²³ As he was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain.^{(A) 24} At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”^{(B) 25} He said to them, “Have you never read what David did^[a] when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? ²⁶ How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?”^{(C) 27} Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man,^[b] not man for the sabbath.^{(D) 28 [c]}That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

Chapter 6

Debates About the Sabbath.^{[a] 1 (A)}While he was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.^{(B) 2} Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” ^3 (C)Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you not read what David did when he and those [who were] with him were hungry? ⁴ [How] he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering,^[b] which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions.”^{(D) 5} Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”