6. Did Jesus Ignore the Sabbath? The Controversy over Plucking Grains

In all three synoptic gospels, Jesus' disciples are accused of transgression when they make their way through a field and pluck grains on the sabbath. What is the meaning of Jesus' defense? Does he think the sabbath doesn't matter anymore, or that the rules don't apply to him? In this episode, we investigate how, in Mark 2:23-28 and Matthew 12:1-8,Jesus establishes a complicated legal case to defend the disciples action.Biblical Sabbath Texts Referenced in this Episode:Genesis 2.2-3Exodus 16.4–5Exodus 16.16–30 Exodus 20.8-11Exodus 34.21Exodus 35.2-4Leviticus 23:3Leviticus 24:8Numbers 15.28-35Numbers 28:9-10Jeremiah 17.22Nehemiah 10.31Nehemiah 13.15-21Amos 8.4–5Mark 15.42Luke 23.54John 7.22John 19.31Primary Texts Referenced in this Episode:Jubilees 2.29: https://www.pseudepigrapha.com/jubilees/2.htm Jubilees 50: https://www.pseudepigrapha.com/jubilees/50.htmPhilo, Life of Moses 2.22: https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/yonge/book25.htmlMishnah Shabbat 7.2: https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Shabbat.7.2?lang=enMishnah Yoma 8.5–7: https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.8.5?lang=enMishnah Nega'im 7.5: https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Negaim.7.5-8.1?lang=enMishnah, Nedarim 3.9: https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Nedarim.3.9?lang=enMishnah, Nedarim 3.11: https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Nedarim.3.11?lang=enTalmud Yerushalmi, Nedarim 3.9.6: https://www.sefaria.org/Jerusalem_Talmud_Nedarim.3.9.6?lang=enTalmud Bavli, Shabbat 132b9: https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.132b.9?lang=enSecondary Sources Referenced in this Episode: Max Botner, 'Has Jesus Read What David Did? Probing Problems in Mark 2:25–26', Journal of Theological Studies (2018): https://academic.oup.com/jts/article-abstract/69/2/484/5088397?Paul Sloan, Jesus and the Law of Moses (Baker, 2025): https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/jesus-and-the-law-of-moses/415310