1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. 2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. 3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. 4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. 6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him. (Mark 3:1-6 KJV)
A Man with a Withered Hand
Here, as before, we see our Lord Jesus working first in the synagogue, then by the sea, teaching us that his presence isn’t limited to one place. Wherever people gather in his name—whether in a synagogue or elsewhere—he is there among them. Wherever he records his name, he will meet his people and bless them. It is his will that people pray everywhere. Here’s what he did.
When he entered the synagogue again, he used the opportunity to do good. No doubt he preached a sermon there and then performed a miracle to confirm it, or at least to confirm this truth: that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:9).
The man’s condition was serious; he had a withered hand and couldn’t work for a living. People like this, unable to help themselves, are the proper objects of charity. Instead of advocating for him, the spectators were unkind and looked for a reason to accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath if he healed the man. It would have been bad enough to oppose a doctor helping someone by ordinary means, but worse to oppose someone who healed with just a word.
Jesus first tried to address the spectators. He told the man to stand where all could see him, perhaps to stir their compassion and prevent them from seeing the cure as a crime. Then he asked, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil? To save life or to kill?” (Mark 3:4). It was a fair question, but they remained silent because they knew it would condemn them. People are truly stubborn when they can’t argue against the truth, yet still refuse to accept it.
When they resisted the truth, Jesus was deeply grieved at the hardness of their hearts (Mark 3:5). He looked around at them with anger, upset by their stubborn unbelief. He sees not only what is said or done wrong, but the heart’s bitterness and blindness. The sin he focused on was their hardness of heart—their refusal to be moved by the evidence of his miracles. Their behavior was deeply displeasing to him. Jesus was angry only at sin, and his grief shows how painful it is for him to see people bent on their own destruction. Like God, who grieved over Israel’s rebellion in the wilderness, Jesus is sorrowed by those who resist being saved. This should make us grieve over the hardness in our own hearts and in others.
Jesus then turned to the man and told him, “Stretch out your hand.” And immediately it was restored. By this, Jesus teaches us to keep doing what’s right, even if others oppose us. We should sometimes deny ourselves ease or comfort to avoid causing offense, but we must not avoid serving God and doing good, even if it offends others. Jesus, who was very cautious about causing offense, still chose to heal the man despite the disapproval of the scribes and Pharisees.
This miracle also illustrates the way Christ heals souls. Our spiritual “hands” are withered—our abilities weakened by sin. The Sabbath is the day of healing; the synagogue, the place; and Christ, the healer. Like the command here, the gospel command calls us to act, even though we are weak. We must lift up our hands to God in prayer, cling to Christ, and do good works. If we make the effort, Christ gives the power. If we’re not healed, it’s because we refuse to try. But if we do and are healed, all the glory belongs to Christ. The enemies of Jesus responded with cruelty. Instead of being moved to faith or love by such a miracle, the Pharisees and Herodians, though normally opposed to each other, joined forces to figure out how to destroy him. Those who suffer for doing good only follow the example of their Master.