Matthew 12:1-13 ▼

1 About this time as Jesus passed through the cornfields on the sabbath-day, his disciples being hungry began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat them.

2 And when the pharisees saw it they said to Him, See, thy disciples are doing what is not lawful for them to do on the sabbath.

3 But He replied, Have ye not read what David did, when he, and his attendants, were hungry? how he went into the house of God,

4 and did eat the shew-bread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor those that were with him; but for the priests only? or have ye not read in the law,

5 what profane sort of work the priests do in the temple on the sabbath-days, and yet are blameless?

6 But I tell you, that a greater than the temple is here:

7 and if ye had known what that scripture means, "I desire mercy rather than sacrifice," ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

8 For the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath.

9 And he went away and came into their synagogue: and there being a man there who had a withered hand,

10 they asked Him, if it were lawful to heal on the sabbath-days? that they might accuse Him.

11 But He said unto them, What man of you shall have one of his sheep fall into a pit on the sabbath-day, and will not lay hold of it and lift it out?

12 And of how much more worth is a man than a sheep? Sure then it is lawful to do good on the sabbath-days.

13 Then saith He to the man, Stretch out thine hand: and he stretched it out, and it was made sound like the other.