But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

People's New Testament

12:3 Have ye not read. The Lord answers them by citing the case of David, who, under necessity, took, ate, and gave to his followers the show bread which it was lawful for priests only to eat. Necessity rose higher than ceremonial. See 1Sa 21:1-6.

Wesley's Notes

12:3 Have ye not read what David did - And necessity was a sufficient plea for his transgressing the law in a higher instance.

Scofield Reference Notes

[1] what David did

Jesus' action Mt 12:1-7 is highly significant. "What David did" refers to the time of his rejection and persecution by Saul. 1Sam 21:6. Jesus here is not Song much the rejected Saviour as the rejected King; hence the reference to David.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

3. But he said unto them, Have ye not read-or, as Mark (Mr 2:25) has it, "Have ye never read."

what David did when he was an hungered, and they that were with him-(1Sa 21:1-6)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

12:1-8 Being in the corn-fields, the disciples began to pluck the ears of corn: the law of God allowed it, De 23:25. This was slender provision for Christ and his disciples; but they were content with it. The Pharisees did not quarrel with them for taking another man's corn, but for doing it on the sabbath day. Christ came to free his followers, not only from the corruptions of the Pharisees, but from their unscriptural rules, and justified what they did. The greatest shall not have their lusts indulged, but the meanest shall have their wants considered. Those labours are lawful on the sabbath day which are necessary, and sabbath rest is to froward, not to hinder sabbath worship. Needful provision for health and food is to be made; but when servants are kept at home, and families become a scene of hurry and confusion on the Lord's day, to furnish a feast for visitors, or for indulgence, the case is very different. Such things as these, and many others common among professors, are to be blamed. The resting on the sabbath was ordained for man's good, De 5:14. No law must be understood so as to contradict its own end. And as Christ is the Lord of the sabbath, it is fit the day and the work of it should be dedicated to him.