Scripture: John 5:10 (ESV)
“So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, ‘It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.’”
Instead of rejoicing over a miracle, the religious leaders respond with criticism. A man who had been crippled for 38 years is walking—and their first concern is that he is carrying his mat on the Sabbath. They are so bound by their traditions that they miss the mercy of God standing right in front of them.
J.C. Ryle calls this a tragic example of religious blindness. “They saw no beauty in the mighty work which had been done,” he writes. “They only saw a supposed breach of the law.” Ryle warns that it is possible to be zealous for religious observance and yet be utterly cold toward the grace of God. When man-made rules are elevated above compassion and truth, spiritual distortion is inevitable.
John Calvin highlights the hypocrisy and hardness of heart behind the rebuke. “They pretend to be zealous for the law,” Calvin writes, “but in reality, they are enemies of the grace of God.” He notes that their objection was not based on the Law of Moses, but on their own rabbinical traditions. The Sabbath was meant to be a gift—a day of rest and worship—not a burden that crushed acts of mercy.
This moment is a sobering reminder that legalism blinds. It can cause people to prioritize rules over redemption, appearance over compassion, and control over celebration. The man had just received a miracle—but instead of praise, he received interrogation.
Yet even in this, we begin to see the growing tension between Jesus and the religious leaders—tension that will unfold throughout the chapter and ultimately lead to open opposition.
Reflection Questions:
- Are there ways in which you’ve let religious routine or tradition overshadow the grace of God?
- How can you guard your heart against becoming more focused on rules than on redemption?
- When others receive God’s mercy, is your first instinct joy—or scrutiny?
Prayer:
Lord, protect us from the blindness of legalism. Help us never to miss Your mercy because we are too focused on man-made traditions. Give us hearts that rejoice in the work You do—in others and in ourselves. Let Your grace lead us into deeper worship, not into rigid control. Teach us to see and celebrate the power of Your healing, even when it comes in unexpected ways. In Your name, Amen.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 