Hilary of Poitiers, 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.”

“Figuratively; First consider that this discourse was held at that time, namely, when He had given thanks to the Father for giving salvation to the Gentiles. The field is the world, the sabbath is rest, the corn the ripening of them that believe for the harvest; thus His passing through the corn field on the sabbath, is the coming of the Lord into the world in the rest of the Law; the hunger of the disciples is their desire for the salvation of men.”

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