Mark 2:24

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Bible in Basic English

And the Pharisees said to him, Why are they doing what it is not right to do on the Sabbath?

Free Bible Version

The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Look, why are they doing what is not permitted on the Sabbath?”

Geneva Bible 1599

And the Pharises saide vnto him, Beholde, why doe they on the Sabbath day, that which is not lawfull?

King James (Authorized) Version

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

One Unity Resource Bible

The Pharisees [Separated] said to him, “Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath ·To cease· day?”

Plain English Version

Some of the Pharisee mob saw Jesus’s followers doing that. That mob were strong for the Jewish law, so they got angry. They said to Jesus, “Your mob are doing the wrong thing. Our Jewish law says that today is the rest day. But your mob are getting seeds off those plants. That is work. They are breaking our law.”

Translation for Translators

Some of the Pharisees saw them doing what they considered to be work. So they said to him, “Look! ◄They should not be doing on our ◄Sabbath day/day of rest► work that our laws forbid!/Why are they doing on our ◄Sabbath day/day of rest► work that our laws forbid?► [RHQ]”

Unlocked Literal Bible

The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing something that is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”

Noah Webster Bible

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

World English Bible

The Pharisees said to him, “Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”

Young's Literal Translation

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

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?”

Summary

In Mark 2:24, the Pharisees question Jesus' disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath, accusing them of breaking the law. This incident reveals the Pharisees' legalistic approach to observing the Sabbath and their tendency to prioritize rules over compassion. Jesus responds by highlighting the principle of mercy over sacrifice, emphasizing the importance of understanding the spirit of the law rather than just the letter. This encounter sets the stage for Jesus to teach about the true meaning of Sabbath rest and to challenge the religious leaders' rigid interpretations of God's commandments.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And he said unto them,.... By way of answer to their question, and which was a full one, and enough to silence them: have ye never read what David did; referring to the history in Sa1 21:1. when he had need: of bread, was in great necessity, and in the utmost distress: and was an hungered, he, and they that were with him? which was a justifiable reason for what he and his company did; as it was for the action of the disciples; being in a like case, and therefore very appropriate to the purpose; See Gill on Mat 12:3.

Mark 2:24

The Lord of the Sabbath

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Bible in Basic English

And the Pharisees said to him, Why are they doing what it is not right to do on the Sabbath?

Free Bible Version

The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Look, why are they doing what is not permitted on the Sabbath?”

Geneva Bible 1599

And the Pharises saide vnto him, Beholde, why doe they on the Sabbath day, that which is not lawfull?

King James (Authorized) Version

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

One Unity Resource Bible

The Pharisees [Separated] said to him, “Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath ·To cease· day?”

Plain English Version

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing something that is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”

Noah Webster Bible

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

World English Bible

The Pharisees said to him, “Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”

Young's Literal Translation

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