Have You Not Read What David Did? - Matthew 12:3

Matthew the apostle wrote, “At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, your disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day”, and in chapter twelve and verse three of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus said, “have you not read what David did” where we read:

But he said unto them, Have you not read what David did,

when he was hungry, and they that were with him;

The verse reads, “But he said unto them, Have you not read what David did, ...” Matthew began with the word, “but” which means “nevertheless, moreover and” “he said to them” which means “Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed to the Pharisees”, “have you not read” or “have the Pharisees not distinguished between, recognized, known accurately and acknowledged” “what David” which refers to “what the second king of Israel and the ancestor of Jesus Christ whose name means beloved” “did” or “made ready, prepared, produced, rendered and executed”. Matthew shared how Jesus asked the Pharisees if they “knew and acknowledged” what King David of Israel “did”.

The verse continues, “... when he was hungry, and they that were with him;” Matthew continued with the words, “when” which means “at the time and moment” “he was hungry” or “David was craving ardently and seeking food with eager desire”, “and they that were with him” or “and David's men who were alongside of David”. Matthew shared how Jesus asked the Pharisees concerning the time when King David and his men were “hungry”.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus referenced the scripture in First Samuel Twenty-One where King David went to Ahimelech the priest and asked him for food. The only food available was the “showbread” which was set out by the priest daily. David and his men partook of that bread even though it was supposed to be eaten by the “priests” only. God gives daily physical provisions to people, and His desire is to “fill” their spiritual hunger through a relationship with His Son Jesus. As those who read these words consider Jesus and His reasoning, may they discover how He wants them to personally know Him and His ways.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus told the Pharisees David, “entered into the house of God, and did eat the showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.