Matthew 12:4 Meaning and Explanation
“How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →David ate the consecrated bread reserved for priests, and was not held guilty.
What Does Matthew 12:4 Mean?
Jesus completes the example. The shewbread, twelve loaves set before the Lord and renewed weekly, was set apart for the priests to eat. Yet when David and his men were hungry, they were given this holy bread, and Scripture records no guilt laid upon them. Human need, met in good faith, did not profane what was sacred.
The lesson presses upon the Pharisees: if mercy could open even the holy bread to a hungry man, how much more may hungry disciples gather grain on the sabbath. God's ordinances serve his people; they are not weapons against them. Christ, the true bread from heaven, shows that the Giver of every holy thing delights to nourish those who come to him in need.
Matthew 12:4 in the Original Language
artos (ἄρτος), 'bread' -- the loaves of the presence, here the consecrated bread kept before the Lord.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 12:4
What does Matthew 12:4 mean?
David ate the consecrated bread reserved for priests, and was not held guilty.