Matthew 12:5

In the original Greek according to Westcott-Hort, this verse is:

Ἢ οὐκ ἀνέγνωτε ἐν τῷ νόμῳ, ὅτι τοῖς σάββασιν οἱ ἱερεῖς ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ τὸ σάββατον βεβηλοῦσι, καὶ ἀναίτιοί εἰσι;

In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:

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?

The New International Version translates the passage as:

Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent?

Jesus appears to refer to the slaying, skinning and cutting up of animals, in addition to the laying of wood, and kindling a fire, by which animals were burnt to the honour of God. Although in themselves, they are considered work, and would profane the Sabbath unless piety allowed it. So also as necessity from hunger excused David, the disciples are excused from a breach of the Sabbath because they follow the Messiah, and are so intent upon Jesus' teaching that they have forgotten to prepare food.^[1][2]