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The Sabbath in Jesus’ Day, Part 2
Sabbath Work That Is Approved by God
If it was right for David to satisfy his hunger by eating of the
bread that had been set apart to a holy use, then it was right for the
disciples to supply their need by plucking the grain upon the sacred hours of
the Sabbath. Again, the priests in the temple performed greater labor on the
Sabbath than upon other days. The same labor in secular business would be
sinful; but the work of the priests was in the service of God. They were
performing those rites that pointed to the redeeming power of Christ, and their
labor was in harmony with the object of the Sabbath. But now Christ Himself had
come. The disciples, in doing the work of Christ, were engaged in God’s
service, and that which was necessary for the accomplishment of this work it
was right to do on the Sabbath day.
Christ would teach His disciples and His enemies that the
service of God is first of all. The object of God’s work in this world is the
redemption of man; therefore that which is necessary to be done on the Sabbath
in the accomplishment of this work is in accord with the Sabbath law. Jesus
then crowned His argument by declaring Himself the “Lord of the Sabbath,”—One
above all question and above all law. This infinite Judge acquits the disciples
of blame, appealing to the very statutes they are accused of violating.
Jesus did not let the matter pass with administering a rebuke to
His enemies. He declared that in their blindness they had mistaken the object
of the Sabbath. He said, “If you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and
not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.” Matthew
12:7. Their many heartless rites could not supply the lack of that
truthful integrity and tender love which will ever characterize the true
worshiper of God.
Again Christ reiterated the truth that the sacrifices were in
themselves of no value. They were a means, and not an end. Their object was to
direct men to the Saviour, and thus to bring them into harmony with God. It is
the service of love that God values. When this is lacking, the mere round of
ceremony is an offense to Him. So with the Sabbath. It was designed to bring
men into communion with God; but when the mind was absorbed with wearisome
rites, the object of the Sabbath was thwarted. Its mere outward observance was
a mockery.
Jesus Criticized for His Sabbath-keeping
Upon another Sabbath, as Jesus entered a synagogue. He saw there
a man who had a withered hand. The Pharisees watched Him, eager to see what He
would do. The Saviour well knew that in healing on the Sabbath He would be
regarded as a transgressor, but He did not hesitate to break down the wall of
traditional requirements that barricaded the Sabbath. Jesus bade the afflicted
man stand forth, and then asked, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to
do evil, to save life or to kill?” It was a maxim among the Jews that a failure
to do good, when one had opportunity, was to do evil; to neglect to save life
was to kill. Thus Jesus met the rabbis on their own ground. “But they kept
silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the
hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he
stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.” Mark 3:4, 5.
When questioned, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” Jesus
answered, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into
a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more
value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the
Sabbath.” Matthew 12:10-12.
The spies dared not answer Christ in the presence of the
multitude, for fear of involving themselves in difficulty. They knew that He
had spoken the truth. Rather than violate their traditions, they would leave a
man to suffer, while they would relieve a brute because of the loss to the
owner if it were neglected. Thus greater care was shown for a dumb animal than
for man, who is made in the image of God. This illustrates the working of all
false religions. They originate in man’s desire to exalt himself above God, but
they result in degrading man below the brute. Every religion that wars against
the sovereignty of God defrauds man of the glory which was his at the creation,
and which is to be restored to him in Christ. Every false religion teaches its
adherents to be careless of human needs, sufferings, and rights. The gospel
places a high value upon humanity as the purchase of the blood of Christ, and
it teaches a tender regard for the wants and woes of man. The Lord says, “I
will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, a man more than the golden wedge
of Ophir.” Isaiah 13:12.
When Jesus turned upon the Pharisees with the question whether
it was lawful on the Sabbath day to do good or to do evil, to save life or to
kill, He confronted them with their own wicked purposes. They were hunting His
life with bitter hatred, while He was saving life and bringing happiness to
multitudes. Was it better to slay upon the Sabbath, as they were planning to
do, than to heal the afflicted, as He had done? Was it more righteous to have
murder in the heart upon God’s holy day than love to all men, which finds
expression in deeds of mercy?
In the healing of the withered hand, Jesus condemned the custom
of the Jews, and left the fourth commandment standing as God had given it. “It
is lawful to do good on the Sabbath,” He declared. By sweeping away the
senseless restrictions of the Jews, Christ honored the Sabbath, while those who
complained of Him were dishonoring God’s holy day.
The Desire of Ages, pp. 285-287
Next part: The Sabbath in Jesus’ Day, Part 3:
Did Jesus Break the Law Regarding the Sabbath?
All Scriptures are quoted from the New King James Version,
including those originally quoted by Ellen White from the King James
Version.—Editors
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