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Humble Hero
Greater Care Shown Animals
The spies did not dare to answer Christ. They knew He had
spoken the truth. Rather than violate traditions, they would allow
a man to suffer, while they would relieve a work animal because
neglecting it would bring loss to the owner. They showed greater
care for the animals than for human beings. This illustrates how all
false religions work. They originate in our human desire to exalt
ourselves above God, but they result in degrading us below the
animals. Every false religion teaches its followers to be careless of
human needs, sufferings, and rights. The gospel places a high value
on humanity as the purchase of Christ’s blood, and it teaches us to
regard human wants and distress with tenderness. See
Isaiah 13:12
.
The Pharisees were hunting Jesus’ life with bitter hatred, while
He was saving life and bringing happiness to large numbers of
people. Was it better to kill on the Sabbath, as they were planning to
do, than to heal the suffering ones, as He had done?
In healing 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 senseless restrictions, Christ honored the Sabbath, while those
who complained about Him were dishonoring God’s holy day.
Those who hold that Christ abolished the law teach that He broke
the Sabbath and justified His disciples in doing the same. In this
way, they are taking the same position as did the disapproving Jews.
In doing so, they contradict Christ Himself, who declared, “I have
kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”
John 15:10
.
Neither the Savior nor His followers broke the Sabbath. Looking at
a nation of witnesses who were trying to find some way to condemn
Him, He could say unchallenged, “Which of you convicts Me of
sin?”
John 8:46
.
“The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath,”
Jesus said. God gave the Ten Commandments, including the Sab-
bath, to His people as a blessing. See
Deuteronomy 6:24
. Of all who
keep “from defiling the Sabbath,” the Lord declares, “Even them I
will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house
of prayer.”
Isaiah 56:6, 7
.