Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 12:2

2 But when the pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples, do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day.

So saith Mark, Ch. 2.24. only he puts it into the form of a Question. Luke adds nothing, Ch. 6.2. but saith, Certain of the Pharisees. They granted the thing lawful to be done another Day, but not on the Sabbath Day. How blind is Superstition, that they could think, that it was contrary to the Will of God, that his People should fit themselves for the Service of the Sabbath by a moderate refreshment? Some of the Pharisees ordinarily attended Christ's Motions, not to be instructed by him, but (as is afterward said) That they might have something whereof to accuse him. What a little thing do they Carp at? Wherein was the Sin▪ the plucking of a few Ears of Corn, and rubbing them, could hardly be called Servil[illegible: 1 letter] Labour, especially not in the Sense of the Commandment, which restrained not necessary Labour, but such Labour as took them off from the Duties of the Sabbath, but their Tradition had made this unlawful, as it was a little reaping, and a kind of Threshing. Hypocrites and Formalists, are always most Zealous for little things in the Law, or for their own Additaments to it.