Matthew Poole and continuators on John 5:9

9 And immed[illegible: 1 letter]ately the man was made whole , and took up his bed, and walked , and on the same day was the Sabbath .

The mans strength returneth immediately; he

is able immediately to arise, take up his Bed, and to walk.

All this was done on the Sabbath-day; on which day it was unlawful to carry any Burthens, Ier. 17.21.24. And by the Iewish Canons it was punishable by Death, or Scourging. But our Saviour had a mind to let the Iews know that he was Lord of the Sabbath, and what had been unlawful without his special Command, became Lawful by it. Neither was this against the sense of the Law, tho against the letter of it; the Law onely prohibited Civil Labour, and carrying Burdens for their own profit, and in the way of their Trade; it forbad the doing of nothing which was to be done as a publick Testimony of the Goodness and Mercy of God shewed to Persons; and by this our Saviour opens a way for his Correction of their Erroneous Opinions about the true Sanctification of the Sabbath: We shall observe, that our Saviour used the like Phrase to him that had the Palsie, Mat. 9.4. and to the Centurions Daughter, Mark 5 41. Damsel, Arise: And to Lazarus, Ch 11.43. Lazarus, come forth; which our Saviour did for the testification of the Miracle to all that should see them. It is further observed by Heinsins, that our Saviour did many Miracles on the Sabbath-day, because that day was the usual time when the Iews were wont to Consult the Prophets for help, as may be learned from 2 Kings 4.23.

Marginal references: Chap. 9.14.