The Seventh Day Sabbath Part 11: Okay to do Good on the Sabbath

Matthew 12:11-12 KJVS

And he said unto them, 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? [12] How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

When it comes to the sabbath day there are many rules and regulations on what one can and cannot do. So much so, it can leave one stifled as to exceptions to those same rules and regulations. This article is meant to help clarify many of those things. And to understand that you can do well/ good on the sabbath, even if such by the letter of the law, appears to break the law and defile the sabbath.

Matthew 12:11-12 KJVS

And he said unto them, 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? [12] How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

Christ is using a level of reasoning that is synonymous to common sense to help others understand that what he is doing is not wrong. As in this case, one would naturally argue or believe, that if my sheep/ ox or other animal fell in a ditch or hole on the sabbath I would have to leave it there. Why?

Leviticus 23:3 KJV

Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.

Jeremiah 17:24 KJV

And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;

One would believe that if I retrieved my sheep/ ox or other animal on the sabbath from a ditch I would be in violation of the sabbath day. And as such, would have committed a sin worthy of death. However, this is not the case. But is an exception to the rule. And is justifiable. The same is true if you were going to class and got in a car accident. And had to get a tow truck. Or your car got stuck or broke down and you needed to pay someone to help you. This was not a foreseen situation. And as such you are not in violation. Furthermore, leaving it out in public unattended, could lead to potential theft of said vehicle or items contained within said vehicle.

1 Maccabees 2:32, 34, 38, 41

32 They pursued after them a great number, and having overtaken them, they camped against them, and made war against them on the sabbath day.

34 But they said, We will not come forth, neither will we do the king’s commandment, to profane the sabbath day.

36 Howbeit they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them, nor stopped the places where they lay hid;

38 So they rose up against them in battle on the sabbath, and they slew them, with their wives and children and their cattle, to the number of a thousand people.

During the time of the Greeks our forefathers and foremothers were facing persecution. Esau understanding our laws, knew that on the sabbath day we rested by law, and found that as the opportune time to make war against us. Many of the Israelites at that time decided not to make war on the sabbath as to avoid work and be in violation. However, we do have the right to defend ourselves any day of the week. As this was not out of willful sin and disobedience but rather out of defense due to an attack. Similar to the next scenario.

Exodus 22:2 KJVS

If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.

Not to cover all the ends and outs of a thief. But rather to shed light on a scenario that it is justifiable to kill someone if they are breaking into your home at night. Which is a form of self defense. This would still be reasonable even on a sabbath day. As you are the one under attack, not trying to attack another.

John 5:5,8-16 KJVS

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. [8] Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. [9] And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. [10] The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. [11] He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. [12] Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? [13] And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. [14] Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. [15] The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. [16] And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

Here we see Christ healed on the sabbath day. The Jews believed that it was an error in both Christ healing on the sabbath day as well as telling someone else that they could take their bed and carry it from one location to another on the sabbath day. This is an exception and shows that it is okay to heal on the sabbath day. And the work involved is not a sin. However, it also shows how others can view what you may do or teach others as a sin even if it is not truly a transgression of the law. And may even seek your condemnation.

Mark 2:23-26 KJVS

And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. [24] And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? [25] And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? [26] How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?

Here we have a scenario where Christ was feeding his disciples in a field. They were going through and gleaning a field. Which by law is not only lawful but mandated to allow people to glean a field as long as they do not bring bags, sacks, etc. and try to take food home. But gleaning; walking through and eating from your garden, is lawful to help reduce starvation and homelessness. As you can never eliminate the poor but you can help them. Think of it as the nations ebt/ snap benefits. In this act, Christ and the disciples were not gathering droves of crops to haul away. Just sufficient enough to eat a meal.

Deuteronomy 23:25 KJVS

When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn.

This law applies need it be a sabbath day or not and does not place one in jeopardy of breaking the sabbath day. Christ and his disciples plucked the ears of corn by hand, they did use tools. But they also mention an account of King David seemingly sinning but remaining blameless on the sabbath.

1 Samuel 21:1-6 KJVS

Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee? [2] And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place. [3] Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present. [4] And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women. [5] And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. [6] So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

This is the example Christ used as part of the justification. David and his men were hungry. The priest being a Levite understood the law as it concerned the shewbread. And that it was not lawful for all to partake in. But since it was baked fresh everyday it was now in a state to be tossed out. And since it was going to be tossed out it no longer held the same value. As long as one was generally clean they could partake and they had not been defiled with women. Meaning they had not been having sexual intercourse. They could accept the old holy bread without transgression. As it is unlawful to eat any sacred or holy thing in a defiled state.

Mark 3:1-4 KJVS

And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. [2] And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. [3] And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. [4] And he saith unto them, 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.

Christ was reminding them at the time and teaching us, even till this day, that although it is a sabbath that does not mean that acts of good must cease, within reason. If someone got hurt or is hurt, I can heal them; need that be through words of comfort or physical aid. The act itself is not evil, similarly to me trying to save a life versus me trying to take someones life.

Exodus 21:33-36 KJVS

And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein; [34] The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his. [35] And if one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide. [36] Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.

Now what if this happened on a sabbath day? What would one do? You would still be able to make it right by applying this law. As this could have happened while on the way to a levitical suburb for class, or going to a synagogue. You could also think of it like a car accident. You may need to get a police report, call the insurance company, and more than likely call a tow truck. All on the sabbath. But this would be acceptable given the situation. An exception to the rules, not the standard, as it was not premeditated.

1 John 5:3 KJVS

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

God is not trying to make serving him grievous. He understands things happen. The sabbath is meant to be a day of worship towards The Most High and sincere rest for man. Not a punishment to mankind.

Mark 2:27-28 KJVS

And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: [28] Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

God made the sabbath for you, not you for the sabbath. The sabbath works in your benefit not to your detriment. And it is not man that you must answer to, it is The Most High God through his son Christ that you must answer to. He will give grace and mercy on a case by case basis. But of course, when in doubt throw it out. But know that it is okay to do good on the sabbath day.

Colossians 1:13-17 KJVS

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: [14] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: [15] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: [16] For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.