Jerome, on Matt 12:1

“At that time Jesus went through the corn on the sabbath: and his disciples being hungry, began to pluck the ears, and to eat.”

“What I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, signifies, we have explained above. The words, Ye mould never have condemned the innocent, are to be referred to the Apostles, and the meaning is, If ye allow the mercy of Achimelech, in that he refreshed David when in danger of famishing, why do ye condemn My disciples?”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.