5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
5 Or haven't you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent?
5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?
5 And didn't you ever read in God's Law that priests carrying out their Temple duties break Sabbath rules all the time and it's not held against them?
5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?
5 And haven't you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 12:5
Commentary on Matthew 12:1-8
(Read Matthew 12:1-8)
Being in the corn-fields, the disciples began to pluck the ears of corn: the law of God allowed it, Deuteronomy 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.