionally, men of Tyre who lived there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem. / Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day? ...

Isaiah 58:13-14
If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words, / then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.


Treasury of Scripture

And the Pharisees said to him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

why.

Mark 2:7,16
Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? …

Matthew 7:3-5
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? …

Matthew 15:2,3
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread…

that.

Exodus 20:10
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

Exodus 31:15
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

Exodus 35:2,3
Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death…

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Mark 2
1. Jesus followed by multitudes,
3. heals a paralytic;
13. calls Matthew;
15. eats with tax collectors and sinners;
18. excuses his disciples for not fasting;
23. and for picking the heads of grain on the Sabbath day.














So the Pharisees said to Him
The Pharisees were a prominent religious group in Judaism during the time of Jesus. They were known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the oral traditions that had developed around it. Their question to Jesus reflects their role as religious authorities who were concerned with maintaining the purity of Jewish law. The Pharisees often confronted Jesus, as seen in other passages like Matthew 12:2 and Luke 6:2, where they challenge His actions and teachings. This interaction highlights the growing tension between Jesus and the religious leaders, which is a recurring theme in the Gospels.

“Look, why are they doing
The Pharisees' question is accusatory, drawing attention to the actions of Jesus' disciples. This reflects their focus on external observance of the law rather than the heart or intent behind actions. The use of "Look" indicates their intent to publicly challenge Jesus and His followers, suggesting a desire to discredit Him. This moment is part of a series of confrontations that illustrate the differing interpretations of the law between Jesus and the Pharisees.

what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
The Sabbath was a day of rest instituted by God in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11). By the time of Jesus, numerous additional rules had been added to define what constituted "work" on the Sabbath. The disciples were picking grain, which the Pharisees considered reaping, a form of work prohibited on the Sabbath. This reflects the broader debate about the purpose of the Sabbath, which Jesus addresses in Mark 2:27, emphasizing that the Sabbath was made for man's benefit. The Pharisees' interpretation of the law is contrasted with Jesus' teaching, which focuses on mercy and the spirit of the law, as seen in Matthew 12:7. This incident foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of the law in Christ, who is Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
Central figure in the New Testament, the Son of God, who is teaching and performing miracles.

2. Pharisees
A religious group in Judaism known for strict adherence to the Law and traditions. They often challenged Jesus' teachings and actions.

3. Disciples
Followers of Jesus who were learning from His teachings and actions.

4. Sabbath
A day of rest and worship observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening, as commanded in the Old Testament.

5. Grainfields
The setting where the disciples were picking heads of grain, leading to the Pharisees' challenge.
Teaching Points
Understanding the Sabbath
The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. It is a gift for rest and spiritual renewal, not a burden.

Legalism vs. Mercy
Jesus challenges the Pharisees' legalistic interpretation of the Law, emphasizing mercy and compassion over strict rule-keeping.

Authority of Jesus
Jesus asserts His authority over the Sabbath, indicating His divine role and understanding of God's intentions.

Heart of Worship
True worship involves understanding God's heart and intentions, not just following rituals.

Practical Compassion
Our actions should reflect God's love and compassion, prioritizing human need over rigid adherence to rules.Verse 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.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[So]
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Pharisees
Φαρισαῖοι (Pharisaioi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5330: Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.

said
ἔλεγον (elegon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

to Him,
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

“Look,
Ἴδε (Ide)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2400: See! Lo! Behold! Look! Second person singular imperative middle voice of eido; used as imperative lo!

why
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

are they doing
ποιοῦσιν (poiousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

what
(ho)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

is unlawful
ἔξεστιν (exestin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1832: It is permitted, lawful, possible.

on the
τοῖς (tois)
Article - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Sabbath?”
σάββασιν (sabbasin)
Noun - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4521: The Sabbath, a week.


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NT Gospels: Mark 2:24 The Pharisees said to him Behold why (Mar Mk Mr)
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