Matthew 12:10

And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. AND, BEHOLD, THERE WAS A MAN WHICH HAD HIS HAND WITHERED - disabled by paralysis (as ). It was his right hand, as Luke graphically notes. AND THEY ASKED HIM, SAYING, IS IT LAWFUL TO HEAL ON THE SABBATH DAYS? THAT THEY MIGHT ACCUSE HIM. Matthew and Luke say they "watched Him whether He would heal on the sabbath day." They were now come the length of dogging His steps, to collect materials for a charge of impiety against Him. It is probable that it was to their thoughts rather than their words that Jesus addressed Himself in what follows....

10._They asked him, saying. _Mark and Luke say only that they _watched _what our Lord would do; but Matthew states more clearly that they also attacked him by words. It is probable, that some others had been previously cured on Sabbath-days; and hence they take occasion to ask if he believes it to be _lawful _for him to do again what he had formerly done. They ought to have considered whether it was a work of God, or of man, to restore a withered hand by a mere touch, or by a single word. When God appointed the Sabbath, he did not lay down a law for himself, or impose upon himself any restraint from performing operations on the Sabbath, when he saw it to be proper, in the same manner as on other days. It was excessive folly, therefore, to call this in question, and thus to prescribe rules for God himself, and to restrain the freedom of his operations....

9-13 Christ shows that works of mercy are lawful and proper to be done on the Lord's 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. This, like other cures which Christ wrought, had a spiritual meaning. By nature our hands are withered, and we are unable of ourselves to do any thing that is good. Christ only, by the power of his grace, cures us; he heals the withered hand by putting life into the dead soul, works in us both to will and to do: for, with the command, there is a promise of grace given by the word....

Verse Matthew 12:10. _A MAN WHICH HAD_ HIS _HAND WITHERED._] Probably through a partial _paralysis_. The man's hand was withered; but God's mercy had still preserved to him the use of his feet: He uses them to bring him to the public worship of God, and Jesus meets and heals him there. How true is the proverb - _It is never so ill with us,_ _but it might be much worse_!...

The account contained in these verses is recorded also in Mark 3:1, and Luke 6:6. Matthew 12:10 THE VERY HAIRS OF YOUR HEAD ARE ALL NUMBERED - That is, each one has exercised the care and attention of God. He has fixed the number; and, though of small importance, yet he does not think it beneath him to determine how few or how many they shall be. He will therefore take care of you. Matthew 12:12 HOW MUCH, THEN, IS A MAN BETTER THAN A SHEEP? - Of more consequence or value....

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 12:1 The opposition that our Lord met with (1) from his enemies (Matthew 12:1); (2) from his relations (Matthew 12:46-40); ,and the manner in which he dealt with it. MATTHEW 12:1 (1) _Opposition from his enemies._ (A) Conscious and wilful opposition (Matthew 12:1). (α) As regards the sabbath ...

AND BEHOLD, THERE WAS A MAN WHICH HAD HIS HAND WITHERED,.... Or dry; the juices were dried up, the nerves and sinews contracted, so that it was of no manner of use to him: Luke says, it was his right hand, which was so much the worse; and means not only his hand, but the whole arm. Such a case is mentioned in the Talmud a, "it happened to one, "wewrz hvbyv, that his arm was dry, or withered. Jerom says b, in the Gospel which the Nazarenes and Hebionites used, this man is said to be a plasterer, and so might possibly come by his misfortune through his business; and being a man that got his bread by his hand labour, the case was the more affecting. This account is introduced with a "behold!" it being remarkable that such a case should offer so opportunely, of showing his divine power in healing such a disorder; and of his authority, as the Son of man, over the sabbath; and of putting to si...

9. THE REJECTION CONSUMMATED AND THE BROKEN RELATIONSHIP. CHAPTER 12 1. The Hungry Disciples and the Accusing Pharisees. (Matthew 12:1 .) 2. The Man with the Withered Hand Healed.(Matthew 12:10 .) 3. The Hatred of the Pharisees.(Matthew 12:14 .) 4. The King in Rejection. (Matthew 12:15 .) 5. The Demon Possessed Man Healed. (Matthew 12:22 .) 6. The Blasphemy of the Pharisees and the King's Answer. (Matthew 12:24 .) 7. The Sign of Jo

THE SABBATH HEALING WHICH DETERMINED PHARISAIC HOSTILITY (Mark 3:1 *, Luke 6:6). Mt. makes the Pharisees utter their question, and Jesus to reply, in words found in another connexion in Lk. (Luke 14:5). Matthew 12:12_ a_ is peculiar to Matthew 12:12_ b_ elevates and broadens the Pharisees-' question in Matthew 12:10. We may note that the Rabbis allowed that every case where life is in jeopardy supersedes the Sabbath, and that under certain conditions animals might be rescued

III. DOING GOOD ON THE SABBATH. 10.. MAN WHICH HAD HIS HAND WITHERED. That is, dried up from. deficient absorption of the nutriment. Luke says his "right hand." The disease here indicated results in. loss both in size and in power of the arm; for it there is no remedy known to man.--_ Abbott._ Brethren, pray God that the shame of such weakness be found in the synagogue only. Let none in the Church be found with. hand dried up through self-love, contracted through avarice, weakened through plunder, and through. grasping tenacity diseased; but should this happen, let it hear the Lord speak, and be forthwith stretched out in good works, and made soft by the influence of mercy.--_ Pet. Chrysol._ AND THEY ASKED HIM. Luke says it was the scribes and Pharisees. IS IT LAWFUL TO HEAL ON THE SABBATH DAY? In the opinion of the Pharisees, to kindle or extinguish. fire on the Sabbath was. great...