Discovery BoxLuke 6:2 
Context6:2 But some of the Pharisees 1 said, “Why are you 2 doing what is against the law 3 on the Sabbath?”
Luke 11:45
Context11:45 One of the experts in religious law 4 answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things you insult 5 us too.”
Luke 15:2
Context15:2 But 6 the Pharisees 7 and the experts in the law 8 were complaining, 9 “This man welcomes 10 sinners and eats with them.”
1 sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.
2 tn Note that the verb is second person plural (with an understood plural pronominal subject in Greek). The charge is again indirectly made against Jesus by charging the disciples.
3 sn The alleged violation expressed by the phrase what is against the law is performing work on the Sabbath. That the disciples ate from such a field is no problem given Deut 23:25, but Sabbath activity is another matter in the leaders’ view (Exod 20:8-11 and Mishnah, m. Shabbat 7.2). The supposed violation involved reaping, threshing, winnowing, and preparing food. This probably explains why the clause describing the disciples “rubbing” the heads of grain in their hands is mentioned last, in emphatic position. This was preparation of food.
4 sn That is, an expert in the interpretation of the Mosaic law. They worked closely with the Pharisees.
5 tn For this term, see Matt 22;6; Luke 18:32; Acts 14:5; 1 Thess 2:2.
6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
7 sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.
8 tn Or “and the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.
9 tn Or “grumbling”; Grk “were complaining, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
10 tn Or “accepts,” “receives.” This is not the first time this issue has been raised: Luke 5:27-32; 7:37-50.
