9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
the Gospel According to Matthew, KJV translation, 12:9-12
📣 song cue: Christian Zeal and Activity, John C Adams
When I discussed the law to "cover thy head in public", I noted that it could not possibly apply to the cattle and the sheep.
For the observance of the Sabbath, it is more reasonable to extend the scope in that way.
🔥 we imagine pews full of sheep in barnyard churches
It used to be well-known that one must rest a draft animal. But today, we live in a world of 铁马 and 电驼.
⚙️ 铁马 (TIE3 MA3) - lit. "iron horse". 电驼 (DIAN4 TUO2) - lit. "electric camel". In context, referring to railroads and automobiles.
Six days shall you work, and the seventh shall be a day of rest.
💡 I'm not sure if "work" should be interpreted as 工作 or 干活 or 劳动 or some other phrase.
Perhaps it is simpler to comprehend what "work" means for the horse than it does for the 人. A 人 can work as a truck driver, or can work an animal. A 人 can work a room, or can work in a hospital.
🌎 we must remember the concept of the "Shabbas goy". It is work to turn on a light switch, and it is work to ask a 人 to turn on a light switch, but it is not work to hint about it to them.
Is it "work" to do what you love? Is it work to clean a soiled child? Is it more "work"-like to write with a pen or with chalk?
In the time of Jesus, the local Jewish authorities took a stricter view of the rules of the Sabbath. Today, even the ultra-orthodox agree that it is lawful to work on the Sabbath in order to save a human life.