365 Days in the Gospels and Spirit of Prophecy
The Sabbath: A Blessing, Not a Burden — February 28 [Description]
Bible discovery
1 And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 365D 59.2
2 So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might [a] accuse Him. 365D 59.3
3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, [b] “Step forward.” 365D 59.4
4 Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. 365D 59.5
5 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 [c] as whole as the other. 365D 59.6
6 Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him. 365D 59.7
6 Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. 365D 59.9
7 So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. 365D 59.10
8 But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. 365D 59.11
9 Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or [b] to destroy?” 365D 59.12
10 And when He had looked around at them all, He said to [c] the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored [d] as whole as the other. 365D 59.13
11 But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. 365D 59.14
Matthew 12:15-21 365D 59.15
15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great [c] multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. 365D 59.16
16 Yet He warned them not to make Him known, 365D 59.17
17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 365D 59.18
18 “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. 365D 59.19
19 He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. 365D 59.20
20 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; 365D 59.21
21 And in His name Gentiles will trust.” 365D 59.22
Spirit of Prophecy Reading
The Desire of Ages pp.286-289: 365D 59.23
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. 365D 59.24
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 to do good on the Sabbath days, 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 held their peace. And when He had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.” Mark 3:4, 5. 365D 59.25
When questioned, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days?” Jesus answered, “What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days.” Matthew 12:10-12. 365D 59.26
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 man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.” Isaiah 13:12. 365D 59.27
And the Lord says, “If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; ... then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.” Isaiah 58:13, 14. To all who receive the Sabbath as a sign of Christ's creative and redeeming power, it will be a delight. Seeing Christ in it, they delight themselves in Him. The Sabbath points them to the works of creation as an evidence of His mighty power in redemption. While it calls to mind the lost peace of Eden, it tells of peace restored through the Saviour. And every object in nature repeats His invitation, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. 365D 59.28