And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus doesn't just ask if it's okay to heal on the Sabbath; he frames it as a choice between actively doing good and allowing harm, or even destroying life versus saving it. This sharpens the ethical demand, suggesting that neglecting an opportunity to help someone is itself a form of doing evil on the sacred day.
And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just entered a synagogue on the Sabbath, and the religious leaders are watching him closely, waiting to accuse him. A man with a withered hand is present, and Jesus, knowing their malicious intent, directly confronts the Pharisees and scribes by asking if it's lawful to do good or harm, to save life or destroy it on the Sabbath.
The religious leaders were watching Jesus, waiting for him to break the Sabbath. But Jesus turned their trap into a powerful lesson.
Jesus faced a group eager to find fault with Him for healing on the Sabbath. Instead of directly defending His actions, He posed a rhetorical question designed to expose the flaw in their reasoning.
The Heart of the Question
He asks, 'Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?' This wasn't a question seeking information; it was a challenge to their established rules.
A False Dichotomy
By framing it as a choice between 'doing good' and 'doing harm,' or 'saving life' and 'destroying it,' Jesus highlighted the absurdity of their position. They were focused on the letter of the law, while ignoring its spirit – which is love for God and neighbor.
Jesus revealed a profound truth: choosing not to do good can be just as wrong as actively doing evil.
Jesus’ question wasn't just about what is allowed, but what ought to be done. He pointed out that refusing to help someone in need, especially when you have the power to do so, is a form of 'harm' or 'destruction' in itself.
The Guilt of Neglect
By presenting the choice as 'do good or do harm,' Jesus implies that choosing to do good is, in effect, choosing harm. This is a radical idea that challenges passive observance. When the opportunity arises to show mercy, heal, or help, failing to act is not neutral; it aligns with the side of harm.
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A Divine Standard
This principle reflects God’s character – He is actively good and life-giving. Therefore, His people, made in His image, are called to reflect that same active goodness, especially on a day set aside to honor Him.
Understand the original words
exestin · Greek Verb
In the context of the Law (Torah), "lawful" refers to actions that align with God’s commandments. Jesus challenges the legalistic application of the Law that obscures its original intent, which is to love God and neighbor.
sōzō · Greek Verb
To preserve, rescue, or keep safe from death or destruction. In the New Testament, this term often carries the deeper theological meaning of deliverance from sin, judgment, and spiritual death.
This encounter highlights the stark contrast between Jesus' compassionate, life-affirming approach to God's Law and the rigid, often life-denying interpretations of Sabbath observance held by some religious leaders of his day.
c. 150 BC - AD 70
Intensified Sabbath Regulations
During this period, Jewish religious leaders developed increasingly strict interpretations of Sabbath laws, adding numerous prohibitions and restrictions beyond the original Ten Commandments.
c. AD 28
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, frequently teaching and healing, often encountering opposition from religious authorities regarding his actions and interpretations of the Law.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus Heals Man with Withered Hand
In a synagogue on the Sabbath, Jesus encounters a man with a withered hand. Religious leaders watch closely, looking for a reason to accuse him.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Question on the Sabbath
Jesus directly confronts the accusers by asking if it is lawful to do good or evil, to save life or destroy it on the Sabbath, challenging their focus on rigid rules over compassion.
c. AD 70
Destruction of the Second Temple
The destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem marked a pivotal moment for Judaism, leading to further reevaluation and adaptation of religious practices, including Sabbath observance.
This passage presents a similar rhetorical question, comparing the value of a sheep to a person, directly challenging the Pharisees' stricter interpretation of Sabbath law by highlighting the permissibility of rescuing an animal on the Sabbath, thus implying that saving a human life is even more clearly permissible.
Mark 3:4This parallel account also records Jesus asking whether it is lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, framing the question around saving or destroying a life, underscoring the inherent moral logic Jesus used to confront the religious leaders.
Exodus 20:13While the Ten Commandments prohibit murder, Jesus' question in Luke 6:9 subtly implies that inaction, or allowing harm to occur when one could prevent it, could be seen as a form of 'doing harm' or failing to 'save life,' thus touching upon a broader understanding of human responsibility beyond simple prohibitions.
Deuteronomy 5:12The commandment to keep the Sabbath holy is given with the context of rest and remembrance, and Jesus' question challenges whether rigid adherence to rules that prevent acts of compassion truly honors the spirit of the Sabbath.
1 Samuel 15:22This passage emphasizes that obedience to God is better than sacrifice, and Jesus' question implies that obeying the spirit of God's law—which includes mercy and life—is superior to rigidly following man-made interpretations of the Sabbath that hinder such acts.
clarkeLuke 6:9: "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?"
I will ask you one thing - I will put a question to you. See on Mark 3:4 , Mark 3:5 (note).
pulpitLuke 6:9: "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?"
Verse 9. - Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? The sum and substance of the Master's teaching here is - works of love done for the bodies and souls of men never mar or in any way interfere with the holiness of a day of rest. St. Matthew in his account of the plucking the ears of corn o…
Jesus doesn't just ask if it's okay to heal on the Sabbath; he frames it as a choice between actively doing good and allowing harm, or even destroying life versus saving it. This sharpens the ethical demand, suggesting that neglecting an opportunity to help someone is itself a form of doing evil on the sacred day.
Jesus has just entered a synagogue on the Sabbath, and the religious leaders are watching him closely, waiting to accuse him. A man with a withered hand is present, and Jesus, knowing their malicious intent, directly confronts the Pharisees and scribes by asking if it's lawful to do good or harm, to save life or destroy it on the Sabbath.
Jesus has just entered a synagogue on the Sabbath, and the religious leaders are watching him closely, waiting to accuse him. A man with a withered hand is present, and Jesus, knowing their malicious intent, directly confronts the Pharisees and scribes by asking if it's lawful to do good or harm, to save life or destroy it on the Sabbath.
"And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?”" — Jesus doesn't just ask if it's okay to heal on the Sabbath; he frames it as a choice between actively doing good and allowing harm, or even destroying life versus saving it. This sharpens the…
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Last reviewed October 2026