Jesus did not let the matter pass with administering a rebuke to His enemies. He declared that in their blindness they had mistaken the object of the Sabbath. He said, "If ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless." Matt. 12:7. Their many heartless rites could not supply the 286 lack of that truthful integrity and tender love which will ever characterize the true worshiper of God.

Jesus stillede ikke sagen i bero med at tildele sine fjender en irettesættelse. Han erklærede, at de i deres blindhed havde misforstået sabbattens betydning. Han sagde: "Hvis I havde forstået, hvad det ord betyder: 'Barmhjertighed vil jeg, ej slagtoffer, havde I ikke fordømt de skyldfri." Matt. 12,7. Deres mange hjerteløse ritualer kunne ikke opveje mangelen på den sandfærdige retskaffenhed og milde kærlighed, som altid vil kendetegne de virkelig gudfrygtige.