The Work of the Sabbath

Come Follow Me Insight: Luke 13:10-17

The Savior was often criticized for healing and performing other miracles on the Sabbath. What work is best acceptable for the “day of rest?”

Luke 13:10-17 tells the story of Jesus healing a woman on the Sabbath day. While teaching in a synagogue, he notices a woman as having been bent over for eighteen years and could not straighten her body (Luke 13:11).

Though it was not always his practice, in this instance, he laid his hands on the woman, "and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.” (Luke 13:13).

The act of healing on the Sabbath was made even more provocative by the additional physical action of laying on hands to perform the healing.

This did not escape the scorn of the synagogue ruler who "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 (Luke 14:13)."

Jesus' actions seemed very deliberate. He emphasized that good works should be prioritized, even on the Sabbath. In other words, people should prioritize helping those in need over adhering to strict laws and rituals.

Acceptable Work on the Sabbath Today

Spending long hours ministering and fulfilling callings on the Sabbath today can seem contradictory. After all, Sundays are supposed to be a "day of rest" devoted to family, right?

In reality, the Sabbath often requires hours of work rivaling any other workday of ecclesiastical leaders!

A "Sunday Workday" ministering may seem incongruent with sabbath keeping.

It took me a few years of spending long Sundays fulfilling ecclesiastical callings before I was able to reconcile the work and time away from family with the teaching of the Sabbath as a “day of rest.”

Modern revelation supports the concept of ministering on the Sabbath. 

Often that work requires some heavy ministerial lifting.

Section 59 of the Doctrine and Covenants provides perfect clarity and sets the standard for acceptable latter-day sabbath worship and activities.: 

9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;

10 For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;

11 Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times;

12 But remember that on this, the Lord's day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.

The key is found in the footnote with examples of the word "oblations" in verse 12:

"IE offerings, whether of time, talents, or means, in service of God and fellowman." The footnote also provides an additional link to the subject "Sacrifice" in the Topical Guide.

Doctrine and Covenants Section 59 also describes rich blessings of proper sabbath day worship are also promised, including:

16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;

17 Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;

18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;

19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.

20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.

We should always be guided by what is right and just.

Ultimately, Jesus taught us that doing good works on the Sabbath is acceptable and encouraged.

Just as the woman healed in the synagogue was identified as a daughter of Father Abraham and blessed, so it is with us when we observe the Sabbath as intended.

By serving, we have the opportunity to extend the blessings of Abraham to others and receive the blessings promised in Section 59 of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Thanks for reading and pondering with me! 

Russell Anderson

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