Final answer:
Jesus' disciples were plucking heads of grain likely due to subsistence needs, during a time when food could be scarce, mirroring historical accounts of famine and hardship. The importance of bread as both physical sustenance and a symbolic element in rituals like the Eucharist also underscores the act's significance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The disciples of Jesus were plucking heads of grain and eating them due to the circumstances of subsistence during their time. Throughout history, there have been periods of scarcity and hardship, as depicted by Johannes de Trokelowe's account of the 1315 famine where people faced dire food shortages. This historical context illustrates why the disciples might have resorted to eating raw grains.
The practice of sharing bread and wine, representing Jesus' body and blood, became a central part of Christian ritual as described by Justin in his defense against pagan practices. The significance of bread throughout various cultures and religions, including its symbolic role in the Eucharist and its presence in Mithraic reliefs, highlights its importance as a staple food and a symbol of sustenance and fellowship.
The depiction of Jesus' disciples eating with tax collectors and sinners, as well as the mention of prohibitions against eating certain foods before offerings, underlines the central role of food in religious and moral considerations of the society Jesus lived in.