Jesus And Sabbath Law: Luke's Account Explored

The Gospels record several instances of Jesus healing people on the Sabbath, including Simon Peter's mother-in-law, a man with a withered hand, a man born blind, a crippled woman, a man with dropsy, and a demon-possessed man. These acts of healing enraged the Pharisees, who accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath law. However, Jesus refuted these accusations, arguing that he was working just as his Father was working.

The Pharisees' interpretation of the Sabbath law had become burdened with rules and traditions that were not present in the original law as outlined by God under the Old Covenant. Jesus did not break the Sabbath as defined by God; instead, he broke the man-made Sabbath laws of the Pharisees.

Jesus' disciples were accused of breaking the law by eating grain on the Sabbath

Jesus and his disciples were strolling through a field of ripe grain on the Sabbath. The disciples, feeling hungry, began to pluck the heads of grain and eat them. Observing this, the Pharisees accused them of breaking the Sabbath rules. They said to Jesus, "Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath".

Jesus responded by asking the Pharisees if they had read the Scriptures. He reminded them of two examples: David and his companions, who ate the consecrated bread, which was only lawful for the priests to eat; and the priests in the Temple, who work on the Sabbath but are innocent. Jesus then emphasised that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath and that the Pharisees should have known the meaning of the Scripture: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice".

Jesus did not deny that his disciples had technically broken the Sabbath law as interpreted by the Pharisees. Instead, he challenged their interpretation of the law and asserted his authority over the Sabbath. He argued that the disciples' actions were justified because they were serving the Son of Man, who is greater than the Temple.

Jesus' response highlights a difference in interpretation of the Sabbath law between him and the Pharisees. By healing people on the Sabbath and allowing his disciples to meet their physical needs, Jesus demonstrated that the Sabbath was made for the benefit of people, not as a burden.

Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath

Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. This was recorded in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 6, verses 6 to 11. The passage describes how Jesus entered a synagogue "on another Sabbath" and encountered a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal the man on the Sabbath.

Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to the man with the deformed hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." The man stood up, and Jesus asked the Pharisees, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?" He then told the man to stretch out his hand, and his hand was completely restored.

This act of healing on the Sabbath angered the Pharisees and teachers of the law, as they considered it a violation of the Sabbath law. However, Jesus defended his actions by arguing that doing good and helping others was always lawful, even on the Sabbath. He also asserted his authority as the "Lord of the Sabbath" (Luke 6:5), emphasizing his divine right to interpret and uphold the law.

Jesus' healing of the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath is one of several instances recorded in the Gospels where he performed healings on the Sabbath, such as healing Simon Peter's mother-in-law (Mark 1:29–31) and a demon-possessed man in Capernaum (Mark 1:21–28). These acts often drew criticism from the Pharisees and other religious leaders, who accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath law.

Jesus' response to the Pharisees' accusations

Jesus was accused by the Pharisees of breaking the Sabbath law on several occasions. The Pharisees had added many rules and traditions to the Sabbath law, elevating their rules to the level of God's instructions. Jesus did not break the Sabbath law as outlined by God, but he did break the Sabbath law as interpreted by the Pharisees.

Jesus responded to the Pharisees' accusations by arguing that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. He also argued that the Sabbath was a time for spiritual matters, such as healing the sick. Jesus further stated that he was the Lord of the Sabbath and had the authority to overrule the Pharisees' traditions and regulations.

Jesus used logic and reasoning to refute the accusations of the Pharisees. He pointed out their hypocrisy and inconsistency, arguing that they were more concerned with scrutinizing and blasting people than with honest, genuine applications of God's directives. He also used syllogistic arguments to demonstrate that their accusations were false.

Jesus' responses to the Pharisees' accusations showed that he had the authority to interpret and apply the Sabbath law correctly. He demonstrated that his actions were in line with God's laws and that he had come to fulfill the law, not abolish it.

Jesus' actions were lawful

The Pharisees had added burdensome rules and traditions for keeping the Sabbath and had elevated their own rules to the level of God's instructions. The Sabbath was given for the benefit of the people and as a sign of the Mosaic Covenant. God gave specific instructions in the Torah about how the Sabbath was to be observed. However, as the years went by, the religious leaders sought to expand upon these instructions, until the focus was no longer on one's relationship with God but on keeping burdensome man-made traditions and rules.

Jesus did not break the Sabbath as outlined by God under the Old Covenant. He kept God's law, and he had done nothing to violate the Sabbath. He referred to himself as the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8; Mark 2:28; Luke 6:5). In doing so, Jesus proclaimed that he is greater than the law and has authority even over the laws that govern the Sabbath day.

Jesus is the One who made all things (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16), and he instituted the Sabbath day. He had the authority to overrule the Pharisees' traditions and regulations that they had placed on the Sabbath. By healing on the Sabbath, Jesus showed God's goodness, revealed the Pharisees' hardness of heart, and gave a glimpse of the full healing from sin that would soon be made possible by his sacrifice on the cross.

Jesus did not break the Sabbath law, although he did act against the Pharisaical interpretation of the law. He broke the Pharisees' laws, and they couldn't stand it. Jesus healed on the Sabbath to help people, to glorify God, and to remind people that "the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27).

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath, and he proved this by healing people on the Sabbath. The Pharisees accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath law, but he did not break the Sabbath as outlined by God under the Old Covenant. Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfil it.

The Sabbath was instituted by God for the Israelites when he gave Moses the Ten Commandments. On the seventh day of the week, the Israelites were to rest, remembering that God created the universe in six days and then rested on the seventh day. Over time, the religious leaders had added burdensome rules and traditions for keeping the Sabbath and elevated their rules to the level of God's instructions.

Jesus did not break the Sabbath law, but he did act against the Pharisees' interpretation of the law. He broke the Pharisees' laws, and they couldn't stand it. Jesus healed on the Sabbath to help people, to glorify God, and to remind people that "the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27).

Jesus referred to himself as the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8; Mark 2:28; Luke 6:5). In doing so, he proclaimed that he is greater than the law and has authority even over the laws that govern the Sabbath day. As the one who made all things (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16), he had the authority to overrule the Pharisees' traditions and regulations that they had placed on the Sabbath.

Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath because he instituted the Sabbath day. He had the authority to overrule the Pharisees' traditions and regulations, and by healing on the Sabbath, he showed God's goodness, revealed the Pharisees' hardness of heart, and gave a glimpse of the full healing from sin that would soon be made possible by his sacrifice on the cross.

Jesus did not break the Sabbath law, but he did fulfil it.

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