Matthew 12:10

III. DOING GOOD ON THE SABBATH.

10.. man which had his hand withered.

That is, dried up from. deficient absorption of the nutriment. Luke says his "right hand." The disease here indicated results in. loss both in size and in power of the arm; for it there is no remedy known to man.-- Abbott. Brethren, pray God that the shame of such weakness be found in the synagogue only. Let none in the Church be found with. hand dried up through self-love, contracted through avarice, weakened through plunder, and through. grasping tenacity diseased; but should this happen, let it hear the Lord speak, and be forthwith stretched out in good works, and made soft by the influence of mercy.-- Pet. Chrysol.

And they asked him.

Luke says it was the scribes and Pharisees.

Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?

In the opinion of the Pharisees, to kindle or extinguish. fire on the Sabbath was. great desecration of the day, nor was even sickness allowed to violate rabbinical rules. It was forbidden to give an emetic on the Sabbath, to set. broken bone, or put back. dislocated joint, though some rabbis, more liberal, held that whatever endangered life made the Sabbath law void, "for the commands were given to Israel only that they might live by them." One who was buried under ruins on Sabbath might be dug for and taken out, if alive, but, if dead, he was to be left where he was till the Sabbath was over.-- Geikie.

That they might accuse him.

Not in conversation merely, but before the local judges, who were probably identical with the elders or rulers of the synagogue, or at all events present at the stated time and place of public worship.-- J. A. Alexander.