John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn , etc.] That is, the corn fields, as the other evangelists express it. It being on a sabbath day, it is very probable, that Christ and his disciples were going to some public place of worship, the way to which lay through some fields of corn, which were now ripe: for Luke says, it was on the second sabbath after the first, or rather the first sabbath after the second; that is, the first sabbath after the second day of the passover, when the sheaf of the first fruit was offered, and harvest was begun. And his disciples were an hungered ; it being in the morning before they had broke their fast; and this circumstance is mentioned to show the reason of the following action, and to excuse it: at which the Pharisees were so much offended, and of which they accused them, as having done what was very criminal: and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat ; Luke adds, rubbing them in their hands; and so here in the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions, it is rendered, they began to rub: as they passed along, they plucked off the ears of corn, either barley or wheat, and rubbed them in their hands, to get the grain clear of the husk, or beard, and eat them; contenting themselves with such mean and unprepared food, when the Jews on that day fed on the best of dainties f706 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Being in the corn-fields, the disciples began to pluck the ears of corn: the law of God allowed it, De 23:25. This was slender provisio for Christ and his disciples; but they were content with it. The Pharisees did not quarrel with them for taking another man's corn, but for doing it on the sabbath day. Christ came to free his followers, no only from the corruptions of the Pharisees, but from their unscriptura rules, and justified what they did. The greatest shall not have their lusts indulged, but the meanest shall have their wants considered Those labours are lawful on the sabbath day which are necessary, an sabbath rest is to froward, not to hinder sabbath worship. Needfu provision for health and food is to be made; but when servants are kep at home, and families become a scene of hurry and confusion on the Lord's day, to furnish a feast for visitors, or for indulgence, the case is very different. Such things as these, and many others commo among professors, are to be blamed. The resting on the sabbath wa ordained for man's good, De 5:14. No law must be understood so as to contradict its own end. And as Christ is the Lord of the sabbath, it is fit the day and the work of it should be dedicated to him.
Greek Textus Receptus
εν 1722 PREP εκεινω 1565 D-DSM τω 3588 T-DSM καιρω 2540 N-DSM επορευθη 4198 5675 V-AOI-3S ο 3588 T-NSM ιησους 2424 N-NSM τοις 3588 T-DPN σαββασιν 4521 N-DPN δια 1223 PREP των 3588 T-GPM σποριμων 4702 A-GPM οι 3588 T-NPM δε 1161 CONJ μαθηται 3101 N-NPM αυτου 846 P-GSM επεινασαν 3983 5656 V-AAI-3P και 2532 CONJ ηρξαντο 756 5662 V-ADI-3P τιλλειν 5089 5721 V-PAN σταχυας 4719 N-APM και 2532 CONJ εσθιειν 2068 5721 V-PAN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. Time (kairw). Rev., season. The word implies a particular time; as related to some event, a convenient, appropriate time; absolutely, a particular point of time, or a particular season, like spring or winter.Corn (sporimwn). From speirw, to sow. Properly, as Rev., corn-fields.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
12:1 {On the sabbath day through the cornfields} (tois sabbasin dia twn sporimwn). this paragraph begins exactly like #11:25 "at that season" (en ekeinwi twi kairwi), a general statement with no clear idea of time. So also #14:1. The word kairos means a definite and particular time, but we cannot fix it. The word "cornfields" does not mean our maize or Indian corn, but simply fields of grain (wheat or even barley).
