We are at the 5th and last controversy in this series of controversies that the Pharisees had with Jesus, which began in chapter two. The tension has been mounting as Jesus continues to humiliate them by exposing their wrong understanding of the law and proceeding to back up His claims to divine authority by acts of supernatural healing. Their hostility now reaches its climax with this fifth controversy, resulting with them plotting to kill Him. Similar to the fourth controversy, this one also had to do with Sabbath observance. They believed that healing on the Sabbath day would be a violation of the Sabbath, which would be punishable by death.
To help them see their wrong understanding of the Sabbath and the hardness of their hearts, Jesus asks this question: “… Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” (v.4). This question should have been a no-brainer. If it is lawful to do good and not kill on any other day of the week, then would it not make sense that it would be lawful to do good on the Sabbath as well? Especially since the Sabbath was created to give man spiritual and physical rest–to renew, restore, and refresh him. But their spiritual pride blinded them to the plight of this poor man with the withered hand, who could not work to support himself and his family. In their zeal to protect the Sabbath laws, they failed to see the heart of God in giving the Sabbath.
As you read this passage, consider the following questions:
- How did Jesus demonstrate courage by doing what is right in healing the man? What are some of the theological and cultural issues of our day that would require courage to confront?
- When Jesus exposed the Pharisees’ wrong understanding of the law and their hardness of heart, their response was to destroy Him. How do we respond when someone exposes areas of sins in our lives, or some wrong theological understanding?
- How important is it for us as individual believers and as a church to be committed to doing good to others? And what are some of the good works we can be doing in 2026? (cf. Titus 3:8,14; Gal 6:9-10; Luke 6:35-36; Matt 5:16)
May the year 2026 be a year of spiritual growth in our lives and of gospel fruitfulness!