broken the Sabbath, which was then greatly respected even by courts of law. See ver. 14.
11. Hpo&aTov IV, one sheep) The loss of which was not great. — ov%i xparfasi, will he not take hold of) A verb also suited to the healing of the hand. In our Saviour's time this was permitted, since then it has been forbidden by the Jews.
12. To/j ffdfiiSaffi, on the Sabbaths) For a good deed is not to be procrastinated. — xaXZ$ Kon?v} to do icelt) sc. to either a man or a sheep, nay, to a man much more than to a sheep.1 We must not on the Sabbath-day perform daily wonted tasks for hire, although we may do those things which time and place suggest to us for the good of our neighbour and all other living creatures, and especially for the honour of God.2
15. 'AM%iifii**i He departed^ This is especially referred to in ver. 19. Our Lord avoided noise.
16. "Iva IMYI, that they should not) Such was the authority of Jesus, even commanding silence to the multitude.3
18. 'idov o TlaTs Mow, ov pp'srrta' o ayaKqros Mou, 115 ov iv$6xr)ffiv rt ~\>M'/j] Moy dqffca rb vvt\J[JL,a Mou IT' Avrbv, xai xpiaiv roT$ tfaftt ytXzr ovx ipttei ovds xpauydfci, ovds axovfci r/s ev rct/j •n-X ptttfa Aiirov" KakafAov ffvvrfTpifA'Asvov ov xareags/, xai /Jvov TVffftmt ou a/Siter fu$ av Ix/SaX/j f/'j v?xo$ rqv xpiffiv. xai ev r& ov6fj,ari AiiroD sdvr, sXfiovffi, — Behold My Servant, whom I have chosen ; My Beloved, in whom My soul is well pleased; I will put My Spirit upon Him,
1 Some one may think that there was danger in delay as regards the sheep, but that a man affected with a bodily infirmity for such a length of time, might easily be put off for once from one day to another day. But the answer is, it was the fitting time that the relief should be given, when the patient met the physician. A larger crowd of men was assembled together on the Sabbath, who were thus enabled to be spectators of the miracle, and to be profited (won over) by it. — V. g.
2 Ver. 14. oi 3« <b<x,piatx.'i'ji) It was not with the same laborious exertion as is needed in order to pluck ears of corn, and to draw out a sheep from a pit, that Jesus had effected the cure, but by mere words spoken. It was a pure undiluted benefit conferred without difficulty (pains) : and yet blind men, notwithstanding, were regarding His act as if the Sabbath were profaned by it.-V. g.
3 Ver. 17. oVwj TT^DU^ The calm (placid) and most salutary mode of action, which Jesus employed, is intimated by these words. — Vers Germ. How widely does this in truth differ from the ways and modes of action of His adversaries ! — Harm., p. 310.