Matthew 12:9-14, Mark 3:1-6, Luke 6:6-11 - Jesus encountered a man in the synagogue who had a withered hand. The Pharisees, hoping to trap Jesus, asked whether it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath. Knowing their intent, Jesus replied, **“If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?”** He then healed the man’s hand, commanding him to stretch it out, and his hand was restored as healthy as the other.
In performing this miracle, Jesus highlighted the importance of mercy over ritual. He showed that doing good, such as healing, is never wrong, even on the Sabbath. Jesus also used this opportunity to challenge the rigid interpretation of religious laws, emphasizing that compassion and mercy should be prioritized above legalism.
The Pharisees were enraged by Jesus' act of healing on the Sabbath, and this event ultimately led to a plot to destroy Him. However, Jesus' actions demonstrated that God's law was made to promote life and well-being, not to bind people in rules that ignore their human needs.
This miracle teaches us that God’s laws are meant to promote life, compassion, and healing. Jesus challenged the tradition that legalism trumps mercy and emphasized the importance of doing good whenever it is needed.