John 5:10

The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry [thy] bed.

The Jews {G2453} therefore {G3767} said {G3004} unto him that was cured {G2323}, It is {G2076} the sabbath day {G4521}: it is {G1832} not {G3756} lawful {G1832} for thee {G4671} to carry {G142} thy bed {G2895}.

so the Judeans said to the man who had been healed, “It’s Shabbat! It’s against Torah for you to carry your mat!”

so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “This is the Sabbath! It is unlawful for you to carry your mat.”

So the Jews said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed.

John 5:10 captures a pivotal moment of conflict between Jesus and the Jewish religious authorities concerning the observance of the Sabbath day.

Context

This verse immediately follows Jesus' miraculous healing of a man who had been infirm for thirty-eight years at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-9). After healing him, Jesus commanded the man to "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." The healing occurred on the Sabbath, a day of rest commanded by God in the Ten Commandments. The "Jews" here refers primarily to the religious leaders—the Pharisees and scribes—who were meticulous enforcers of their interpretations of the Mosaic Law, often elevating oral traditions to the level of divine command.

Key Themes

  • Sabbath Controversy: The central theme is the clash over Sabbath observance. While the Old Testament prohibited carrying burdens on the Sabbath (Jeremiah 17:21-22, Nehemiah 13:15-19), the religious leaders' emphasis was on strict adherence to their man-made rules rather than the spirit of compassion or the demonstration of God's power.
  • Legalism vs. Grace: This incident highlights the tension between rigid legalism and the liberating grace and authority of Jesus. The leaders were more concerned with the man breaking a traditional rule about carrying his mat than with the fact that he had been miraculously healed after decades of suffering.
  • Jesus' Authority: Implicitly, Jesus' command to "take up thy bed" asserts His authority over the Sabbath, challenging the established religious norms. This sets the stage for further discussions in John 5 about Jesus' identity and His relationship with the Father.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "bed" here is krabbatos (κράββατος), which refers to a pallet or mat, a simple, portable sleeping mat used by the poor. The act of carrying this personal item was considered a violation of the Sabbath rest by the Jewish authorities, falling under the broad prohibition of "carrying a burden." Their focus was on the external action rather than the internal transformation or the divine source of the healing.

Practical Application

John 5:10 challenges us to examine our own priorities. Are we sometimes more focused on external rules, traditions, or appearances than on genuine acts of compassion, divine intervention, or the spiritual well-being of others? The story reminds us that true faith and obedience to God's law should be rooted in love and understanding, not in rigid adherence to man-made regulations that overshadow God's purpose. It also encourages us to recognize Jesus' ultimate authority, as He is indeed the Lord of the Sabbath.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • John 9:16

    Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

  • Jeremiah 17:21

    Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring [it] in by the gates of Jerusalem;

  • Luke 6:2

    And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?

  • Mark 3:4

    And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

  • Luke 13:14

    And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

  • Mark 2:24

    And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

  • Nehemiah 13:15

    ¶ In those days saw I in Judah [some] treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all [manner of] burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified [against them] in the day wherein they sold victuals.

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