Jesus also reminded them that the priests in the
temple had violated the sabbath. They had cut
the wood, lit the fire, killed the victims, even had
circumcised children but they were not blamed.

If the temple excused them, wouldn't the greater
one do the same? The sabbath had been intended
for mercy. . . mercy was better than sacrifice. . . .

The sabbath was made for man, not man for the
sabbath. "For the Son of man is Lord even of the
sabbath day" Matthew 12:8