Sabbath Catechism – Mat 12:9-14

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9 Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him. 11 Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. 14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.

The Sabbath Controversy: The Seal of Rejection (Matthew 12:9-14)

This chapter is called a pivot; everything turns on it. This is where Israel rejects him, and here is the first mention of death, cross, and the Gentiles plan. Jewish rejection will fulfill many major OT prophecies, and God uses that rejection to spread the gospel to the entire world.

The Jewish rejection is triggered by the Sabbath controversy. The Pharisees, focused on outward religion and traditional rules, made the Sabbath a burden. Their zeal was extreme; one incident records a thousand Jews being massacred because they refused to defend themselves on the Sabbath.

The Lord teaches that the Sabbath should not hinder the basic need of men, worship of God, or acts of mercy (duties of necessity, acts of mercy, and whole day of worship are allowed, as stated in the COF).

Today, we have another incident, a Sabbath controversy (விவாதம் சர்ச்சை), which actually seals the rejection of the Messiah; after this, they go and plot how to kill him. The opposition takes a deadly turn.

In this controversy, we see a Sabbath Catechism, followed by a Sabbath miracle, and the reaction of the Pharisees.

1. Context of the Sabbath Catechism

Place of the Sabbath Catechism: It occurs in a synagogue. Verse 9 Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. அவர் அவ்விடம் விட்டுப்போய், அவர்களுடைய ஜெப ஆலயத்தில் பிரவேசித்தார்.

  • It is the pattern of our Lord to go to the Synagogue when on the Sabbath.
  • The synagogue would be filled, with a great electric current of expectancy as to what He would teach and do.

The Man with the Withered Hand: Verse 10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. அங்கே சூம்பின கையையுடைய மனுஷன் ஒருவன் இருந்தான்.

  • The word for withered is used when a plant loses its life (like the vine and branches language in John 15:6, ஒருவன் என்னில் நிலைத்திராவிட்டால், வெளியே எறியுண்ட கொடியைப்போல அவன் எறியுண்டு உலர்ந்து போவான்; … withered). It became a lifeless, dried plant.
  • This man’s hand was practically dead; all life gone, paralyzed, shriveled (சுருங்கியும்) up.
  • Doctor Luke adds the point it was his right hand, a very important and needful hand (making life difficult; no job, possibly begging).
  • Perhaps this man was a plant by the leaders to trap Jesus. It says they were watching to see if Jesus was going to heal “him.”

2. Sabbath Catechism: Questions of the Lord and Pharisees

First Question of the Pharisees: And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him. அப்பொழுது அவர்மேல் குற்றஞ்சாட்டும்படிக்கு: ஓய்வு நாளில் சொஸ்தமாக்குகிறது நியாயமா? என்று கேட்டார்கள்.

  • Mark 3:2 says they were “watching him closely”—a continuous, scrutinizing activity—in order that they might formally bring accusation before the authorities (accuse means accuse in a court).
  • They wanted material for a legal process before a local tribunal; the whole thing was an attempt to get Jesus within the meshes of the law.
  • They knew His patterns. They knew that healing this man was not allowed under their traditions (only allowed in cases of actual danger of life).
  • If Jesus said “yes,” He would be against rabbinical law. If He said “no,” He would appear unmerciful. This was the whole basis of their trap: they knew He would not leave the man unhealed out of compassion.
  • Luke 6:8 confirms He knew their thoughts. They were sitting there piously, but had come with evil intentions—to accuse and trap him.

Jesus’ Question to the Pharisees: Jesus takes their trap and makes it a bigger trap, putting it back on them and locking their mouth. Mark 3:3-4 must be considered:

  • He calls the man in the front: “Step forward.”
  • Then He said to them, **“Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?”** But they kept silent.
  • The scene is electric; the air crackles and sparks in the tense atmosphere. His voice must have been authoritative and powerful. This question speaks to their conscience.

The Meaning of the Question: அவர்களைப் பார்த்து: ஓய்வுநாட்களில் நன்மைசெய்வதோ, தீமைசெய்வதோ, ஜீவனைக்காப்பதோ அழிப்பதோ, எது நியாயம் என்றார்.

  • Evil according to the Bible is the absence of doing good when you can do good (James 4:17: ஒருவன் நன்மைசெய்ய அறிந்தவனாயிருந்தும், அதைச் செய்யாமற்போனால், அது அவனுக்குப் பாவமாயிருக்கும்).
  • Lord is implying: If I can do good to this man, and do it not, I will be doing evil.
  • They came to the synagogue pretending to worship and do good, but they had evil intentions of heart: plotting and planning His murder on the holy Sabbath.
  • He asks their conscience: Is it lawful to do good (healing this man) or evil (plotting my murder)? Is it lawful to save life or kill it (ஜீவனைக்காப்பதோ அழிப்பதோ)?
  • The question is so simple, a little child with basic conscience could answer it.

Their Response: Self-Condemning Silence: Mark 3:4: But they kept silent (அவர்கள் பேசாமலிருந்தார்கள்).

  • They are experts of the law, yet cannot answer this basic question.
  • They are silent because if they say “yes,” they have immediately vindicated (நிரூபணமானது) Christ’s healing. They have no case.
  • If they say “no” (it is wrong to do good), the entire crowd would rise against them.
  • Jesus had them stuck between two stones. They sit in self-condemning silence.

Jesus’ Question to Them from Matthew: Verse 11 Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?”

  • This is another simple question that attacks their hypocrisy. They would violate their own Sabbath rules to save the life of their property (a sheep), yet not to save a man.
  • Verse 12 “Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

3. Sabbath Miracle

Verse 13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.

  • He had attacked their conscience, and now He acts.
  • He healed the man with only a word of command. This was instantaneous creation—the dead hand was restored, not merely healed, but made whole.

4. Reaction to the Sabbath Miracle

The Look of Jesus (Mark 3:5): And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, அவர்களுடைய இருதயகடினத்தினிமித்தம் அவர் விசனப்பட்டு, கோபத்துடனே சுற்றிலும் இருந்தவர்களைப் பார்த்து,

  • Jesus meets their silence with a look round of the Son of God—a look full of lightning.
  • The look expressed two inward emotions: anger and grief.
    • Anger (orgeˉ) is the anger of the Almighty God in judgment (holy orgeˉ). The face of the Son of God reflected holy, pure, hot anger.
    • Grieved (விசனப்பட்டு) was a continuous disposition, expressing grief over the hardening of their hearts (hardening of heart means petrifying, becoming stone, சுரணையின்மை).
  • Warfield notes this is wrath that grows out of an abiding state of grief. The anger flashed for just a moment (or they would have cried out for rocks and mountains); the grief was continuing.

The Reaction of the Pharisees: Verse 14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.

  • This miracle of mercy and the Lord’s demonstration of His authority sealed their rejection.
  • Instead of repentance, they went out and began to plot how they might destroy (murder) Him. The opposition takes a deadly turn.

Jesus, knowing their hearts so hardened, that cannot be penetrated even by a question a small child can answer… he sees such a display of hardness of heart by religion… not knowing what is right and wrong… no care for man with withered hand… no care that he goes out rejoicing he was healed by God.. and what blessing he will be again for his family, and synagogue… glorify God… Only thing they care is find some fault to kill Jesus… that is only thing that occupies their mind and blinds them… When Jesus saw that condition.. it grieves him.. so intense for a moment… he looks around.. holy orgae of God flashes from his eye… Then we go back to the Matthew.. I believe he would have given this illustration further to help them understand their foolishness.. and gives the answer to his own question… Verse 11 Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.11. அதற்கு அவர்: உங்களில் எந்த மனுஷனுக்காகிலும் ஒரு ஆடு இருந்து, அது ஓய்வுநாளில் குழியிலே விழுந்தால், அதைப்பிடித்துத் தூக்கிவிடமாட்டானோ?12. ஆட்டைப்பார்க்கிலும் மனுஷனானவன் எவ்வளவோ விசேஷித்திருக்கிறான்! ஆதலால் ஓய்வுநாளிலே நன்மை செய்வது நியாயந்தான் என்று சொன்னார். Here, He suggests a situation in which a man has one sheep. Perhaps it is his only sheep—a very valuable piece of property. And it fell into a pit. It cannot get out by itself. Even if the owner wouldn’t be motivated by mercy on the animal, he’d certainly be motivated by the desire to protect his property. And so, such a man wouldn’t even think twice. He’d get a rope, lower himself down, lay hold of the sheep, and lift it out of the pit on the Sabbath. Now you say, wouldn’t that violate their Sabbath law? So many rules it breaks… No, that was economics. In their rule, there was permission to life the sheep if it falls in a pit. Wouldn’t you rescue your sheep on the Sabbath? Every one of those Pharisees who were trying to trap our Lord would have done the same. This illustration itself showed how foolish their rules and it exposed their their hypocrisy. And so, Jesus follows it up with another question—one that argues from the lessor to the greater: “Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep?” Now that’s a simple question isn’t it? But you see sheep were better than men to them. Because men meant nothing to them. See the false religion blinds men and their values are all wrong. They were very much like the Hindus in India today. You know, they won’t kill a cow/ because it is god.. They won’t kill a rat or a mouse. And did you know that two-thirds of their food supply are eaten by those things. So much malnutrition… no food in the country… largest population undernourished, more than 20 crores live hungry daily… children 1 in 4 malnourished, 1 crore every year die because of hunger related disease… no food… you cannot eat that and this, but men can die for no food, but allow them to eat this.. This how blind religion makes men. That’s why they have starvation problems. No care for man.. but care for cows… nothing happen to cows. But they let people die all over the place and they don’t help people. You know why? Because it’s their karma. And so cows are worth more to them than people. Cows are sacred, for whatever reasons. And so it was in Judaism, only not quite so religiously defined that sheep were more important to them economically than people. Ethical conduct is the issue, and the Lord makes it very clear at the end of verse 12, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days? Isn’t that a basic question. Is it lawful to do good? So we have seen the catechism of Sabbath

The Sabbath Miracle

Now the Sabbath miracle. Verse 13 13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.13. பின்பு அந்த மனுஷனை நோக்கி: உன் கையை நீட்டு என்றார். அவன் நீட்டினான்; அது மறுகையைப்போல சொஸ்தமாயிற்று.

Man is standing their.. maybe embarssed… all the while Pharasees are all silences… no one opens mouth… He commands the man… What was the response… he stretched.. hand restored…. It was restored like the other.. Think of this.. Jesus says stretch forth.. how can he stretch… it is dead for years… the power of creator’s word gives the man ability to stretch that hand… and obey creator’s word.. There before the eyes of everyone. .even all enemies… life came into the hand of that man… all the dead cells come to life… blood starts flowing, shrunk flesh artery and muscles.. swelled to the normal size.. all the tendons.. that had become tight for lack of use.. it was whole as the other…restored as whole as the other. மறுகையைப்போல சொஸ்தமாயிற்று. Imagine how the other hand must have been… if he had to use only one hand for all the work.. that hand would have been very strong… It says his dead hand became like other… if Luke didn’t tell us right hand.. he can put both hands and show them both.. ask any doctory.. you cannot guess.. which was a withered hand…. Both front, back, side ways.. all perfect same… do any examination x-ray, scan, blood tests, biopsy… every doctor will scratch their head and say… we cannot tell which hand had a problem.. both are perfectly normal and strong… It was whole like the other… One must imagine how that poor man would have felt trying to control himself… Having known the embrasement and all the inconviences of having just one hand… who knows how long… oh .. what is the feeling of both hand working now…. rejoicing in the Sabbath day and praising God with tears…

Results of the Sabbath Miracle: The Deadly Plot

What are the results of this Sabbath miracle. Verse 14 14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.14. அப்பொழுது, பரிசேயர் வெளியேபோய், அவரைக் கொலை செய்யும்படி அவருக்கு விரோதமாய் ஆலோசனைபண்ணினார்கள்.

Internally… Luke tells us 6:11.. they were filled with rage… mad rage.. அவர்களோ மூர்க்கவெறிகொண்டு Think of it… he just spoke the word… He didn’t break God’s law.. he didn’t even break one of their silly rules… Sometimes when he healed he did something which they might call work.. he put his hand out and put spit and mud on eyes.. ah .. he is working on Sabbath… sometimes he said take the bed and walk… Those times he broke their rules, but here.. what did he do.. he just said stretch your hand.. what is wrong with this.. He didn’t even say he healed, he didn’t touch him … he healed him by the exercise of his omnipotent power of his word.. that was it… Jesus willed that man be healed.. it fills them mad irrational rage… filled with madness… What is their outward action.. they go out… and with the Herodians.. counsel .. on how they can kill Jesus..14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.14. அப்பொழுது, பரிசேயர் வெளியேபோய், அவரைக் கொலை செய்யும்படி அவருக்கு விரோதமாய் ஆலோசனைபண்ணினார்கள்.

Mark 3:6 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. Mark 3:6 உடனே பரிசேயர் புறப்பட்டுப்போய், அவரைக் கொலைசெய்யும்படி, அவருக்கு விரோதமாய் ஏரோதியரோடேகூட ஆலோசனைபண்ணினார்கள்.

Counseled with whom.. Herodians.. who these are.. not much we know… but generally, they are not religious group, but political .. still jews because of love of fame and wealth, compromised their religion and supported the dynasty of Herod.. they are strong supporters of Rome.. as Rome has made Herod king and allows him to rule.. so political group… Surely if Pharisees hated anybody.. it was Romans and more Herodians because of their support to Rome .. who rule their nation, collect taxes from them and are idolators… Pharisees proud of their Jewishness to the core.. but today it doesn’t matter they join.. as long as someone will help to kill the Jesus… so mad to kill him.. ready to join anyone… for how they might kill/destroy…. it is conclusion.. there is only one thing to do with this Jesus… who asks embarrassing questions only little kids can answer.. who plods our conscience.. he puts us in the corner… morally.. and strips our masks before the crowd and insults us… we put such a godly show… but This Jesus who can validate his claim without doing any action.. just speak the word.. and say stretch your hand.. with all witnesses.. not done in corner, secret, there before every Syngogue worshiper.. simply says stretch your hand… and the one becomes like other.. only one thing to do with such a man like this.. just kill him.. Get him out of the way.. put him to death… This is the plot of Satan.. Now the war begins… King was presented.. and now King is rejected.. and now we will see Matthew gospel going in the path of rejection and final crucixation by his own people and leading to his death and final resurrection…

Application: The Glory of the Lord and Human Depravity

What is application for us.. All these incidents if we look intently marvelously reveal the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ… Here God is giving penetrating contrasting insight of our glorious compassionate savior against the background of the proud blind spiritual insensitive scribes and Pharisees… notice what it reveals in this passage… about our glorious Lord… Lord shines forth brilliantly in moral perfection.. It is contrast.. we see the glorious character of the Lord and contrasted with the total depravity of Pharisees… First see the glory of the Lord shining.. 1 – His unflinching courage. He confronted Pharisees saying such upsetting things.. I am greater than the temple, and then I am the Lord of the Sabbath.. I set the rules, and first verse says.. he went into their synagogue.. He doesn’t steal away and say, “Oh, I hope they don’t come” – He goes right into their synagogue. He had no fear of confronting those who opposed Him. But He not only did not hide from them. He even went to the very place where they were—into, as it were, “their” territory and into the very place where those who opposed Him would be found. Here, we see our Lord’s confident courage. Jesus knew that Pharisees are sitting in synagogue and watching what he would do.. if he does the miracle, he knew they will plan to kill him.. take that occasion and use it accuse if he did the miracle.. and kill him… He didn’t flinch but went forth… and did the miracle.. beautiful moral courage.. in the face of open courage.. as a man… he had aversion of all rejection.. and hatred.. and physical suffering.. and what he would undergo… and knowing this encounter would only hasten the hour of his suffering.. will seal the ultimate rejection… he would be hung on the outside wall of Jerusalem.. but he goes forth and faces that situation.. and does good on the Sabbath knowing full well this will lead to his death… 2 – his humility and example. Whereever you see on a Sabbath, Holy Son of God.. who is Lord of the Sabbath … You will see him in synagogue. Notice His faithfulness to the duty of worship on the Sabbath. There was absolutely nothing that the Son of God could have ever learned by attending services in the place of worship. Every word and act of his was pure worship and holy.. He doesn’t have to keep the Sabbath to be sanctified.. he is perfectly holy.. yet went to synagogue every Sabbath in the midst of all his busy ministry. But He set the example for us by faithfully gathering with the people of God in the place of spiritual instruction when it was time to do so. 3- His unstained anger With us always anger burning are so often.. we look at people in anger.. and most times it is selfish… outbursts.. uncontrollable.. rarely we fulfil the biblical command be angry and sin not… do we know what pure anger means… Look at this unstained pure holy anger of holy God without any sin…. It is the same anger that will burn on the judgment day… Oh this anger was just a flash.. oh who can stand before his full anger display….Unfeigned grief… he looks upon their perversity .. their stubbornness.. moral insensitivity… no compassion for withered mman… their dishonesty hypocrisy.. won’t even answer a question a small child can answer.. yet he looks at them grief… twisting blinding power of sin in human and it breaks his heart… It was wrathful grief.. grieving anger…Behold his mighty power.. any human who healed.. any healing.. prophets or apostles.. they would heal in the name of Jehovah.. But look how he heals.. stretch your hand.. what else.. nothing else.. the hand is whole.. how did it get whole.. There is connection between his words and it recreated dead cells in the human hand.. that is omnipotence.. That is very one who said let there be light and there was light… Let there be fish and great monsters… oh what manifestation of the power of Jesus… Just the simple words.. stretch out your hand… All these perfections not to just admire.. but how closely it affect our salvation… if he would have feared that day and drawn back 1 mmm from the path of the will of God or on a Sabbath he can do good.. if he doesn’t do good for the fear they will accuse and murder him… you and I do not have a holy Saviour today.. if he would have missed one Sabbath attendance… you and I don’t have a Savior today…. if he angered and lost control and sinned.. If he didn’t have all these perfects and sinned….. there would not be a savior.. no perfect righteousness to put to our account.. no spotless lamb to die.. so we admire moral perfection.. For sinners like us.. Only hope is the omnipotent savior… That is our only hope.. This savior is our only hope.. because our spiritual impotence is mirrored in that withered hand.. God says you are dead.. without strength, no lfe.. only hope is omnipower saving power of Jesus Christ.. that will never come until you throw your faith on this Jesus… He heals him by a word. His command has a promise in it, and He gives the power to do what He bids the man do. ‘Give what Thou commandest,’ says St. Augustine, ‘and command what Thou wilt.’ We get strength to obey in the act of obedience. We worship who alone can be a saviour This passage reveals the horrible depravity of human heart.. It reveals it self determined perversity.. These Pharisees by just setting the trap were giving witness to the fact that Jesus was God.. you know… They were seeking to trap Him; but they tried to do so by putting this poor, crippled man before Him knowing, first, that if the Lord saw the man, He would surely show mercy to Him on the Sabbath. This was the whole basis of their trap! And second, they clearly knew that it was in the power of our Lord to actually heal the man! They know he is filled with infinite mercy and he is omnipotent and can heal even dead hand.. only God can do those things.. yet they were so blind to see that.. ‘a withered hand,’ who seems to have been brought there by the Pharisees as a bait to try to draw out Christ’s compassion. What a curious state of mind that was,—to believe that Christ could work miracles, and to want Him to do one, not for pity’s sake, nor for confirmation of faith, but to have material for accusing Him! And how heartlessly careless of the poor sufferer they are, when they use him thus! It is a significant instance of the absurdity and cruelty which are possible when once religion has been made a matter of outward observance. Nothing more surely and completely ossifies the heart and blinds common sense. Surely the question asked.. exposed their full Sabbath hypocrisy… is to lawful to do good.. they should have said.. Oh Jesus… you have opened our eyes and exposed us.. we see how stupid we have been.. what donkeys.. we have been.. how can we miss it.. man was not made for Sabbath.. We have been so ignorant and blind… Lord please take us as your disciples and teach us what is really know God and real meaning on Sabbath.. that is what they should have done.. Jesus question though simple is knife that cut all their covering and religious hypocrisy and brought them outside openly… open conviction of sin… What did they do.. they got mad it him.. one thing mattered more than anything… to them.. their reputation…. We cannot be shamed before this common multitude.. who do not know the law.. we are doctors of the law.. If we gave answer to Jesus question.. we would make ourselves donkeys before the crowd.. we will rather heart and go to hell.. Oh the self determined persersity of human heart.. they would rather go to hell than lose face… than own their sin….. the manner of healing had a special reason in the very cavils of the Pharisees. Not even they could accuse Him of breaking any Sabbath law by such a cure. What had He done? Told the man to put out his hand. Surely that was not unlawful. What had the man done? Stretched it forth. Surely that broke no subtle rabbinical precept. So they were foiled at every turn, driven off the field of argument, and baffled in their attempt to find ground for laying an information against Him. But neither His gentle wisdom nor His healing power could reach these hearts, made stony by conceit and pedantic formalism; and all that their contact with Jesus did was to drive them to intenser hostility, and to send them away to plot His death. That is what comes of making religion a round of outward observances. The Pharisee is always blind as an owl to the light of God and true goodness; keen-sighted as a hawk for trivial breaches of his cobweb regulations, and cruel as a vulture to tear with beak and claw. The race is not extinct. We all carry one inside us, and need God’s help to cast him out.Determined prejudice against truth.. only irritated by further evidence.. determined prejudice is never come by truth.. but it is further irritated.. why men love darkness rather than light.. because their deeds are evil… What an ugly thing human heart… self determined perversity… What is the ultimate expression of human depravity … This passage ends with the plot to kill the son of God.. away with him.. crucify him… Even today.. they want to persecute and kill God’s children.. because only argument world of sinners bring against the gospel is violence…Voilences and intolerance is world’s testimonty to true saintly character… He exposes us.. let us get rid of him.. Oh see the horrible thing of hardened heart… John says they cannot repent because God had given them to hardened heart..

Oh how your conscience was tender.. and feeling earlier.. but now you can sin and conscience doesn’t affect you… look at these people. incarnate God is in their presence.. and display of his power and moral perfections.. in all his grace.. and all they can do is plot to kill… This is exactly what your heart will come to you…. I hope you are fear the hard heart like hell itself… Go to the one who can change your heart…Lesson of Sabbath He desires that genuine grace and mercy toward people be placed over mere outward rituals and religious observances. We must remember that, in His worship, it is always lawful to do good. Perhaps a good way to apply this passage to our lives—and to genuinely keep His day of rest in a manner that pleases Him—is to keep our eyes open to someone in need, and to meet that need in genuine love today.

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