Podcast Spotlight

JESUS HEALS ON THE SABBATH – MATTHEW 12:9-14, MARK 3:1-6, LUKE 6:6-11

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Today, we want to share a portion of a transcript from Walking in the Word, our Wednesday offering, where we study God’s Word together, seeking to hear His voice. This podcast originally aired on July 7, 2021.

Welcome to Walking in the Word – the Biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders’ podcast. I’m your host, Julie Jenkins. … Our study this week comes from Matthew 12:9-14, Mark 3:1-6, and Luke 6:6-11 … Before we begin, allow me to pray for us.

Dear God, we treasure this time we have to spend together with you in the Word. God, I ask that you sift my words and all of our thoughts as we examine YOUR Word. We thank you, praise you, and honor you - and we long to learn from you! Have your way with us today. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

So last week, we saw the Pharisees on the warpath, so to speak, out to get Jesus and His disciples for breaking the laws of the Sabbath as they picked grain on God’s intended day of rest. We saw that Jesus taught that the heart rules over the law, that the Son of Man is Lord over the Sabbath, and that The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27 NLT)

This week as we study, we see the battle rage on as the Pharisees strive to find any crack in Jesus armor – to trap Him by His own words – so that they can condemn Him and, more importantly to them, so that THEY will come out on top. WE know the end of the story – we know that the Pharisees seemingly DO win eventually – sending Jesus’ to His own death on a cross. But we also know that in reality, JESUS ultimately wins, as He is resurrected from the dead. And with His resurrection, overcomes ALL sin and death, once for all time and for all people who come to Him and claim Him as their Lord and Savior.

But although we already know the end of the story and can claim the blood of Jesus for our own salvation, God has so much more for us to learn as we study who Jesus is and what He said and did on this earth.

Last week, we essentially learned that Jesus cares so much for us, that as our Provider, we can trust His care and provision even on the Sabbath, and that His love is greater than the law. Today, we dive deeper into that lesson as we see Jesus not only provide food and sustenance to the disciples on the Sabbath, but also provide healing for a man with a shriveled hand with whom He, seemingly, has little previous connection.

Mark begins recounting this event in chapter 3, verse 1

Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath. (Mark 3:1-2 NLT)

Luke says that these “enemies” were The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees. (Luke 6:7 NLT)

Now the Sabbath rules, instituted originally by God’s law but added to by man, stated that people could help others on the Sabbath ONLY if someone’s life was in danger. This man’s life was clearly not in danger, but it surely wasn’t fun to have a hand that didn’t work well, especially in a culture that required much labor.

I love the intentionality that every word in the Bible holds. We not only learn about Jesus’ care for the smallest issues as He ministers to this man with a non-life-threatening condition, but we also learn of Jesus’ attitude toward this particular man-imposed Sabbath rule.

Matthew tells us, The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.) (12:10 NLT)

The Pharisees asked a question, hoping to trap Jesus, and Jesus didn’t answer outright, but he DID answer - in a way that made them think. Some would say he answered in the form of a riddle.

This got me thinking. When my kids were little, we often played riddle games – sometimes it was to pass the time, but more than that, it was for brain training – a way to help my kids develop critical thinking skills.

As humans, we often want the easy answer – no matter what we are dealing with. How often have you pleaded with God – “Just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it?” But life isn’t that simple. Because WE are made in the image of God, and God isn’t that simple. Our God is wise! And wisdom requires a thorough examination of each situation. Wisdom doesn’t look for the easy answer, and examination and thoroughness take time! They take thought.

Maybe that’s why Jesus spoke in “riddles” – to encourage us to step out of ourselves and develop those thinking muscles. To help train our brains.

It is the same with all muscles, really – muscles must be developed in order to work at the highest level for which they were created. An Olympic athlete does more than just practice his or her SPORT to become the best in the world – he or she trains with weights, does cardio workouts, and practices yoga for flexibility.

When we stretch and exercise our muscles, our minds and bodies react, growing to a higher level. Have you ever watched a children’s movie and thought, Wow, my kids sure enjoyed that, but they missed so much – there was a lot in there for adults? If you have seen the Pixar Toy Story series, you know what I am talking about. It’s a story about toys, but carries numerous undertones, one of which being the heart-wrenching aspect of a child growing up, going off to college, and learning to share an instrumental part of his childhood with another child, younger than himself.

I bet you didn’t turn on this podcast and expect to hear about riddles, Olympic athletes, and kids’ movies – but the wisdom that each of these intentionally incorporates, whether we recognize it or not, is simply a shadow of God’s wisdom, of Jesus’ wisdom.

So no, Jesus DOESN’T answer the Pharisees’ question directly, but He gives them a greater gift – an opportunity to grow and discover the answer for themselves as they observe Jesus’ actions and listen to His words.

Matthew records Jesus’ words, chapter 12 verse 11,

And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.” (NLT)

What a sad commentary on humanity that the people understood the value of a sheep more than they understood the value of a human being. And yet, don’t WE put animals and things over people all the time?

How many of us are car or house-poor – making sure that we have the right THINGS, and leaving little left in our monthly finances to help take care of the people that God might bring into our paths? But I digress.

The point is that Jesus asked His listeners to think outside the box, to make a correlation, to solve the riddle. If I reason that it is okay to help my sheep on the Sabbath, then I should also be able to help a person on the Sabbath.

So Jesus gave them something to think about by His words, and then He gave them something to think about by His actions. Luke 6:8-9 says that Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” So the man came forward. Then Jesus said to his critics, (not finished with his teaching – aren’t we so glad that Jesus NEVER stops teaching us?) - Then Jesus said to his critics “I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” (NLT)

They undoubtedly knew the answer, but Mark says that they wouldn’t answer him. (Mark 3:4 NLT)

But they knew that Jesus knew what they were thinking - or not thinking. I imagine the tension in the air was palpable as Luke says Jesus looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! (Mark 3:5 NLT)

Jesus had overruled their authority and had used their own obstinance to put their evil ways on display in front of a large crowd. These were men of God, and men of God were to care for people. They had clearly demonstrated that they were more concerned with their own authority and power than caring for someone else.

This could have gone so differently! If only they would have had soft hearts and teachable spirits. One of our daily prayers should be that God would give us teachable hearts – that we would be open to learn His ways rather than to stand obstinately in our own ways.

But it was not to be. Luke continues, At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him. (Luke 6:11 NLT)

Mark says, At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus. (Mark 3:6 NLT)

So many people were impacted that day.

The healed man received the use of his hand, but so many received so much more.

Some people probably saw Jesus for the first time, and either understood who He was, the Son of God, or at least walked away seeking wisdom – looking for the answer to the riddle – and opening their minds to what God was going to show them next.

Others already knew who Jesus was and soaked in His words and His actions – including His immeasurable display of love.

And then there were the Pharisees, who refused to answer the riddle and refused to be awed by God. One commentator put it this way, ”the Pharisees were more loyal to their religious system and pious reputations than to God.”

Whatever you are going through today…and I don’t know what that is…one thing is certain: God is there with you and is speaking to you through it – offering you His wisdom. Whether He is healing you or you are watching a loved one die, whether your dreams are being realized or shattered, whether you are feeling in control or thrown to the wind – it is certain that God IS speaking. It may not be clear, and you may have questions. But I encourage you to trust. Ask the questions. And listen with a teachable spirit. God WILL give you His wisdom to walk through today and tomorrow, because He loves you more than you can possibly imagine.

Let’s pray. Dear Most Holy God – we know that you are here for us, whether we see you working or not. God, thank you for your Word that continually speaks to us. Help us to be teachable, and to seek to REALLY hear what YOU have to say. Grant us your wisdom, that we may walk in the path that you have provided for us. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Julie Jenkins

Teaching and Curriculum Leader, julie@womenworldleaders.com