how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not permitted for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests.
Here Jesus recalls an episode from David’s life, when David and his men, being hungry, entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which by the law was intended only for the priests (1 Samuel 21:1–6). This episode shows that even sacred laws can allow flexibility when a need arises, such as caring for people. He uses this example to show that God’s law is meant to respond mercifully to human needs, not to impose strict restrictions. This expresses Jesus’ principle that the law should serve a person’s well-being, and that God relates to people with greater compassion than he prefers the formal fulfillment of the law.