Was there Corn in the Holy Land?

Many times in the New Testament it mentions “corn.” In Matthew 12, Mark 2, and Luke 6, Jesus and His apostles harvest “corn” from a field on the Sabbath, making the Pharisees very angry. Jews are not allowed to do any work on the Sabbath.

There was no corn in the Holy Land at the time of Jesus. Scientists believe corn originated in Central Mexico about 7,000 years ago.

Instead, the apostles and Jesus would have been harvesting grain, probably barley or wheat. They couldn’t have eaten it right after harvesting. They would have to grind it into flour, add water and oil and then bake it into bread, all things that are forbidden to do on the Sabbath.

There are many foods that the group could have picked and eaten, depending on the time of year: grapes, figs, capers, almonds, honey, locusts (the insects), dates. Olives can’t be eaten right from the tree. They are too bitter. They have to be salted and cured to be edible.