And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

MARK 2:24KJV
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Mark 2:24 (KJV)

What does Mark 2:24 mean?

Mark 2:24 records a challenge to Jesus about his disciples’ conduct on the Sabbath, the weekly day of rest. The Pharisees treat the disciples’ action as breaking the rules for that day and ask Jesus why they are doing it.

After the disciples begin picking grain in verse 23, the Pharisees address their question to Jesus rather than to the disciples. “Behold” gives their question the force of “Look!”: they want Jesus to notice what his followers are doing.

The Greek behind Mark 2:24

  • “is not lawful” — ἔξεστιν (exestin): Together with “not,” the phrase carries the sense of “is not permitted.” The Pharisees present the disciples’ action as something the rules forbid, not merely as something they dislike.
  • “Behold” — ἴδε (ide): This word calls someone’s attention to something. Here it makes the question sound immediate, as the Pharisees point to the disciples’ conduct.

Why Mark 2:24 matters

  • The concern is about the day of the action. The Pharisees ask why the disciples do it “on the sabbath day,” placing the question within the Jewish practice of resting on the seventh day.

  • The question prepares for Jesus’ answer about human need. In verses 25–26, Jesus points to David and his companions eating when they were hungry, drawing the discussion toward a case of need.

  • The passage moves from a particular challenge to a broader statement. In verse 27, Jesus says that “the sabbath was made for man,” placing the day of rest in relation to human beings.

Where else these words appear

“Behold” Greek G2396 · used in 26 verses

  • Matthew 25:20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
  • Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
  • John 11:36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

“is” Greek G1832 · used in 30 verses

  • Matthew 12:2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
  • Mark 2:26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?
  • John 5:10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

“day” Greek G4521 · used in 62 verses

  • Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
  • Luke 4:31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
  • John 5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

“Pharisees” Greek G5330 · used in 95 verses

  • Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
  • Mark 2:18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
  • Luke 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.