Expositor's Bible Commentary 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 verse introduces the element of controversy between Jesus and his opponents. The immediate cause was his healing on the Sabbath, which they interpreted as a violation of the fourth commandment (Exodus 20:8–11; see comment on Jn 5:9–10). Jesus contended that allaying human need was no violation of God’s Law (cf. Lk 14:5).