Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.

Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, 'Stand up in front of everyone.'

Then Jesus asked them, 'Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?' But they remained silent.

He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

The religious leaders had added so many rules to the Sabbath that they missed its purpose. God gave the Sabbath as a gift of rest and restoration—but they made it a burden.

Jesus' question silenced them: Is it lawful to do good or evil? To save life or destroy it? They wouldn't answer because any answer condemned them. They were so concerned with their rules that they would rather see a man suffer than see Jesus show compassion.

Jesus was angry at their hard hearts, yet still grieved for them. He healed the man anyway. And the religious leaders went out to plot His death—on the Sabbath. The irony is tragic.