But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him: look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath. The Pharisaic accusation — doing what is not lawful — reflects the oral tradition that interpreted the Sabbath's prohibition on work to include harvesting, and the plucking of grain was classified as harvesting. The accusation is addressed to Jesus, not to the disciples, because the rabbi is responsible for his students' conduct. The Pharisees hold Jesus accountable for what his disciples do.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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