(Author’s Note: This article originally appeared in Guardian of Truth magazine several years ago as part of an issue dedicated to explaining difficult passages of Scripture. It addresses certain issues which seem to be troubling God’s people in our day.)
In this article I intend to explain, in its context, Jesus’ defense of his disciples in Matthew 12. The Pharisees had accused them of unlawful activity on the Sabbath. This is a difficult passage, and in misusing it, some are led to dangerous conclusions regarding what God allows in our response to His laws. I trust you will open your Bible, and read the entire passage, and the immediate context, in conjuction with this writer’s explanation of the text.
- “Buff Scott, Jr. does not believe there are no absolute rules governing right and wrong. But he does believe there are occasions when necessity outweighs precept, as Jesus himself indicated in Matthew 12:1-5. He reminded the Pharisess who objected to him and his disciples picking heads of grain and eating them on the Jewish Sabbath that when David and his men were hungry, they entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful. Unlawful, yes, as Wayne pointed out, (Wayne Jackson, in a previous article published in the Christian Courier, 4/95) , but necessity outweighed the precept, so the action was permissible. Jesus even pointed out that the priests were innocent when they desecrated the Sabbath by performing temple service [verse5]. Unlawful, yes, but necessity outweighed the precept.”
I do not personally know Buff Scott, Jr., so I have no idea how he applies his position. However, despite his denials, a consistent application of this point of view will lead to an acceptance of the principle that the goodness or badness of an activity is ultimately dependent upon the situation.
Situational ethics is a frontal assault to the concept of lawfulness and absolutes. In contrast, Jesus condemned those who were claiming to do many “wonders” in His name, because they practiced “lawlessness” (cf. Matt. 7:23). Scripture is clear on this point. Any activity that is unlawful, or done without authority, is iniquitous. If unrepented of, such will lead to an eternity of separation from our Lord, “Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness” (ibid.).
Let us consistently apply the principle, “necessity outweighed the precept, so the action was permissible.” In Matthew 12, the disciples were hungry. If their action of plucking heads of grain, and eating them on the Sabbath truly consituted unlawful activity as the Pharisees claimed, then simple hunger is sufficient grounds to set aside the commands of God. Who can believe it? Other scenarios show the absurdity of this interpretation of the passage. For example, most would agree that abortion is far more damaging and serious than simple hunger. Does the immoral practice of legal abortion in our age give us sufficient cause to violate the laws of the land in protest? How about to murder a doctor to save a child’s life? Some believe so. How about our childrens’ well-being? If I could not afford to feed my four children, would that give me sufficient cause to steal? In that case does necessity outweigh precept? Or how about my kids’ eternal well-being? If we are “losing our kids” as is the common claim, does that give us cause to use the Lord’s money to sponsor recreational activities, change our worship, and appeal to the sensual man in our worship and work? Such are without authority, but if necessity outweighs precept…. And on and on. In the end this take on the passage, that in certain situations necessity outweighs precept so that the action is permissible, destroys the absolutes established by God governing right and wrong.
A hierarchal point of view, which places certain “higher goods” in conflict with certain “lower goods” simply can not be sustained by scripture. The Psalmist said, “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever” (Psalm 119:160). The Bible is the complete, non-conflicting word of God. It is through this medium we find what we need to be “complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
First, notice what the disciples did. “At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.” In doing this, the disciples were not violating the law of God, but were rather engaging in activity which was allowed under the Law (cf. Deut. 23:25). The only way the Pharisees could charge them with unlawful activity was by binding their traditions regarding the Sabbath day upon the disciples. Jesus disciples were in conflict not with the law of God regarding the Sabbath, but rather with their rather tortured and convoluted interpretation of God’s law. Shortly after this occasion, Jesus again condemned the Pharisees for this very reason. Because they were keeping the traditions of the elders, and neglecting the actual commandements of God, he branded them hypocrites (cf. 15:7). “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:8-9). This is just another example of the Pharisees straining at gnats while swallowing camels (cf. Matt. 23:24). Jesus pronounced the disciples as “guiltless” (vs. 7) in this matter. They were guiltless, not because “necessity outweighed precept”, but rather because they had done nothing wrong.
Second, notice Jesus’ defense. He began by showing them the impurity of their motives in condemning the disciples (vss. 3-4). They had an example in their history of a violation of the Sabbath, one they were familiar with. The inconsistency is obvious. If they were so concerned about the supposed violation of the disciples, why were they silent about the obvious unlawful action of David, as recorded in 1 Samuel 21:1-6? Jesus termed David’s action in that case as “not lawful” (vs. 4). The true motivation of the Pharisees is revealed a few verses later in our text, “Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, now they might destroy Him” (12:14).
Next, Jesus annihilated their tortured interpretation of “work” on the sabbath (vs. 5). He pointed out to them that, according to their interpretation of the Sabbath prohibition, even the Priests would be guilty. And yet, they were blameless. They were not blameless because “necessity outweighs precept”, but rather because their actions were in fact lawful. Their actions, as the actions of the disciples, did not fall under the God given limitations of work on the Sabbath day. As such, just as the priests were “blameless” in performing their service on the Sabbath, the disciples were “guiltless” in plucking heads of grain, and eating on the Sabbath.
Finally, Jesus declared His own authority. “Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple” (vs. 6). “For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (vs. 8). Remember the theme of Matthew’s gospel. Jesus is the Messiah. The Pharisees were attempting to discredit Jesus, and failing that to kill Him. In their calculating and disingenuous way they were seeking to destroy the One who stood above even their beloved Temple and Sabbath. If the Jews had the proper motivations and understanding of the law of God, they “would not have condemned the guiltless” (vs. 7).
Therefore, a proper exegesis of the text reveals that the condemnation of the disciples’ actions on the part of the Pharisees came not from any lawful basis, but rather sprang from impure and envious hearts. It was the Pharisees that were wrong, not the disciples. The disciples were pure in their action of plucking and eating. It was the Pharisees who stood condemned for their hypocrisy.
