Moving on from there, he went into their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man there who had a withered hand. They questioned him, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?” so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep that falls into a pit on the sabbath will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable a person is than a sheep. So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and it was restored as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him to put him to death. 15 When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many [people] followed him, and he cured them all, 16 but he warned them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: 18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. 21 And in his name the Gentiles will hope."
Jesus went into the synagogue on another Sabbath (Lk. 6:6) and continued to interpret how the sabbath should be observed. The scribes and Pharisees were present and, in an effort to trap the Lord, asked him if it was lawful to cure someone on the Sabbath. Jesus’ practical answer to the Pharisee’s question gave perspective to their concern about healing on the Sabbath. If they were allowed by Law to save a beast on the Sabbath why not a person? A good act is permissible at all times. Jesus showed divine approval of what he was telling them by healing the man with the withered hand. He did not contravene the Law because it was legal to do good on the Sabbath. The Pharisees, who lacked compassion, began to plot how to put Jesus to death.
Jesus knew what they planned to do to him and went to a less hostile area where he continued to heal all who came to him but warned them not to make his works known. Matthew quoted Isaiah to indicate that Jesus was the suffering Servant about whom Isaiah prophesied (Is. 42:1-4). He will proclaim the Gospel to all nations outside of Israel and will gently and quietly care for the spiritually weak and those in whom the Divine light is going out. He will bring hope and the light of truth to the world. The prophecy about the suffering Servant would be fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus.
Almighty God, we pray for the strength to persevere in faith and the wisdom to hold onto the truths of the Gospel. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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