— via Jesus:

The following are passages relating to Jesus’ perspective on the Sabbath:

  • Matthew 12:1 - 14, (15 - 21): Jesus’ disciples pluck grain on the Sabbath; the Pharisees gripe, so Jesus tells them that David ate the bread of the Presence when they were hungry.  He further states that the priests break the Sabbath by their duties in the Temple.  He declares himself to be greater than the Temple and then Lord of the Sabbath.  Next, he heals a man with a withered hand (i.e., unable to work), in response to their inquiry about healing on the Sabbath.  Then he gives them an illustration about rescuing a stuck sheep.
  • Matthew 28:1: Jesus is in the tomb on the Sabbath.
  • Mark 1:21 - 31: Jesus casts out the demon in the synagogue and heals Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever.
  • Mark 2:23 - 3:6: A shorter version of grain on the Sabbath with the man with the withered hand.
  • Mark 6:2 - 6: Jesus is rejected at Nazareth on the Sabbath.
  • Mark 15:42 - 16:1: Jesus is in the tomb on the Sabbath.
  • Luke 4:16 - 39: Jesus is rejected at Nazareth, and uses “physician, heal yourself”.  He casts out a demon in Capernum on the Sabbath.  He heals Simon’s mother-in-law.
  • Luke 6:1 - 11: Luke’s version of the grainfields and the man with the withered hand.
  • Luke 13:10 - 17: Jesus heals a crippled woman on the Sabbath.
  • Luke 14:1 - 6: Jesus heals a man with dropsy at dinner on the Sabbath.
  • Luke 23:54 - 56: Jesus is in the tomb on the Sabbath, and the disciples keep the commandment.
  • John 5:1 - 18: Jesus heals the man at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath.  The man gets in trouble for carrying his mat.  Jesus asserts that he is still working because his Father is working.
  • John 7:19 - 24: Jesus asserts that his healing of a man is greater than circumcision, which is performed even on the Sabbath.  He also says that circumcision is healing, somehow.  Ouch.
  • John 9:13 - 17: The Pharisees assert that Jesus cannot be from God because he healed on the Sabbath.
  • John 19:31 - 37: Jesus is removed from the cross before the Sabbath.
  • Hebrews 4:1 - 13: The author of Hebrews urges his readers to enter God’s Sabbath-rest.

The rest of the NT references to the Sabbath are in Colossians 2:16 - no condemnation in festivals or Sabbaths - and in Acts where Paul and his companions meet with the Jews on the Sabbaths to teach about Christ.