John Calvin Commentary Numbers 15:32

"And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks upon the sabbath day." — Numbers 15:32 (ASV)

And while the children of Israel. Since we do not know in what year or month this happened, it seemed best to follow the context of Moses.

This history shows that the Israelites were not always affected by the same degree of madness, leading them to be rebellious against God. In this instance, their moderation is as evident as the fervency of their pious zeal. However, just as one swallow does not make a spring, we will form an incorrect judgment of people's entire lives from a single noble action.

The transgressor of the law is brought to Moses and Aaron, whose authority keeps all the people in the path of duty. Their humility is also praiseworthy, as they quietly wait for God's decision. Finally, their energy in executing the punishment as soon as God declared the sentence must also be noted. You might say that in every respect they were rightly conformed to the rules of piety. Yet, because the most trivial occasion immediately led them astray, their hypocrisy was revealed by this great fickleness of conduct.

This, however, is the sum of the history: by the death of one man, the obligation of the Sabbath was sanctioned, so that it might henceforth be held in greater reverence. It might indeed be the case that these men who brought the transgressor of the Sabbath were careless in other matters and, as is usual with hypocrites, were excessively rigid in asserting the claims of an outward ceremony.

From the punishment, however, we may infer that the criminal himself had not erred through inadvertence but in gross contempt of the Law, thinking nothing of subverting and corrupting all sacred things. Indeed, God has sometimes severely avenged thoughtlessness in the desecration of holy things, but it is probable He would not have commanded this man to be stoned unless he had been convicted of a deliberate crime. Moreover, by this severity, God testified to how much importance He placed upon observing the Sabbath. The reason for this has been explained elsewhere,⁸⁴ namely, that by this mark and symbol He had separated His chosen people from heathen nations. This is also why the main reproach against the Jews arose when they were called Sabbatarians.⁸⁵

But it must be remembered that the worship of God was not to consist in mere idleness and festivity. Therefore, what God commanded concerning the seventh day had another object: not only that they should then occupy themselves with meditating on His works, but that, renouncing themselves and their own works, they should live for God.

Furthermore, this case generally shows us that the magistracy is appointed for the maintenance of the First Table no less than the Second. Therefore, if they inflict punishment for murder, adultery, and theft, they should also uphold the worship of God. For it is to be observed that the man was not stoned by a mere unreflecting impulse but by God's direct command.

They knew, indeed, what he had deserved before God’s tribunal; but, since no political law had been given on this matter, Moses was unwilling to make any decision except by God's authority.

⁸⁴ Vol. 2, p 434..

⁸⁵ Martial, lib. 4, 4, epigr. 4, speaks of “jejunia Sabbatariorum,” in a connection which makes it highly probable that it was a kind of nickname for the Jews.4, speaks of “jejunia Sabbatariorum,” in a connection which makes it highly probable that it was a kind of nickname for the Jews.