[James C. Bennett]

"It’s like the Good Samaritan story in the Bible. Who was good? Was it those who would have let the traveler die rather than render aid on the Sabbath (obeying the law), or the Samaritan? The Samaritan violated the letter of the law, but he obeyed the spirit of the law."

What was the "spirit of the law" in not working / rendering aid on the Sabbath?

[CitizenUSA]

“What was the “spirit of the law” in not working / rendering aid on the Sabbath?”

The letter of the law was do no work on the Sabbath. The spirit of the law was keeping the Sabbath holy by loving and serving a neighbor in need. The Good Samaritan kept the spirit of the Sabbath.