Ferrell Jenkins Travel Blog

Jesus and the Sabbath

The Jews made charges that Jesus broke the Sabbath but they were not able to establish their charge. The basic

charge was that Jesus was working in violation of the Mosaic law (Leviticus 23:3). Here is a list of the specific

instances of events that took place on the Sabbath. Read the full accounts to see how Jesus responded.

Healed a man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-9, 18; Jesus replied to accusations (John 7:21-24).

Healed the blind man (John 9:1-14).

Answered charges made against His disciples (Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-6).

Healed a man with a withered hand (Luke 6:6-11).

Healed the woman who was bent over (Luke 13:10-17).

He questioned the Pharisees regarding healing on the Sabbath and they could not answer Him. He healed the

man with dropsy (Luke 14:1-5).

He taught in the synagogue in His “home town” on the Sabbath (Mark 6:1-6).

The photo below shows the interior of the model synagogue at the Nazareth Village .

The account of Jesus reading in the synagogue at Nazareth is recorded in Luke 4:16-21, with the reaction in the

following verses.

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on

the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the

scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to

proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the

blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the

scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And

he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:16-21 ESV)