{On a sabbath} (en sabbat(9369)). This is the second sabbath on
which Jesus is noted by Luke. The first was  Lu 4:31-41 . There
was another in  Joh 5:1-47 . There is Western and Syrian
(Byzantine) evidence for a very curious reading here which calls
this sabbath "secondfirst" (deuteropr(9374)(9369)). It is undoubtedly
spurious, though Westcott and Hort print it in the margin. A
possible explanation is that a scribe wrote "first" (pr(9374)(9369)) on
the margin because of the sabbath miracle in  Lu 6:6-11 . Then
another scribe recalled  Lu 4:31  where a sabbath is mentioned
and wrote "second" (deuter(9369)) also on the margin. Finally a
third scribe combined the two in the word deuteropr(9374)(9369) that is
not found elsewhere. If it were genuine, we should not know what
it means. {Plucked} (etillon). Imperfect active. They were
plucking as they went on through (diaporeuesthai). Whether
wheat or barley, we do not know, not our "corn" (maize). {Did
eat} ((8873)thion). Imperfect again. See on 烘t 12:1f.; Mr 2:23f.|
for the separate acts in supposed violence of the sabbath laws.
{Rubbing them in their hands} (ps(9363)hontes tais chersin). Only
in Luke and only here in the N.T. This was one of the chief
offences. "According to Rabbinical notions, it was reaping,
threshing, winnowing, and preparing food all at once" (Plummer).
These Pharisees were straining out gnats and swallowing camels!
This verb ps(9363)h(935c) is a late one for psa(935c), to rub.