And it came to pass that he went through the corn fields on the Sabbath day; and his disciples began as they went to pluck the ears of corn.
And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the Sabbath day that which is not lawful? And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was a hungered, he and they that were with him?
How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shew-bread, which is not lawful to eat, but for the priests, and gave also to them that were with him?
And he said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. ([Mark 2 : 23–27].)
Jesus had repeated conflicts with the Jews on this question. He would not honor the Jewish Sabbath, and consequently the Jews made war upon him, threatening to take his life.
And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the Sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.
Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good or to do evil? to save life or to destroy it?
And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so; and his hand was restored whole as the other. ([Luke 6 : 7–11].)
And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus. ([Luke 6 : 11].)
We read in [Luke 13 : 11–14], that “there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.”