The healing of the man with the withered hand is the next miracle in our series…This miracle is recorded for us in Matt 12:9-14, Mark 3:1-6 .
In this miracle of Christ, we come face to face with the issue of choosing between following the dictates of man or living in submission to the will of God for our lives. Here we find, in the synagogue, on the Sabbath Day, the Lord coming upon a man with a withered hand. There were Pharisees in the synagogue that “watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day; that they might accuse him”.
Then the Pharisees asked Him if it was within the confines of God’s law to heal someone on the Sabbath. He responded by explaining that any man would make the effort to save an animal from a pit on the Sabbath, how much better would it be to heal a human being on the Sabbath. Further, He said that “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?”.
Following this we are told that “he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts” . He then proceeded to heal the man’s hand. After they saw this the Pharisees depart and meet with the Herodians to plot against Christ.
In this miracle we find the need to follow the laws of Christ in the context of their intent. Keep in mind, the very basis and purpose of God’s laws are to be taken in the context of love; out love for God and our love for others. (Matt 22:37-40) Our love for God and others is the very origin of the laws of God.
If Christ would have followed the Pharisees way of thinking in this matter, He would have chosen to walk away from this man without healing his infirmity. This would have been perverting the very purpose of this law by refusing to show concern and love for this deformed man.
Do we find ourselves obeying God’s laws by allowing our actions to flow from a heart of love and concern for both our Lord and fellow man? Or do we find our lives being lived according to man’s legalistic perversions of the intent and application of God’s laws?
May the Lord bless each one of us as we “Think On These Things”.
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