Here Jesus elevated himself to his true station before the Jews, and declared himself to be the the Son of God. He then, in mild and dignified language, instructed them regarding the Sabbath. He told them that the rest-day which Jehovah had sanctified and set apart for a special purpose, after he had completed the work of creation, was not intended to be a period of useless inactivity. As God ceased his labor of creating, and rested upon that day and blessed it, so man was to leave the occupation of his daily life, and devote those sacred hours to healthful rest, to worship, and to holy deeds. {2SP 165.1}

Jesus ophøjede sig for jøderne til den rang, som tilkom ham, og erklærede, at han var Guds Søn. Derpå underviste han dem om sabbaten med milde og værdige ord. Han fortalte dem, at Jehovas hviledag, som han havde helliget og bestemt til særskilt brug, efter at han havde fuldkommet skabelsens værk, ikke var bestemt til at hengå uden nyttig virksomhed. Ligesom Gud ophørte med skabelsens værk og hvilede på den syvende dag og velsignede den, således skulle også mennesket forlade livets almindelige beskæftigelser og tilbringe hviledagens hellige timer med tilbedelse og gode gerninger.