THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

61Let us never forget that our feelings about Sundays are sure tests of the state of our souls. Theman who can find no pleasure in giving God one day in the week is manifestly unfit for heaven. Heavenitself is nothing but an eternal Sabbath. If we cannot enjoy a few hours in God's service once a week inthis world, how will we be able to enjoy an eternity in His service in the world to come?Jesus bluntly identified these religious leaders as hypocrites:“ The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbathuntie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then shouldnot this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteenlong years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?" (Lk 13:15-16)These religious leaders had more regard for the needs of an animal than for the far greaterneed of a person. Jesus called His critics “hypocrites” because they pretended zeal for the law,but their motive was to attack Him and His healing.We see, lastly, in these verses, the right observance of the Sabbath day asserted and defendedby our Lord Jesus Christ. The ruler of the synagogue (in which the infirm woman was healed) foundfault with her as one who did not observe the Sabbath. He drew down upon himself a stern but justrebuke—"You hypocrites, does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his donkey from thestall, and lead it out to give it water?" If it was allowable to attend to the needs of beasts on the Sabbath,how much more to human creatures! It was no breach of the fourth commandment to show kindness tooxen and donkeys, much less to show kindness to a daughter of Abraham.Sabbath rest, not doing work on the Sabbath was not intended to prohibit works of necessity andmercy. The Sabbath was made for man's benefit, and not for his hurt. It was appointed to promoteman's best and highest interests, and not to deprive him of anything that is really for his good. It forbidsnothing that is really necessary to man's well-being.THE REACTIONS OF JESUS’ OPPONENTS AND THE PEOPLE (13:17)Notice the opposite reactions of Jesus’ opponents and the people:“ When He said this, all His opponents were humiliated, but the people weredelighted with all the wonderful things He was doing” (v. 17).APPLICATIONThis fourth commandment was given by God to promote man’s happiness. Therefore, let usfollow these two rules:1. Do no work which is not absolutely necessary. If it is necessary, then you better work withall your might.