9 “He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.” (Matthew 12:9–14 (ESV)
Today’s title sounds like it could be the name for a Sherlock Holmes detective story. Rather, it is Matthew’s account of one of Jesus’ most dramatic and impacting miracles. Like any narrative, biblical or otherwise, today’s text contains the basic elements for a story: plot, setting, character, and theme.
Matthew provides a straightforward narrative. Jesus, and presumably His disciples, left the grain fields (Matt. 12:1-8) and have entered their synagogue. Since Matthew identified the synagogue as theirs, it is presumed that this was either in the town of Nazareth or Capernaum. Both Mark and Luke record this event (Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11).
The Pharisees question drives the plot: “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” Matthew comments that the Pharisees posed this question so they might accuse Jesus of breaking God’s Law; and their traditions. They knew how He would answer. The reason for their specific question was because attending the synagogue that Sabbath was a man with a withered hand. Withered (ξηρός; xeros) can mean either paralyzed or shrunken from illness or deformity.
Jesus responded by saying, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
Jesus posed a scenario to the questioners. The obvious answer would be that anyone would make the effort to rescue a sheep caught in a pit. Therefore, if it was a good thing to save a lamb, it would be better to heal a human being. Jesus emphatically declared that it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath. He could make such a proclamation because He is Lord of the Sabbath (Matt. 12:8).
Jesus then commanded the man to stretch out his hand. The man did so. Immediately, Jesus healed the man’s withered hand. Jesus restored it. To restore (ἀποκαθίστημι; apokathistemi) means to cure and to reinstate what previously existed or what was originally intended.
“In both instances — that of the disciples eating the grain and of Jesus healing the man’s withered hand — the scriptural principle that Jesus applies from God’s Word is that “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” (Matt. 12:7).
The Pharisees response was also to be expected. The Pharisees went out of the synagogue and conspired against Jesus regarding how to destroy him.
When faced with the decision between doing what is good vs. what is best, always go with what is best. What is best, according to our Lord, is mercy rather than sacrifice.
Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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