scribes say it is all right to pick single grains. Rabbi," they
replied, "but these men are rubbing out whole stalks, and that is
against the Sabbath rule." They were sure that Jesus understood.

"Have you not read in the Bible that David and his warriors took bread
off the sacred table in the Tabernacle when they were hungry?" asked
Jesus. "That was against the rule of Moses--but David did it!"

The Pharisees were dumfounded. The first almost stammered as he asked,
"What do you mean?"

"I mean that if there was a higher law for David there may also be a
higher law for me and my disciples," answered Jesus plainly.

"But ... but we do not understand," faltered the Pharisee. "You cannot
set aside a law. No one can. That is impossible. It is part of our
religion. Whoever pays no attention to the Law is an outcast and a
sinner."

"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath," replied Jesus.
"The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."

The older Pharisee frowned and then flushed red. The muscles in his neck
tightened as he looked at Jesus. "You dare to say such things!" he burst
out. "You do not belong to us. You are an enemy of God!"

All the way back to Capernaum the disciples talked about what had
happened in the wheat field. "They just keep watching us to see if we do
anything wrong!" protested James.

"Personally, I don't think they even understand what we are doing,"
ventured Andrew. "They never listen to what we say. They act as though
they knew everything about religion."

"Yes, their kind of religion," remarked James indignantly. "They won't
even speak to a leper! Who is going to go out among the people of our
towns and let them know that God cares for them? Their religion is just
for themselves!"

"Jesus is the only one who cares about the outcasts," said Simon
earnestly. "No one else does."

Symeon hoped that Jesus would do something that would prove to everyone
that he did not believe in God. The thought that Jesus might win the
people over to himself struck panic into Symeon's heart. If that should
happen, something desperate might have to be done. Meanwhile, however,
he and a few others who knew how dangerous Jesus was had decided to
wait.

On the next Sabbath Day, the whole matter came out into the open. As
usual, most of the Jews in Capernaum--common people and Pharisees, along
with Jesus and the disciples--came to the synagogue at the hour of
worship. The moment Simon and Andrew entere