Mathew 12: 9-14. Yahshua (Jesus') healing of the man with
the withered hand (also in Mark 3:1-6) reveals a fundamental difference between
Jesus and the Pharisees in their approach to the Sabbath. The Pharisees
had not entered the synagogue to worship, nor did they ask Jesus their
question—"Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"—out of loving
concern. No, they were an accusing authority attempting to judge Christ by
their man made regulations, manmade traditions and manmade interpretations on
how the Sabbath should be remembered.
It helps to remember the
historical context. The Jews were developing specific regulations to cover any
and every possible circumstance to keep them from sinning. Eventually, they compiled
1,521 regulations covering Sabbath conduct alone. By Yahshua
(Jesus') time, they had already turned their observance of the law into a
legalistic ritual rather than a loving service to God and man. They did this sincerely in a vain effort to
become holy, not understanding that this is not how a man becomes
spiritually holy.
Interesting
to note: We also need to recognize that the liberating healing Yahshua (Jesus) performed
was not done to a man whose life was in immediate danger, but to one who was
chronically ill.
In the gospels the controversy is always how, not whether, to keep the Sabbath. Jesus
never says it no longer matters, and that we therefore no longer need to
observe it. Yahshua (Jesus) very obviously kept it, or the Jews' attacks against
Him would have specifically addressed why He was not. Instead, they
attacked His manner of observing it.
Some argue that the only
reason Jesus kept it was for the sake of tradition, because He was a Jew. He answers this Himself
when He observes that the Sabbath was made for man, not just for Jews, and that
He is Lord of it (Mark
2:27-28). Also, He is our example, and we are to walk as He walked (1 John 2:4-6). If
we wish to follow Him closely, then we will keep the same days He did.
Jesus’ violations of
Sabbath laws continue in this story of how he healed a man’s hand in a
synagogue. Why was Jesus in this synagogue on this day — to preach, to heal, or
just as an average person attending worship services? There’s no way to tell. He does, however, defend his actions on
the Sabbath in a manner similar to his earlier argument: the Sabbath exists for
humanity, not vice-versa, and so when human needs become critical, it is
acceptable to violate traditional Sabbath laws.
Mathew 12:9-13 Christ shows that works
of mercy are lawful and proper to be done on the Sabbath (Saturday) Day. There
are more ways of doing well upon Sabbath days, than by the duties of worship: attending the sick, relieving the poor,
helping those who need speedy relief, teaching the young to care for their
souls; these are doing good: and these must be done from love and charity,
with humility and self-denial, and shall be accepted, Genesis 4:7.