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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
restrictions and exactions. Nevertheless he was not prevented by this
knowledge from breaking down the senseless wall of superstition that
barricaded the Sabbath, and teaching men that charity and benevolence
were lawful upon all days.
He entered the synagogue, and saw there a man who had a withered
hand. The Pharisees watched him, eager to see what he would do
with regard to this case—whether or not he would heal the man upon
the Sabbath day. Their sole object was to find cause for accusation
against him. Jesus looked upon the man with the withered hand, and
commanded him to stand forth. He then asked, “Is it lawful to do good
on the Sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? 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.”
He justified this work of healing the paralytic, as in perfect keeping
with the principles of the fourth commandment. But they questioned
him: “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days?” Jesus made them the
clear and forcible answer, “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.”
The spies upon our Saviour’s words dared not, in the presence of
the multitude answer this question for fear of involving themselves
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in difficulties. They knew that while they would leave men to suffer
and die rather than to violate their traditions by relieving them upon
the Lord’s day, a brute which had fallen into danger would be at once
relieved, because of the loss that would accrue to the owner if he was
neglected. Thus the dumb animal was exalted above man, made in the
image of God.
Jesus wished to correct the false teachings of the Jews in regard
to the Sabbath and also to impress his disciples with the fact that
deeds of mercy were lawful on that day. In the matter of healing the
withered hand he broke down the custom of the Jews, and left the fourth
commandment standing as God had given it to the world. By this act
he exalted the Sabbath, sweeping away the senseless restrictions that
encumbered it. His act of mercy did honor to the day, while those who