The argument in the previous verse was based on biblical history; the argument presented by Jesus in this verse is based upon the teaching of the Jewish Law, which recognized the differences between “light” and “heavy” commands. Jesus notes that the command for the priests to perform certain duties on the Sabbath outweighs the command not to work on the Sabbath. The form of Jesus’ argument represents a typical argument used by Jewish teachers, and they would have accepted his conclusion as valid.

Or have you not read in the law…? is a difficult structure for many readers. In Greek the rhetorical question assumes a “Yes” answer, and it may be translated as an emphatic statement: “You have surely read in the Law of Moses that…” or “You surely know that the Law of Moses teaches….”

Or links the previous argument of Jesus with this one. A word like “Further” or “To continue” may be more natural than Or. Another possibility is “I am sure that you have also read in the Law of Moses….”

The law (Good News Translation “the Law of Moses”) is a reference to the first division of the Jewish Scriptures. Among other Sabbath day responsibilities, the priests had a special offering to present on that day (Num 28.9-10), and they had the responsibility of changing the bread offered to God (Lev 24.8).

For priests, see comments on 8.4. The same term should be used throughout the Bible, as much as it is possible.

Profane (Moffatt “desecrate”) is translated “break” by New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, An American Translation, New American Bible, and “actually break” by Good News Translation. The root meaning is conveyed by Revised Standard Version; elsewhere in the New Testament the verb is used only in Acts 24.6 (Good News Translation “defile the Temple”). Barclay combines both concepts, “to break the Sabbath law, and thus to profane the Sabbath….” In the context, either “defile the Sabbath day” or “break the Sabbath law” is satisfactory. This can also be “break the law about the day of rest.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch restructures completely: “Or have you not read … that the priests also work in the Temple on the Sabbath? Thereby they break the law….”

Are guiltless (Good News Translation, Moffatt, An American Translation “are not guilty”) is translated “without being blamed for it” by New Jerusalem Bible and “and it is not held against them” by New English Bible. The level of language in New American Bible is somewhat higher: “without incurring guilt.” The adjective guiltless occurs in the New Testament only here and in verse 7. As the translations indicate, the meaning is “innocent” or “not guilty.” Some will render are guiltless as “not held to be guilty,” “God won’t judge them to be guilty for it,” or “God won’t judge them to have sinned.”

Many translators will need to restructure the verse in a manner similar to Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch to help readers understand in what way the priests profane the sabbath. An example is “You know that when the priests do their work in the temple on the day of rest they actually break the law about the Sabbath. But you have surely read in the Law of Moses that they are not considered guilty for it.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .