Now on the second Sabbath after the first, he was going through the grain fields. His disciples plucked the heads of grain, and ate, rubbing them in their hands.
These two passages of story we had both in Matthew and Mark, and they were there laid together (Mat 12:1; Mar 2:23; Mar 3:1), because, though happening at some distance of time from each other, both were designed to rectify the mistakes of the scribes and Pharisees concerning the sabbath day, on the bodily rest of which they laid greater stress and required greater strictness than the Law-giver intended.
Commenting on Luke 6:1-11
LUKE CHAPTER VI. Verses 1-11. See this passage explained: , also . 1. Second sabbath after the first. . This phrase has given great perplexity to commentators. A literal translation would be, "on the sabbath called second first," or second first Sabbath. The word occurs nowhere else. It is therefore exceedingly difficult of interpretation. The most natural and easy explanation is that proposed by Scaliger.
In the former part of this chapter we find our blessed Saviour defending his disciples from the clamorous accusations of the Pharisees for breaking the sabbath day, because they plucked the ears of corn, and rubbed them in their hands, in order to the satisfying of their hunger. Where note, 1. The great poverty, the low estate and condition, of Christ's own disciples in the world.