Christ during his ministry on this earth emphasized the binding claims of the Sabbath, in all his teaching showing reverence for the institution he himself had given. In the days of Christ, the Sabbath had become so perverted that its observance reflected the character of selfish and arbitrary men, rather than the character of God. Christ set aside the false teaching by which those who claimed to know God had misrepresented him. Although the rabbis followed him with merciless hostility, he did not even appear to conform to their requirements, but went straight forward keeping the Sabbath according to the law of God.

Under i sin jordiske tjeneste fremhævede Kristus sabbattens bindende krav, i alle sine læresætninger, der viste forbehold for den institution han selv havde givet. På Kristi dage, var sabbaten blevet så forvansket at dens overholdelse snarere genspejlede det selviske og egenkærlige menneskes karakter, frem for Guds karakter. Kristus satte den falske lære til side, hvor dem der hævde at kende Gud havde fremstillet ham forkert. Selvom rabbinerne fulgte ham med nådesløs fjendtlighed, viste han endog aldrig at tilpasse sig deres krav, men gik direkte frem, for at holde sabbaten efter Guds lov.