“Since there was no other food available, the priest gave him the holy bread—the Bread of the Presence that was placed before the LORD in the Tabernacle. It had just been replaced that day with fresh bread.” (NLT v.6)
Matthew, Mark, and Luke all refer to this event. They all quote Jesus using this verse to show that mercy is more important than the Law. In one case, Jesus was answering why it was alright for the disciples to pick grain to eat on the Sabbath. In the other it was to heal a man on the Sabbath.
Jesus interpreted this passage to show us a spiritual lesson. Abiathar, the priest that gave the holy bread to David and his men, was showing mercy instead of insisting on the letter of the Law. The Law clearly said that the bread was to be eaten only by priests. But these men were hungry after traveling hard. What else could the priest do but show mercy and share that bread.
The immediate lesson here is, mercy is greater than the law. Mercy is an attribute of God. God’s character is greater than rules that are guidelines. David had done nothing wrong, and he was in need. The right thing to do was to feed him even if it meant breaking the law. In giving David the bread, Ahimelech broke with priestly custom but not with God’s word. He rightly understood that human need was more important than Levitical observance.
When Jesus’ disciples were criticized for breaking religious custom by eating against traditions, Jesus used what Ahimelech did to explain the matter (Matthew 12:1-8). Jesus approved of what Ahimelech did, and Jesus honored him by standing on Ahimelech’s same ground.
Abiathar the priest did the right thing. May we all see with the eyes of the Spirit in similar situations in our lives and make the right thing, the right thing.
The Truth: And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?” After looking around at them all, He said to him (with the withered hand), “Stretch out your hand!” And he did so; and his hand was restored. But they themselves were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus. (Luke 6:9-11)
