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 2.2-3
• Exodus 16.4–5
• Exodus 16.16–30
• Exodus 20.8-11
• Exodus 34.21
• Exodus 35.2-4
• Leviticus 23:3

• Leviticus 24:8
• Numbers 15.28-35
• Numbers 28:9-10
• Jeremiah 17.22
• Nehemiah 10.31
• Nehemiah 13.15-21
• Amos 8.4–5
• Mark 15.42
• Luke 23.54
• John 7.22
• John 19.31

Primary Texts Referenced in this Episode:

• Jubilees 2.29: https://www.pseudepigrapha.com/jubilees/2.htm
• Jubilees 50: https://www.pseudepigrapha.com/jubilees/50.htm
• Philo, Life of Moses 2.22: https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/yonge/book25.html
• Mishnah Shabbat 7.2: https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Shabbat.7.2?lang=en
• Mishnah Yoma 8.5–7: https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.8.5?lang=en
• Mishnah Nega'im 7.5: https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Negaim.7.5-8.1?lang=en
• Mishnah, Nedarim 3.9: https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Nedarim.3.9?lang=en
• Mishnah, Nedarim 3.11: https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Nedarim.3.11?lang=en
• Talmud Yerushalmi, Nedarim 3.9.6: https://www.sefaria.org/Jerusalem_Talmud_Nedarim.3.9.6?lang=en
• Talmud Bavli, Shabbat 132b9: https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.132b.9?lang=en

Secondary 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