36. Cf. R. J. Banks,
Jesus and the Law in the Synoptic Tradition, 1975, p. 124.
37. David Hill points out that
“the argument has the effect of placing Jesus firmly within the Law, rightly understood: he does good on the Sabbath, and so fulfils the will of God, who desires merciful action rather than ritualistic legalism” (
The Gospel of Matthew, 1972, p. 213).
38. G. B. Caird rightly asks:
“Which is keeping the spirit of the sabbath better he [Christ] with his deed of mercy or they with their malicious designs? The question needs no answer: it is always right to do good, and what better day than the sabbath could there be fdr doing the works of God!” (
Saint Luke, 1963, p. 99).
39. Ellen White,
The Desire of Ages, 1940, p. 287.
40. W. Manson,
The Gospel of Luke, 1930, p. 60.
41. W. Rordorf (n. 7), p. 68. My response to Rordorf’s arguments is found in
From Sabbath to Sunday, 1977, pp. 3 1-34.
42. It is noteworthy that the Sabbath is related to social concern also in Isaiah 58. A study of the structure of the whole chapter indicates that the Sabbath is viewed
“as the means by which Israel should manifest true fasting, i.e. social concern for the oppressed” (Sakae Kubo,
God Meets Man, 1978, p. 47). James Muilenburg also argues for the unity of the chapter and thus the connection between the social concern of true fasting and proper Sabbathkeeping (
“Isaiah 40-66,” Interpreter’s Bible, 1956, V, p. 677). Cf. C. Westermann,
Isaiah 40-66: A Commentary, 1969, p. 340.
43. Richard S. McConnell,
Law and Prophecy in Matthew’s Gospel, Dissertation, University of Basel, 1969, p. 72. My extensive treatment of Christ’s pronouncement is found in
From Sabbath to Sunday, 1977, pp. 56-61.
44. Ellen White,
Testimonies for the Church, 1948, VI, p. 359.
45. George Elliott remarks:
“In France, during the Revolution, the substitution of the tenth for the seventh day was accompanied by a divorce law, under whose provision within three months there was recorded one divorce for every three marriages in Paris alone” (
The Abiding Sabbath: An Argument for the Perpetual Obligation of the Lord’s Day, 1884, p. 61).
46. Samuel M. Segal explains that
“according to Jewish law, every man should have marital relations at least once a week, preferably on Friday night. Since the Song of Songs speaks of the love between man and woman, the man reads it at the ushering in of the Sabbath in order to create an atmosphere of love and affection. It is for this reason, too, that on Friday night, during the meal, the man recites the last chapter of Proverbs, in which the woman is idealized” (
The Sabbath Book, 1942, p. 17).
47. See above n. 41.
48. Cf.
Jewish Encyclopedia, 1962, s.v.
“Sabbath.” (183.2)