The Food "pluck...and eat" Mt 12:1; Mk 2:23; Lk 6:1

and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads [of grain]. {and did eat, rubbing it in their hands}.3

Grains are grown and harvested from early spring to early summer in the Jordan Valley. Barley ripened first in late March or early April, and as late as May in the uplands. Wheat ripens less than a month after that, and may ripen as late as June in the uplands (mountain plateaus). The people depended on grain for food. These small fields were scattered all over the countryside. Paths were cut through the fields for travelers to pass through them. Realizing that those travelers were often short of food, they were allowed to pluck the grain, rub it in their hands, pass it from one hand to the other, and then the chaff was blown away by the breath, making the grain clean to eat. Think about what we often do with parched or roasted peanuts. We often remove the husk to enjoy the nut. What they did was consistent with the teaching of Deut 23:25.

The problem Jesus had with the Jews of His day was that they trusted the commentaries on the law more than the law itself. There is a great danger in doing this. Men, especially godly men may have honorable intentions, but may be misguided in their understanding.

I spoke with a lady the other day that had been a part (not a cause) of a church split over Reform theology. I said to her, "You know, Baptists are the world's worse for splitting churches. Today Southern Baptists are being split over reform theology, but through the years I have noticed that once an issue is settled another one soon rises. To add to this, Baptists often pride themselves on the church being a democracy, which is found nowhere in the Word of God.

My point is that we can pastor people - godly and growing people who don't cross the "t" and dot the "i" as we do. We can teach, discuss, even at times debate, but we must ALL endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit.

God says, "Woe be unto you pastors that destroy and scatter my sheep." If you think He has changed His mind about that you are sadly mistaken. FEED the sheep, don't fleece them, fight them, or fault them. FEED THEM and you will have less broken marriages, less broken hearts, less broken homes, and more of a stable, strong, and sharing congregation.

Besides, who gives a rip about eating grain on the Sabbath? God's doesn't!

BLESSINGS!