And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
Parallel translations
- WEB But some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?”
- BSB But some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
- NKJV And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?”
- NASB But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
- NLT But some Pharisees said, “Why are you breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Pharisees accuse the disciples of breaking the Sabbath. Their man-made rules treat a small act as unlawful work.
Overview
The Pharisees challenge what they regard as unlawful labor on the Sabbath, applying their detailed traditions. Their objection reflects a view of Sabbath-keeping focused on rule enforcement rather than God's intent. Jesus' reply will reorient the Sabbath toward mercy and toward his own authority.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Matt 12:2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
- John 5:16And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
- Luke 6:7–9And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
- Mark 2:24And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?
- Exod 35:2Six 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.
- John 5:9–11And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
- John 9:14–16And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
- Num 15:32–35And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.
- Exod 22:10If 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 seeing it:
- Luke 5:33And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
- Exod 31:15Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
- Matt 23:23–24Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
- Isa 58:13If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
- Matt 15:2Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
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Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
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Original language
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