Fresh from an encounter with the Pharisees, Jesus came out of the fields and entered the synagogue. He stood up and began to teach. There were Pharisees in the audience bent on accusing him. Also, there was a man in the congregation that had a withered right hand. The man was bait. The Pharisees watched Jesus to see if he would heal the man on the Sabbath Day. By their thinking, healing on the Sabbath was work, and violated the Sabbath.

Well, Jesus continued to preach until they suddenly impatiently interrupted him.

“…Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days?…” they asked. (Matthew 12:10)

It was a trap. If he said yes, he would be defying rabbinical tradition. If he said no, He would be contradicting his own actions. Jesus was always the master of every situation.

He said to the man with the withered hand, “…Rise up, and stand forth…” (Luke 6:8)

The man did so. Then Jesus turned to the Pharisees.

“…I will ask you one thing;” He said. “Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?” (Luke 6:9)

Well, that one question of His not only made theirs look utterly absurd, but overturned the rabbinical traditions of the Jewish Sabbath.

The Pharisees couldn’t answer; they just stared at him; they didn’t dare say anything. In anger, Jesus “…looked round about on them, [being] grieved,” it says, “for the hardness of their hearts...” (Mark 3:5)

Then He said to the man with the withered hand, “…Stretch forth thine hand...” (Mark 3:5)

And when he did it “…was restored whole as the other.” (Mark 3:5)

This deliberate act of defiance enraged the Pharisees! They left the meeting and immediately began to conspire how they could murder the Savior.

Now, you know, I suppose it still angers Jesus when we, like those Pharisees, care more about being right than doing right. Thank the Lord for those people today who clearly know what is right, and then have the courage to do it. Oh, what a difference they make!