Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 6:2
And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days
2. certain of the Pharisees ] On the Jewish sects see Excursus VI. As the chronological sequence of the incident is uncertain, these may be some of the spy-Pharisees who as His ministry advanced dogged His steps (Mat 15:1; Mar 3:22; Mar 7:1), in the base and demoralising desire to convict Him of heresy or violation of the Law. Perhaps they wished to see whether he would exceed the regulated Sabbath day’s journey of 2000 cubits (Exo 16:29). We have already met with some of the carping criticisms dictated by their secret hate, Luk 5:14; Luk 5:21; Luk 5:30.
Why do ye ] In St Mark the question is scornfully addressed to Jesus. “See why do they do on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?”
that which is not lawful to do ] The point was this. Since the Law had said that the Jews were “to do no manner of work” on the Sabbath, the Oral Law had laid down thirty-nine principal prohibitions which were assigned to the authority of the Great Synagogue and which were called abhoth ‘fathers’ or chief rules. From these were deduced a vast multitude of toldoth ‘descendants’ or derivative rules. Now ‘reaping’ and ‘threshing’ on the sabbath day were forbidden by the abhoth; and by the toldoth it was asserted that plucking corn-ears was a kind of reaping, and rubbing them a kind of threshing. But while they paid servile attention to these trivialities the Pharisees “omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith,” Mat 22:23). The vitality of these artificial notions among the Jews is extraordinary. Abarbanel relates that when in 1492 the Jews were expelled from Spain, and were forbidden to enter the city of Fez lest they should cause a famine, they lived on grass; yet even in this state ‘ religiously avoided the violation of their sabbath by plucking the grass with their hands., To avoid this they took the much more laborious method of grovelling on their knees, and cropping it with their teeth!
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. Which is not lawful] See on Mt 12:2-8.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And certain of the Pharisees said unto them,…. Unto the disciples. The Evangelists Matthew and Mark say, that they said this to Jesus: no doubt but they said it to both, first to one, and then to the other; probably last of all to Christ, who returned an answer to it:
why do ye that which is not lawful on the sabbath day? as to pluck ears of corn, and rub them, and eat them; [See comments on Mt 12:2]
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Not lawful. See on Mt 12:2.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And certain of the Pharisees said unto them,” (tines de ton Pharisaion eipan) “Then some of the Pharisees said,” a certain class, critically inquiring, as chronic faultfinders against Jesus, His work, and His workers, Mat 12:11.
2) “Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?” (ti poilite ho ouk eksestin tois sabbasin) “Why do you all do what is not lawful to do on the sabbath?” on any sabbath. As work was prohibited on the sabbaths; Reaping or threshing corn was unlawful. And they definitively interpreted what the disciples of Jesus were doing to be illegal, without regards for their hunger, Mat 12:12.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
‘But certain of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful to do on the sabbath day?”
Some of the Pharisees became aware of what His disciples were doing. It may be that they had been walking with the disciples, professing interest in Jesus’ message, while carefully watching for any failures in the behaviour of Jesus and His disciples, or it may be that it had simply been reported to them by people who saw it, bringing them hurriedly to the scene. Either way they pointed out that He and His disciples (as their Master He was responsible) were doing what was not lawful on the Sabbath Day.
‘What is not lawful to do.’ We should note that this is probably not just a comment. It is an official warning. Proceedings could not be taken under the Law at the first offence. The culprits had first to be warned so as to ensure that they did know what the Law was. If the warning was then ignored, proceedings could be taken. (compare Act 4:18 with Luk 5:17). Thus Jesus and His disciples were being warned that if it happened again proceedings would be taken. The opposition was hardening.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
Ver. 2. That which is not lawful ] Our Saviour grants that it had not been lawful indeed, but in case of hard hunger.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2. ] In Matt. and Mark, the Pharisees address our Lord, ‘Why do Thy disciples,’ &c.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Luk 6:2 . : more exact than Mt. and Mk., who say the Pharisees generally, but not necessary to make their meaning clear. Of course it was only some of the class.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
not. Greek. ou. App-105. Not the same word as in verses: Luk 6:29, Luk 6:30, Luk 6:37, Luk 29:39, Luk 29:49.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2.] In Matt. and Mark, the Pharisees address our Lord, Why do Thy disciples, &c.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Why: Luk 6:7-9, Luk 5:33, Mat 12:2, Mat 15:2, Mat 23:23, Mat 23:24, Mar 2:24, Joh 5:9-11, Joh 5:16, Joh 9:14-16
not: Exo 22:10, Exo 31:15, Exo 35:2, Num 15:32-35, Isa 58:13
Reciprocal: Deu 23:25 – then thou mayest Ecc 10:13 – beginning Joh 5:10 – it is not
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2
The Pharisees would not accuse the disciples of stealing, for they knew what the law said on the subject of taking the corn, but pretended to object to their doing so on the sabbath because it was a holy day.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luk 6:2. Unto them is to be omitted. Still the disciples are addressed, in Matthew and Mark, our Lord. They remonstrated with those who did the unlawful act, but would make our Lord responsible for it