Luke 13:15
The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
The verse is the Lord's direct answer to the synagogue ruler's indignant objection to His healing a suffering woman on the Sabbath. He meets that indignation by calling him hypocrite and exposing hypocrisy and inconsistency, pointing out that each one of them on the Sabbath would loose his own ox or his ass from the stall and lead him away to watering. The ruler would untie and water his livestock on that day, yet condemned Jesus for relieving the woman, and that objection revealed his inconsistency.
It is therefore right and fitting and consistent to release a suffering daughter of Abraham from bondage on the Sabbath, so that practical works of mercy are proper and permitted on that day. Relieving a person is consistent with the care already shown to animals, and the comparison exposes the inconsistency of allowing care for animals while condemning compassion for a person. Consistency in this mercy is a jewel to be desired.
The account belongs to His fitting Sabbath work of healing and comforting the sick, done extensively and willingly and joyfully to bring comfort and love and to restore sufferers to health. The Sabbath gave opportunity to reach people who labored during the week. His example calls for compassionate care of the sick in the present, and such Sabbath healings are manifestations to thank God for and to repeat after His example.