Mark 2:25

And he said unto them ,.... By way of answer to their question, and which was a full one, and enough to silence them:

have ye never read what David did ; referring to the history in 1 Samuel 21:1 .

when he had need : of bread, was in great necessity, and in the utmost distress:

and was an hungered, he, and they that were with him ? which was a justifiable reason for what he and his company did; as it was for the action of the disciples; being in a like case, and therefore very appropriate to the purpose; See Gill on Matthew 12:3 .