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67. Healing a Man’s Hand on the Sabbath


Matthew 12:9-14, Luke 6:6-11 & Mark 3:1-6
Key Verse:  Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” 
Luke 6:9

What does your faith do for you?  Does it make you more caring, or critical?  Is your worship just a matter of singing songs, saying a prayer, perhaps listening to a sermon and an offering, or does it include serving others? 

Once again, Jesus provides the religious people with another opportunity to criticize Him.  Each of the texts mentions that they were “looking for a reason to accuse Him.”  What must it have been like to live under such constant scrutiny?  For His critics, once again, Jesus was working on the Sabbath, however, Jesus, for His part, was performing an act of worship by setting someone free.

His arm must have been damaged sometime in the past either by a stroke or work related injury.  Without proper medical care, his arm had probably atrophied and was probably unusable.  This would have affected his ability to work and provide for his family.  Luke, the doctor, makes special mention of the fact that it was his right hand.  Since the majority of the population is right handed, this may have been a particularly difficult situation to deal with.  It would have affected his ability to touch.  How did he hug his children or cradle them while they were sleeping?  Life was a burden to him because he could not fully participate due to the condition of his arm. 

So, once again, Jesus confronts the Pharisees with their reasoning.  In our story yesterday, Jesus had focused on grace, using the story of David as an example.  Today, He brings the point closer to home by asking them to examine themselves.  “He said to them, …If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?  How much more valuable is a man than a sheep!  Therefore, it’s lawful to do good on the Sabbath…”  (Matthew 12:11-12)

Sadly, for some of these religious leaders, the sheep may have been more valuable.  At least it could produce wool or food.  This man was damaged, in their view, cursed justly by an act of God.  Who was Jesus to interfere with God’s sense of justice! 

“God does not see things as man sees them.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.”  (1 Samuel 16:7) This man was precious to Jesus, and valuable.  Jesus knew that He would die for him soon.  Why not make his life, on this earth, a little easier until then. 

The fourth commandment actually says, “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy.”  (Ex.20:8) “Holy,” does not mean do nothing.  The healings that Jesus performed on the Sabbath were the highest act of Holiness.  They were a blessing to the one healed and an opportunity for all those who witnessed to give glory to God.  If anyone was blaspheming, it was those who chose to criticize rather than join in the praise of what God had done. 

So, again I ask you, what does your faith do for you?  Does it make you more caring, or critical?  We are called to be like Christ.  We are called to do good and serve others.  If your faith doesn’t call you to this, then, is it the faith of Christ? 

Hymn: “Let Me Be a Servant to You”

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