Luke 6:6-11

Applebury's Comments

Healing on the Sabbath
Scripture

Luke 6:6-11 And it came to pass on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man there, and his right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath; that they might find how to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man that had his hand withered, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. 9 And Jesus said unto them, I ask you, Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to destroy it? 10 And he looked round about on them all, and said unto him, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

Comments

and there was a man there, and his right hand was withered.The setting is the familiar sabbath-synagogue scene. But this is different. All the elements of a trap baited with a sick man are present. Those who considered themselves to be the rightful teachers were jealous of Jesus popularity. They were ready to spring their trap. Let this Teacher dare to perform a work of healing on the sacred sabbath, and they would destroy Him!

It is characteristic of Luke to mention the fact that it was the man's right hand that was withered. The beloved physician would be interested in such details.

that they might find how to accuse him.Their purpose was clear: They were interested in destroying the influence of Jesus with the people. Make them believe that He was breaking the sabbath, and they would return to their former teachers, the scribes and Pharisees.

But he knew their thoughts.Perhaps human intelligence could have seen through their trap. His enemies certainly thought of Him only as a man. But He was the Son of God, and God knows the reasoning of man's heart. Jesus knew what was in man (John 2:25). The Pharisees had not said anything up to this point, and were not aware that Jesus knew what they were plotting. They were soon to find out both the strength and the courage of the One whom they were seeking to destroy.

According to Matthew 12:10, the Pharisees asked, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath? It is difficult to say at what point their question was asked, but probably not before He had asked them, Is it lawful to do good or harm on the sabbath?

Rise up and stand forth in the midst.One can-'t help wondering what effect this order from Jesus had on those who had planned to trap Him, Were they delighted that their scheme was going so well? Did they in the least suspect that He was aware of their evil purpose? Were they surprised by His courage as He accepted the challenge to heal the man?

What did the people think? Were they aware of what was going on? Were they glorying in the wisdom and courage and mercy of the Prophet who had arisen in their midst?
Let those who picture Jesus as a weakling ponder the boldness of His action. He could have avoided the clash with the time-honored leaders; He could have waited until the crowd was gone; but He didn-'t. He said, Stand here in the midst. He wanted all to see exactly what He was doing. Everything was out in the open. What a contrast to the secret conniving of the Pharisees who were bent on destroying the Son of God!

And he arose and stood in the midst.It is highly improbable that the man had the slightest idea of what was about to happen to him. It is also highly improbable that he knew anything of the plot of the Pharisees to use him to get rid of Jesus. A physical handicap like that may have made him timid, but at the command of the Teacher, he stood up where all could see him.

Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good, or to do harm?Jesus was in complete command of the situation. He knew what His opponents had in mind; He knew what He was going to do. He wanted all who present on that sabbath day to see through the evil plot of the Pharisees.

He asked, Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good, or to do harm? There could be but one answer to the question: To do good, not harm, on the sabbath. His enemies were planning the most evil deed: to kill the Son of God!
To save a life, or destroy, that was the real issue before them. The people must have been moved by the logic of Jesus and by His mercy. In their hearts they must have answered, Save a life.
But the second part of the question, or destroy it? Whose life? That of the man with the withered hand? Or was it His own life, for He knew that they desperately wanted to destroy Him.

He looked round about on them all.Jesus had upset their trap; He was now ready to expose their wicked plot. He knew what they were thinking; did they see what He was about to do? Mark 3:5 says, He looked round about on them with anger, being grieved at the hardness of their hearts.

John describes Him in Revelation 1:14 as the one whose eyes were as a flame of fire. Did something of that flame show in His eyes that sabbath day in the synagogue while wicked men dared Him to heal the man with the withered hand? Did they dare look Him full in the face? Did the people see the wrath of the Righteous Judge as Jesus stood by the man He was about to heal? Or did they see in His face the mellow light of mercy for all who turn to Him?

Stretch forth thy hand.The man did so, and his hand was restored. It was as simple as that. Instantly, this one who had not been able to use his withered right handwe do not know for how longstretched it forth in demonstration of the power of Jesus to do good on the sabbath, to save a life, not destroy it.

they were filled with madness.Their fury knew no bounds. Their cleverly arranged trap had been turned against them. They couldn-'t answer the logic of Jesus, for before their very eyes stood the man whose withered hand had been restored.

There was but one thing left: They would destroy Jesus. They talked the matter over among themselves. Their only question was, What shall we do with him? They took counsel against him, how they might destroy him (Matthew 12:14).