New International VersionSome of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
New Living TranslationBut some Pharisees said, “Why are you breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?”
English Standard VersionBut some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?”
Berean Standard BibleBut some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
Berean Literal BibleBut some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing that which is not lawful on the Sabbaths?"
King James BibleAnd certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
New King James VersionAnd some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?”
New American Standard BibleBut some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
NASB 1995But some of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
NASB 1977But some of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
Legacy Standard BibleBut some of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
Amplified BibleBut some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
Christian Standard BibleBut some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath? ”
Holman Christian Standard BibleBut some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
American Standard VersionBut certain of the Pharisees said, Why do ye that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath day?
Contemporary English VersionSome Pharisees said, "Why are you picking grain on the Sabbath? You're not supposed to do that!"
English Revised VersionBut certain of the Pharisees said, Why do ye that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath day?
GOD'S WORD® TranslationSome of the Pharisees asked, "Why are your disciples doing something that is not right to do on the day of worship?"
Good News TranslationSome Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what our Law says you cannot do on the Sabbath?"
International Standard VersionSome of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what isn't lawful on Sabbath days?"
NET BibleBut some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is against the law on the Sabbath?"
New Heart English BibleBut some of the Pharisees said to them, "Why do you do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?"
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd certain of the Pharisees said to them, Why do ye that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath-days?
Weymouth New TestamentAnd some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what the Law forbids on the Sabbath?" Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful to do on the Sabbath?”
World English BibleBut some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand certain of the Pharisees said to them, “Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbaths?”
Berean Literal BibleBut some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing that which is not lawful on the Sabbaths?"
Young's Literal Translation and certain of the Pharisees said to them, 'Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbaths?'
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd certain of the Pharisees said to them, Why do ye what is not lawful to do in the sabbaths. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd some of the Pharisees said to them: Why do you that which is not lawful on the sabbath days?
Catholic Public Domain VersionThen certain Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbaths?”
New American BibleSome Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”
New Revised Standard VersionBut some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut some of the men of the Pharisees said to them, Why are you doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath?
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishBut some of the Pharisees were saying to them, “Why are you doing what is illegal to do on the Sabbath?” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd some of the Pharisees said to them: Why are you doing what it is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
Godbey New TestamentAnd certain ones of the Pharisees said to them, Why are you doing that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?
Haweis New TestamentThen said some of the Pharisees unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful on the sabbath-day?
Mace New Testamentupon which some of the Pharisees said to them, why do you do what is not allowed to be done on the sabbath-day?
Weymouth New TestamentAnd some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what the Law forbids on the Sabbath?"
Worrell New TestamentBut some of the Pharisees said, "Why are ye doing that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath?"
Worsley New TestamentAnd some of the pharisees said to them, Why do ye do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath-days?
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Lord of the Sabbath1One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain, rub them in their hands, and eat them. 2Butsomeof thePhariseesasked,“Whyare you doingwhatis unlawfulon theSabbath?”3Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?…
Cross References Matthew 12:1-8At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. / When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” / Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? ...
Mark 2:23-28One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain as they walked along. / So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” / Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? ...
Exodus 20:8-11Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. / Six days you shall labor and do all your work, / but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. ...
Deuteronomy 5:12-15Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. / Six days you shall labor and do all your work, / but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox or donkey or any of your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest as you do. ...
1 Samuel 21:1-6Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And when Ahimelech met David, he trembled and asked him, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?” / “The king has given me a mission,” David replied. “He told me no one is to know about the mission on which I am sending you. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place. / Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.” ...
Matthew 23:23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Hosea 6:6For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Isaiah 58:13-14If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words, / then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Nehemiah 13:15-22In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day. / Additionally, men of Tyre who lived there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem. / Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day? ...
Leviticus 24:5-9You are also to take fine flour and bake twelve loaves, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf, / and set them in two rows—six per row—on the table of pure gold before the LORD. / And you are to place pure frankincense near each row, so that it may serve as a memorial portion for the bread, a food offering to the LORD. ...
Numbers 28:9-10On the Sabbath day, present two unblemished year-old male lambs, accompanied by a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, as well as a drink offering. / This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
Matthew 9:13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Colossians 2:16-17Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. / These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.
Romans 14:5-6One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. / He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
Galatians 4:10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
Treasury of Scripture And certain of the Pharisees said to them, Why do you that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days? Why. Luke 6:7-9 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him… Luke 5:33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewisethe disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? Matthew 12:2 But when the Pharisees sawit, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. not. Exodus 22:10 If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeingit: Exodus 31:15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventhis the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doethany work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Exodus 35:2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death. Jump to Previous DisciplesEarsEatGrainHandsLawfulPassingPhariseesPluckingRightRubbingSabbathSabbath-DaysSabbathsUnlawfulWheatfieldsJump to Next DisciplesEarsEatGrainHandsLawfulPassingPhariseesPluckingRightRubbingSabbathSabbath-DaysSabbathsUnlawfulWheatfieldsLuke 6 1.Jesus reproves the Pharisees;12.chooses apostles;17.heals the diseased;20.preaches to his disciples before the people: the beattitudes;27.Love your Enemy37.Do not Judge43.A Tree and Its Fruit46.The House on the RockBut some of the Pharisees askedThe Pharisees were a prominent religious group in Judaism during the time of Jesus. They were known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the oral traditions that had developed around it. Their questioning reflects their role as religious authorities who were concerned with maintaining the purity of Jewish law and practice. This encounter highlights the tension between Jesus and the religious leaders, a recurring theme in the Gospels. “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
The Sabbath, observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening, was a day of rest and worship as commanded in the Fourth Commandment (Exodus 20:8-11). The Pharisees had developed extensive interpretations of what constituted "work" on the Sabbath, which included activities like harvesting. In this context, Jesus' disciples were picking grain, which the Pharisees considered a violation of the Sabbath law. This question underscores the conflict between Jesus' interpretation of the law and the Pharisaic tradition. Jesus often emphasized the spirit of the law over the letter, pointing to the deeper purpose of the Sabbath as a time for mercy and restoration, as seen in His response in the following verses. This incident also foreshadows the greater revelation of Jesus as the Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6:5), indicating His authority over traditional interpretations and His fulfillment of the law. Persons / Places / Events 1. PhariseesA religious group in Judaism known for strict adherence to the Law of Moses and additional oral traditions. They often clashed with Jesus over interpretations of the law. 2. JesusCentral figure in Christianity, believed to be the Son of God and the Messiah. In this passage, He is questioned by the Pharisees regarding His disciples' actions on the Sabbath. 3. SabbathA day of rest on the seventh day of the week, commanded by God in the Ten Commandments. It was a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, meant for rest and worship. 4. DisciplesFollowers of Jesus who were learning from His teachings and actions. In this context, they were picking grain on the Sabbath, which led to the Pharisees' question. 5. GrainfieldsThe setting of this event, where Jesus and His disciples were walking and the disciples began to pick heads of grain. Teaching Points Understanding the Law's PurposeThe Sabbath was intended as a gift for rest and reflection, not as a burden. Jesus emphasizes the spirit of the law over the letter. Jesus' AuthorityJesus asserts His authority over religious traditions, demonstrating that He is Lord of the Sabbath. This challenges us to recognize His authority in our lives. Mercy Over SacrificeJesus highlights the importance of mercy and compassion over rigid adherence to rules. This calls us to prioritize love and kindness in our interactions. Tradition vs. ScriptureThe Pharisees' focus on tradition can serve as a warning against elevating human traditions above God's Word. We must discern and prioritize biblical truth. Rest and WorshipThe Sabbath principle encourages us to find regular times for rest and worship, reminding us of our dependence on God and His provision. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Luke 6
Did Jesus violate the Sabbath law?
What does it mean to be pharisaical?
(Luke 6:1-5) How can Jesus justify breaking Sabbath rules, allegedly set by God, by appealing to David's actions?
Did Herod think that Jesus was John the Baptist? Yes (Matthew 14:2; Mark 6:16) No (Luke 9:9)Verse 2. - And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which isnot lawful to do on thesabbath days? It would seem that these Pharisees came from Jerusalem, and were no doubt privately commissioned to watch narrowly the acts of the new Teacher who was beginning to attract such general attention, and who already was openly setting at nought the numberless additions which the Jewish schools had added to the Law. Round the original "sabbath law" of Moses thirty-nine prohibitions had been laid down in the oral law; round these "thirty-nine" a vast number of smaller rules had grouped themselves. Amongst these greater and lesser sabbath restrictions were prohibitions against "reaping and threshing." Now, plucking ears of corn was defined to be a kind of "reaping," and rubbing the ears in the hands a kind of "threshing." "See," cried some of these spying Pharisees, "do thy disciples publicly break the sabbath, and dost thou not rebuke them?" The Lord's reply does not attempt to discuss what was and what was not lawful on the sabbath, but in broad terms he expounds the great doctrine respecting the significance, limits, and purpose of every law relating to outward acts, even in the event of that law having been given by God, which was not the case in the present alleged transgression. How rigidly the stricter Jews some fourteen or fifteen centuries later still kept these strained and exaggerated traditional sabbath-day restrictions, is shown in a curious anecdote of the famous Abarbanel, "when, in 1492, the Jews were expelled from Spain, and were forbidden to enter the city of Fez, lest they should cause a famine, they lived on grass; yet even in this state ' religiously avoided the violation of their sabbath by plucking the grass with their hands. To avoid this they took the much more laborious method of grovelling on their knees, and cropping it with their teeth!"
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek Butδὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.someτινὲς(tines)Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5100:Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.of theτῶν(tōn)Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.PhariseesΦαρισαίων(Pharisaiōn)Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5330:Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.asked,εἶπαν(eipan)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036:Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.“WhyΤί(Ti)Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101:Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.are you doingποιεῖτε(poieite)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4160:(a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.whatὃ(ho)Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3739:Who, which, what, that.is unlawfulἔξεστιν(exestin)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1832:It is permitted, lawful, possible.[on] theτοῖς(tois)Article - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.Sabbath?”σάββασιν(sabbasin)Noun - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4521:The Sabbath, a week.
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NT Gospels: Luke 6:2 But some of the Pharisees said (Luke Lu Lk) |
