Matthew 12:1–14

At that season Jesus went on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck ears and to eat. ²But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do upon the sabbath. ³But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him; ⁴how he entered into the house of God, and ate the showbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests? ⁵Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless? ⁶But I say unto you, that one greater than the temple is here. ⁷But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. ⁸For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath.

⁹And he departed thence, and went into their synagogue: ¹⁰and behold, a man having a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? that they might accuse him. ¹¹And he said unto them, What man shall there be of you, that shall have one sheep, and if this fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? ¹²How much then is a man of more value than a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day. ¹³Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, as the other. ¹⁴But the Pharisees went out, and took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.