Summary: In a synagogue, Jesus faced scrutiny while healing a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. He challenged the Pharisees' interpretation of Sabbath laws by asking whether it was better to save life or destroy it on this holy day, but they remained silent. Distressed by their lack of compassion, Jesus healed the man, provoking the Pharisees to conspire with the Herodians to eliminate Him. This incident underscored the growing conflict between Jesus' teachings and the religious establishment's rigid adherence to tradition.
Gospel Acclamation: Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people. (Matthew 4:23)
Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him.
He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.”
Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent.
Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.
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