how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
The Jewish teachers had corrupted many of the commandments, by interpreting them more loosely than they were intended; a mistake which Christ discovered and rectified (ch. 5) in his sermon on the mount: but concerning the fourth commandment, they had erred in the other extreme, and interpreted it too strictly.
Commenting on Matthew 12:1-13
How he entered into the house of God,.... Not the temple, which was not then built; but the tabernacle, which was then at Nob, the city of the priests, and which probably adjoined to Abimelech's house: and did eat the shewbread; for that this is meant by the hallowed bread, in Sa1 21:6 is certain; though R.
Verses 4,5. House of God. That was, the tabernacle; the temple not being then built. In the law. In the law of Moses. Profane the sabbath. He referred them to the conduct of the priests also. On the sabbath days they were engaged, as well as on other days, in killing beasts for sacrifice, . Two lambs were killed on the sabbath, in addition to the daily sacrifice.