so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “This is the Sabbath! It is unlawful for you to carry your mat.”
Parallel translations
- WEB So the Jews said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat.”
- KJV The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
- ESV So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.”
- NKJV The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
- NASB So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is a Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.”
- NLT so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Jewish leaders objected that carrying the mat broke the Sabbath. They focused on rule-keeping rather than the mercy shown.
Overview
The leaders' challenge reflects their tradition forbidding carrying burdens on the Sabbath. Their concern for regulation blinds them to the wonder of a man healed after thirty-eight years. The scene exposes a religion of external observance that misses God's compassionate purpose.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Jer 17:21This is what the LORD says: Take heed for yourselves; do not carry a load or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.
- Luke 6:2But some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
- John 9:16Because of this, some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man perform such signs?” And there was division among them.
- Mark 3:4And He asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” But they were silent.
- Luke 13:14But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. “There are six days for work,” he told the crowd. “So come and be healed on those days and not on the Sabbath.”
- Mark 2:24So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
- Neh 13:15–21In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day.
- Matt 12:2–8When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
- John 5:16Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews began to persecute Him.
- Exod 20:8–11Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
- John 7:23If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with Me for making the whole man well on the Sabbath?
- Exod 31:12–17And the LORD said to Moses,
- Isa 58:13If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words,
- Jer 17:27But if you do not listen to Me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying a load while entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in its gates to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.’”
- Luke 23:56Then they returned to prepare spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.
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Original language
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