Matthew 12:9-14
⁹Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. ¹⁰And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” — so that they might accuse Him.
¹¹And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? ¹²How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
¹³Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other. ¹⁴But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.
Devotional
Liberation Day
There is tension on the Sabbath. What is allowed and what is not?
The conversation in the cornfield has sharpened the case.
In the synagogue, Jesus has to show his colors.
He is challenged to break the Sabbath commandment.
In the synagogue is a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees have already come to know Jesus as a healer. When sick people come to Him, He does not let them go unhealed.
The Pharisees smell their chance!
Now they have Him, now Jesus has to choose between the good deed of healing and keeping the Sabbath. They do feel that Jesus has no choice but to choose healing.
But Jesus does nothing. He is waiting.
Yes, then they have to come up with their own burning question: ‘Can one heal on the Sabbath?’ They already know the answer. They are not asking an honest question, but a judgmental question (Matthew 12:10).
Jesus must show his colors for the purpose of denouncing Him as a violator of the Sabbath commandment. Now Jesus is trapped, they believe.
But Jesus confronts these people with their own actions.
What do they do themselves on the Sabbath, if an animal of theirs falls into a well? They save it!
If people are allowed to do this with an animal on the Sabbath, then Jesus is certainly allowed to do it with a man! The Sabbath is an excellent day to do good.
Therefore, Jesus boldly says to the handicapped man, “Stretch forth your hand,” and he was healed.
A great cause for joy.
How wonderful such a Sabbath may be when Jesus is there and heals!
But the Pharisees are choked with anger. They cannot stand Jesus (Matthew 12:14).
Jesus came to earth to set people free.
It is precisely on the Sabbath that freedom may become visible, it was a weekly liberation day for Israel (See Deuteronomy 5:15).
Let your weekly rest day also be a breath of fresh air: a day of freedom to enjoy what God gives you.
The day of rest is not a day of bondage to laws, but a day of freedom and joy. A day to celebrate!
Questions
- How do you feel about the freedom that God gives?
- How do you celebrate that freedom?
Prayer Suggestion
- Ask the Lord to set free, those who are still bound.
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