But could Christ or his apostles consistently alter the law of the Sabbath? In all his ministry, Christ acted under the _appointment_ of the Father, and according to such _restrictions_ as were contained in the law and the prophets. By those restrictions, no laws were to be set aside at his coming, except such as were peculiar to the Jewish economy; such as "meats, and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed until the time of reformation." Heb. 9:10. To set aside these, the law gave the Messiah an express grant. Heb. 10:9. But the very moment he should attempt to go beyond the limits of that grant, he would destroy all evidence of his being the Messiah promised and appointed. For it was by his exact conformity to the law, that his claims were established. Hence, early in his ministry, he declared that he "came not to _destroy_ the law or the prophets." Matt. 5:17. Most cheerfully do we recognize him as God over all, and blessed forever; yet we are well satisfied that, even in virtue of his divinity, he could not consistently set aside any laws except those which were "a shadow of things to come." Otherwise we should have God _denying_ himself--God _contradicting_ himself! The New Testament records not a single instance of his claiming a right to do so. When he avowed himself Lord of the Sabbath, he only claimed to determine what was the proper method of keeping it--what were breaches of it, and what were not. The Sabbath was made _for_ man, and consequently it was his prerogative to decide what acts and duties answered to the nature and design of the institution. _Therefore_, the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. Mark 2:28.