Matthew 12:5

Verse

Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent?

American Standard Version (1901)

Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless?

Bible in Basic English

Or is it not said in the law, how the Sabbath is broken by the priests in the Temple and they do no wrong?

Douay-Rheims 1899

Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple break the sabbath, and are without blame?

Free Bible Version

Haven't you read in the law that on the Sabbath day the priests in the Temple break the Sabbath but are not considered guilty?

Geneva Bible 1599

Or haue ye not read in the Lawe, how that on the Sabbath dayes the Priestes in the Temple breake the Sabbath, and are blameles?

King James (Authorized) Version

Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

One Unity Resource Bible

Or have you not read in the Torah ·Teaching·, that on the Sabbath ·To cease· day, the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath ·To cease·, and are guiltless?

Translation for Translators

Also, think about the laws that Moses wrote [RHQ]. He said that even though the priests, by working in the Temple on our Jewish day of rest, are not obeying the Jewish day of rest laws, they are not guilty. You have surely read that, but you do not understand what it means.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath but are guiltless?

Noah Webster Bible

Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

World English Bible

Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?

Young's Literal Translation

'Or did ye not read in the Law, that on the sabbaths the priests in the temple do profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

Context

The Lord of the Sabbath

⁴He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.⁵Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent?⁶But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.

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Summary

In this verse, Jesus refers to the Old Testament account of David and his men eating the consecrated bread, which was reserved only for the priests. Jesus uses this example to illustrate the principle that mercy and compassion take precedence over legalistic adherence to rules. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the spirit behind the law rather than rigidly following it, showing that God values love, kindness, and grace towards others above strict observance of regulations.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath--by doing "servile work." and are blameless?--The double offerings required on the sabbath day (Num 28:9) could not be presented, and the new-baked showbread (Lev 24:5; Ch1 9:32) could not be prepared and presented every sabbath morning, without a good deal of servile work on the part of the priests; not to speak of circumcision, which, when the child's eighth day happened to fall on a sabbath, had to be performed by the priests on that day. (See on Joh 7:22-23).