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Jesus ran into conflict with scribes and Pharisees about Sabbath observance. Although the law allowed people to pluck the heads of grain (Dt 23:25), the Pharisees objected to the disciples indulging in that activity on the Sabbath. Their objection was based on the assumption that the disciples' activity was work. Jesus replied that the law was disobeyed by David and his friends when they were hungry (Lev 24:5-9; 1Sa 21:1-6). The obligation to preserve life took precedence over other laws. He also affirmed that he was Lord of the Sabbath. And when he healed a man with a shriveled hand on the Sabbath, he defended the lawfulness of his act because he was saving life.