Did Jesus condone stealing?

A Muslim wrote:

What does the text actually say?

 
Matthew 12:

1  At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the 
   Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick 
   some heads of grain and eat them.
2  When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, 
   "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful 
   on the Sabbath." 
3  He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he 
   and his companions were hungry? ...

Obviously, "stealing" was not an issue here. Jesus' opponents did not accuse the disciples of stealing. Stealing is ALWAYS unlawful, not only on the Sabbath. Maybe you are projecting your own thoughts into something that was not considered stealing at this time and culture?

In fact, the question is clearly answered in the Torah.

 
Deuteronomy 23:

24  If you enter your neighbor's vineyard, 
    you may eat all the grapes you want,
    but do not put any in your basket. 
25  If you enter your neighbor's grainfield, 
    you may pick kernels with your hands,
    but you must not put a sickle to his standing grain. 

The disciples of Jesus and Jesus himself were fully in accordance with this law. The only disagreement between Jesus and the religious authorities was on the issue whether the plugging of grain due to hunger was to be considered work and forbidden to do on the Sabbath.


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