Did Law And Love Clash When Jesus Healed On The Sabbath?

Have you ever wondered whether the Pharisees truly believed in Jesus’ healing?

If they were so angered with Him healing people during a Sabbath, then they must have believed that He truly performed miracles. If no one got cured, He could not even be accused of healing.

The perplexing thing here, however, is that instead of wondering about the miracle they witnessed, they became so fixed on Jesus healing during the Sabbath.

“There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched him closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Come up here before us.’ Then he said to them, ‘Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?’ But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out and his hand was restored.” – Mark 3:1-5 (NABRE)

Jesus even clarified the situation by comparing one’s concern about a sheep that falls into a pit on the Sabbath, but the Pharisees still hardened their hearts.

“He said to them, ‘Which one of you who has a sheep that falls into a pit on the sabbath will not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable a person is than a sheep. So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.’ Then he said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and it was restored as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him to put him to death.”
– Matthew 12:11-14 (NABRE)

The Law Was Never Meant To Be Harsh

Was the law meant to be complied with even if it meant not helping those who are in desperate need? Was the act of healing another person so grave that the Pharisees should plot for Jesus’ death?

If we were to follow this belief of the Pharisees, we’d think that the Law of God was harsh. It would seem to us that God gave us laws to enslave us and consequently, to punish us whenever we fail to comply. It doesn’t matter what our excuses would be. It doesn’t matter whether seemingly breaking them would heal someone or save another person’s life.

But what we must realize is that God never meant His laws to be harsh.

In addition to honoring God, His laws on keeping the Sabbath were meant to:

• uphold our God-given dignity
• give us rest
• restore and protect life

What was wrong then with being healed on the Sabbath?

Jesus wanted to heal people, even during a Sabbath. He knew how long they had suffered and how badly they needed rest from all their pain and shame.

We have a loving and merciful God who instituted the Sabbath for His people. He gave the laws to bring life and healing, not enslavement or fear.

Can This Happen In The Church Now?

While we can think that this could never happen to us today, we must carefully learn from the past.

We, too, have rules that we follow. We, too, must pray that we may not become Pharisaical in our interpretation of God’s laws.

Sometimes, in our intention to uphold our faith, we may become too rigid in our application. Along the way, instead of helping people, we may drive them away from the Church.

Who are the people today who may be filled with too much pain and shame that they think they could no longer be within God’s reach?

Are we extending a hand to help them in their journey of faith? Or are we telling them that they are beyond salvation?

Those who may need God’s mercy today

-the sinner who is afraid of the Confessional
-the father whose son became an atheist
-the new convert who feels awkward in following our traditions
-the LGBT teenager who feels he doesn’t belong
-the mother who aborted her child

“Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’” – Matthew 9:13 (NABRE)

A Law Applied With Compassion

Jesus said that He came to save and not to condemn. He was looking for the sick and not the righteous. Even if there were already ninety sheep in the fold, He would still look for that one sheep that went astray.

We must understand God’s laws for what they truly are by knowing the God who gave them to us. Is He not Love Himself? Is Jesus not the Divine Mercy who died upon the cross and extends His wounded hands for us to hold?

God’s laws can never be applied without love because the law is love.

“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”- Matthew 22:37-40 (NABRE)

Jocelyn Soriano is the author of Mend My Broken Heart, Defending My Catholic Faith and 366 Days of Compassion. She also writes about faith and writing at Single Catholic Writer.