JMNT(i)
1 In that particular situation (or: On that occasion; or: Within that season [= the ripening of the grain, just prior to harvest]) Jesus went His way through the fields of sown grain, on [one of] the sabbaths. Now His disciples were hungry, and they began to repeatedly pluck (or: pick; strip) heads of grain and to continue eating [them].
2 So, seeing [this happening], the Pharisees said to Him, "Look! Your disciples continue doing what is not allowed by [our] Law or custom to be doing during a sabbath!"
3 But He said to them, "Do (or: Did) you folks not read what David – as well as those with him – did when he got hungry:
4 "how he entered into God's house (home) and they ate the loaves (= the consecrated bread) of the presentation (the placing-before [God's presence]) – which was not normally being allowed by Law or custom for him to be eating, nor for those with him, except [by] the priests only?
5 "Or, do (or: did) you folks not read within the Law [= the Torah] that on the sabbaths the priest in the Temple courts (grounds) habitually profane (= violate the sacredness of) the sabbath, and continue being guiltless (blameless; faultless; innocent)?
6 "Now I am saying to you folks that there is now here (in this place) something greater (or: = more important) than the Temple courts and grounds!
7 "But, if you had come to personally (or: by intimate experience or insight) know what [this] is (or: = means), 'I am habitually wanting (desiring), repeatedly intending and continuously purposing mercy, and not sacrifice,' [Hos. 6:6] you folks would not ever oppose fairness, equity and justice, while you degrade the way pointed out in condemning the guiltless ones (the blameless and innocent folks) [cf vs. 5, above: = the priests of the new order].
8 "You see, the Son of the Man (the son of the human; = the son of Adam; = a human being) continues being a lord (master; or: [the] Lord and Owner) of the sabbath."