Or have you not read in the law, that on the Sabbath day, the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless?
Parallel translations
- KJV Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
- BSB Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent?
- NKJV Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?
- NASB Or have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath, and yet are innocent?
- NLT And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?
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
Priests 'work' on the Sabbath in the temple yet remain guiltless. The law itself shows that Sabbath rest is not an absolute prohibition of all activity.
Overview
Jesus notes that priests perform sacrifices and temple duties on the Sabbath without sin (Num. 28:9-10), proving the day was never meant to forbid all labor. Service to God lawfully overrides the strict letter of Sabbath rest. This sets up His climactic claim that something greater than the temple is present.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Num 28:9–10“‘On the Sabbath day, two male lambs a year old without defect, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering:
- John 7:22–23Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy.
- Neh 13:17Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day?
- Ezek 24:21Speak to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind shall fall by the sword.
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Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
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Original language
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