But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.)
Parallel translations
- WEB Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy.
- KJV Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.
- BSB But because Moses gave you circumcision, you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath (not that it is from Moses, but from the patriarchs.)
- NKJV Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.
- NASB For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and even on a Sabbath you circumcise a man.
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
Jesus notes that Moses gave circumcision (rooted in the patriarchs) and that they circumcise on the Sabbath. He sets up an argument from their own practice.
Overview
By pointing out that the law itself required circumcision on the eighth day even when it fell on the Sabbath, Jesus exposes that they already make exceptions to Sabbath rest. This prepares His argument that healing a whole man on the Sabbath is even more fitting. The reasoning shows Jesus' mastery of the law and His authority to interpret it rightly as its Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Lev 12:3In the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
- Gen 17:10–14This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised.
- Rom 4:9–11Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.
- Gal 3:17Now I say this. A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.
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