The Crippled Woman

“Aha! We’ve caught him breaking the law.” The law—everything in Leviticus and Deuteronomy—says that you should not work on the Sabbath. In the Ten Commandments, God specifies that the seventh day belongs to the Lord, and that means that both Jew and Gentile (and even animals!) should worship and rest. That means no work. It’s built into the way the world has been made (Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11).

When the Jews came back from exile and rebuilt the Temple in the 5th century B.C., the scribes (who were responsible for the keeping of the law) elaborated on the commandment in Exodus. Their intention was to build a fence around the law so that no one would break it accidentally. So they spelled out all kinds of work, agricultural, domestic, etc., that were prohibited by this commandment. Only necessary work was permitted.

So, Jesus has broken the commandment and is guilty. The woman should have waited until Monday morning (so to speak).

You hypocrites says Jesus. How come it’s all right for you to water your animals on the Sabbath, and not all right for me to heal one of your own family?

Jesus was not only kind and loving. He was also sharp. He knew what was going on in people’s minds, and, like a good chess player, could see several moves ahead. The crowds loved it.

We love it too when he beats the Pharisees at their game of keeping the law. But I wonder if we aren’t just as guilty, on the other side. Yes, we agree with Jesus that compassion takes precedence over meticulous Sabbath keeping. But he never said we could do anything we like on Sunday. What do you do with the commandment to worship and rest?

Respond in Prayer

Jesus, forgive me if I’ve played fast and loose with your example here. Help me to honour you in the way I spend Sundays. Teach me how to work hard the other six days so that I have one day a week for rest and for you, and for showing kindness to other people.

Annabel Robinson

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®).