Jesus' ethics and moral reasoning are based on the belief in love and compassion for others. He taught that the greatest commandment was to love God and love others as oneself (Matthew 22:37-39). This belief always guided his actions, and he often prioritized helping others over following rules or laws. One example of Jesus’ prioritization of love and compassion over rules and laws can be seen in his healing on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a day of rest and worship for the Jews, and it was believed that no work should be done on this day. However, Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath broke this law. This essay will examine the claim that Jesus' healing on the Sabbath was against the law but more important to heal the person than observe the law.

Claim

Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath was against the sabbath law, but it was more important to heal the person than observe the law. In the first instance, Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:10-13). In this story, Jesus saw a man with a withered hand in the synagogue on the Sabbath. The Pharisees, who were present, were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath law. Jesus, aware of their intentions, asked the man to come forward and then healed his hand. This action was seen as work and, therefore, a violation of the Sabbath law. However, Jesus prioritized healing the man over following the law.

Secondly, Jesus refused to condemn a woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). In this story, a woman was brought to Jesus, accused of adultery. The law stated that she should be stoned to death. However, Jesus refused to condemn her, instead saying, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7). This action demonstrated Jesus' belief in mercy and compassion for others, even if it meant going against the law. The third instance is when Jesus healed a paralyzed man on the Sabbath (Mark 2:1-12). In this story, a paralyzed man was brought to Jesus on the Sabbath. Jesus healed him, causing the Pharisees to accuse him of breaking the Sabbath law. However, Jesus again prioritized healing the man over following the law.

Moral Reasoning in Jesus’ Actions

Jesus' actions of healing on the Sabbath were not meant to break the law intentionally. Instead, they were motivated by his belief in love and compassion for others. He saw healing as an act of love and prioritized it over following the Sabbath law. Jesus' actions demonstrate moral reasoning by prioritizing love and compassion over rules and laws. He recognized that sometimes following the letter of the law may not always be the most compassionate or loving action. Instead, he chose to follow a higher moral code of treating others with love and compassion, even if it meant going against the law.