Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 5:16

"And for this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath." — John 5:16 (ASV)

This was a mere pretense, an idle excuse for their enmity. They not only hated Christ, but they were also determined to smear him with their slanders, and make him out to be an evildoer, although he was goodness itself.