Luke 6:6-9

The man with the withered hand: V. 6. And it came to pass also on another Sabbath that He entered into the synagog and taught; and there was a man whose right hand was withered. V. 7. And the scribes and Pharisees watched Him. whether He would heal on the Sabbath-day, that they might find an accusation against Him. V. 8. But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. V. 9. Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath-days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?

On the other Sabbath, the one following that on which the Lord had given the Pharisees the first lesson concerning the real meaning of the Sabbath, Jesus was again in the synagog, teaching, as was His custom. He was preaching when the incident which is here related occurred. There was a man in the synagog, probably brought there purposely by the Pharisees, whose right hand was withered, as the result of disease or accident.

Now the scribes and Pharisees kept watching in a sly, furtive manner what Jesus would do when the condition of this man would be brought to His attention. If the Lord would heal the man, they thought they would be able to make out a case against Him from their law.

But Jesus knew the hypocritical reasoning of their hearts and took up their challenge. He had the sick man stand forth in the center of the room, in order that all those present might see him and the miracle which He proposed to do to him. Jesus now directed a question to His enemies, to show them that He read the thoughts of their hearts, for He was filled with the emotions of anger and pity.

He asked them pointblank whether it was the right and proper thing, whether it should be considered an obligation resting upon all those present to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath, to save life or to destroy it. To leave any sick and crippled person in his misery for even one minute longer than is necessary is a transgression of the Fifth Commandment; this fact they should know.