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Jesus healed a man with a withered hand, on the Sabbath.

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Matthew 12:9-13 Mark 3:1-5 Luke 6:6-11
9And when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 10And behold, a man having a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbaths? This so that they might accuse Him. 11And He said to them, What man among you will be, who will have one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbaths, will he not lay hold on it and lift it out? 12How much better is a man then than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days. 13Then He said to the man, Stretch out your hand. And he stretched it out, and it was restored whole like the other.
MKJV
 1And He again entered into the synagogue. And a man was there who had a withered hand. 2And they watched Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath day, so that they might accuse Him. 3And He said to the man who had the withered hand, Arise! Come into the middle. 4And He said to them, Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill? But they were silent. 5And looking around on them with anger, being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, Stretch out your hand! And he stretched it out. And his hand was restored whole, like the other.
MKJV
 6And it happened, also on another Sabbath, that He entered into the synagogue and taught. And there was a man whose right hand was withered. 7And the scribes and Pharisees watched him to see if He would heal on the Sabbath day, so that they might find an accusation against Him. 8But He knew their thoughts and said to the man who had the withered hand, Rise up and stand in the middle. And he arose and stood. 9Then Jesus said to them, I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil, to save life, or to destroy it? 10And looking around on them all, He said to the man, Stretch out your hand! And he did so. And his hand was restored whole like the other. 11And they were filled with madness, and talked with one another as to what they might do to Jesus.
MKJV
Insights.
  • Jesus was in one of their synagogue on the Sabbath day and the Pharisees, Scribes or religious leaders were watching Him to see if they could accuse Him. They were actually doing this out of a cold callused and hardened heart, for there is no direct law in the OT. saying that it is unlawful to heal on the Sabbath.
  • To heal is to do good! Jesus equated sickness with destruction, evil and death, healing with doing good and saving life. Deuteronomy chapter 28 gives a list of blessings and curses, sickness is a curse, health and healing is a blessing.
  • The Gospel of Mark says, Jesus was grieved by the hardness of their hearts, because of the lack of compassion they had for their fellow man.
  • In Matthew's account Jesus uses a comparison of a sheep that falls into a pit. first using a sheep as a reference they were familiar with both in this physical life and in OT. scripture. Making the point that they cared more for their animals and keeping the law, (as they interpreted it), than caring for others.
  • Lastly, the man had to be willing, he had to stretch forth his hand.