Matthew 12:4 bbe — How he went into the house of God and took for food the holy bread which it was not right for him or for those who were…

Bible in Basic English

"How he went into the house of God and took for food the holy bread which it was not right for him or for those who were with him to take, but only for the priests?"

— Matthew 12:4, Bible in Basic English

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Matthew 12:4 in Other Translations

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Matthew 12 — Context

1

At that time Jesus went through the fields on the Sabbath day; and his disciples, being in need of food, were taking the heads of grain.

2

But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, See, your disciples do that which it is not right to do on the Sabbath.

3

But he said to them, Have you no knowledge of what David did when he had need of food, and those who were with him?

4

How he went into the house of God and took for food the holy bread which it was not right for him or for those who were with him to take, but only for the priests?

5

Or is it not said in the law, how the Sabbath is broken by the priests in the Temple and they do no wrong?

6

But I say to you that a greater thing than the Temple is here.

7

But if these words had been in your minds, My desire is for mercy and not for offerings, you would not have been judging those who have done no wrong.

Matthew 12:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Matthew 12:4 say?
Matthew 12:4 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “How he went into the house of God and took for food the holy bread which it was not right for him or for those who were with him to take, but only for the priests?”
Where is Matthew 12:4 in the Bible?
Matthew 12:4 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Matthew, chapter 12, verse 4.
Who wrote Matthew?
Matthew is traditionally attributed to Matthew (Levi), tax-collector turned apostle. It was written c. AD 50–70.
What is the book of Matthew about?
Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah — son of David, son of Abraham, fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Structured around five great teaching blocks including the Sermon on the Mount, it ends with the risen King commissioning his disciples to make disciples of all nations.
What are the major themes of Matthew?
Matthew explores themes including Kingdom of Heaven, Messiah, Fulfillment, Discipleship, Great Commission. These themes shape the meaning and context of Matthew 12:4.
What translation should I read Matthew 12:4 in?
Matthew 12:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Matthew 12:4?
Matthew 12:4 reads (BBE): “How he went into the house of God and took for food the holy bread which it was not right for him or for those who were with him to take, but only for the priests?” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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