And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus' command to "Stretch out your hand" wasn't just a physical instruction; it was an act of profound faith-building. By telling the man to do something impossible for him to do on his own, Jesus demonstrated that His words not only declare healing but also impart the power to obey them.
And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored.
English Standard Version (ESV)
In the synagogue on the Sabbath, Jesus encountered a man with a withered hand, and the religious leaders were watching closely, hoping to catch him violating the Law. Jesus knew their intentions and, after looking around at them all, commanded the man to stretch out his hand. The man obeyed, and as he did so, his hand was instantly made whole.
Before Jesus speaks the word that heals, he takes a deliberate look around. What's happening in that moment?
The text specifically mentions Jesus looking around at 'them all' before commanding the man to stretch out his hand. This wasn't a casual glance. It was a strategic move, engaging with the people present, particularly the Pharisees who were watching him intently, looking for a reason to accuse him.
A Public Demonstration
Jesus wasn't just healing a man; he was making a profound statement about the nature of the Sabbath and his own authority. By looking at everyone, he made the man's healing a public event, challenging the narrow legalism of his accusers. He knew they were waiting for him to break the Sabbath law. Instead, he chose to highlight God's compassion and power in a way that exposed their hardness of heart.
Jesus issues a command that seems impossible for a man with a withered hand. Yet, the healing is instantaneous. How does this work?
Jesus doesn't just offer sympathy or a gentle suggestion; he issues a direct command: 'Stretch out your hand.' This command is not based on the man's ability. The man's hand was withered, implying a lack of function and strength.
The Command Carries the Power
The miracle isn't in the man's effort, but in the inherent power that accompanies Jesus' word. When Jesus commands, he enables. The command to 'stretch out your hand' wasn't a test of faith to see if the man could do it, but rather, the word itself infused the power to him able to do it instantly. This shows the absolute authority of Jesus' spoken word to bring about what it declares.
Ask a follow-up
The man's hand is restored 'whole as the other.' What does this completeness tell us about God's healing?
The description of the hand being restored 'whole as the other' is significant. This wasn't just a functional fix; it was a complete restoration to wholeness. It implies that the withered condition was not just a lack of use, but a deep defect that needed to be rectified from its root.
Wholeness, Not Just Improvement
Jesus' miracles often demonstrate a restoration that goes beyond simply alleviating a symptom. He brings people back to their intended design. This healing signifies a return to the state God originally intended before the affliction. It points to a deeper truth: Jesus came to restore not just parts of us, but to make us whole, reflecting God's desire for complete redemption and renewal.
Understand the original words
apokathistēmi · Greek Verb
To bring back to a former, healthy, or original state. In scripture, restoration implies God’s sovereign power to undo the brokenness caused by sin and disease.
The religious leaders' intense focus on Sabbath rules, even when faced with clear suffering and a demonstration of God's power, reveals their rigid adherence to tradition over compassion and God's true intent.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his Galilean ministry, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples. This period sees increasing popularity but also growing opposition from religious leaders.
c. 28 AD— this verse
Conflict Over Sabbath Observance
Jesus and his disciples are repeatedly accused of violating the Sabbath laws by harvesting grain and healing on the day of rest. These accusations highlight a sharp disagreement over the proper interpretation and application of Jewish law.
c. 28 AD
Jesus Heals a Man with a Withered Hand
In a synagogue, Jesus confronts religious leaders who are watching to see if he will heal a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. He challenges their hypocrisy by asking if it's lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath.
c. 28 AD
Escalating Opposition
Following incidents like the healing on the Sabbath, opposition from the Pharisees and scribes intensifies. They begin to plot against Jesus, fearing his growing influence and questioning his authority.
This passage recounts the same event from Matthew's Gospel, highlighting Jesus' confrontation with the Pharisees over the Sabbath law and His power to heal.
Mark 3:5Mark's account of this healing adds that Jesus looked around 'with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their hearts,' showing the spiritual tension behind the physical healing.
Isaiah 35:6This prophecy foretells a time when the lame will leap, directly echoing the miraculous restoration of the man's withered hand and pointing to Jesus as the fulfillment.
John 5:16This passage shows Jesus facing similar accusations for healing on the Sabbath, revealing a pattern of conflict and demonstrating His authority over the Law.
jfbLuke 6:6-11: "And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered."
Lu 6:6-11. Withered Hand Healed.(See on [1579]Mt 12:9-15 and Mr 3:1-7.)
ellicottLuke 6:10: "And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other."
(10) And looking round about upon them. —See Notes on Mark 3:4 .
Jesus' command to "Stretch out your hand" wasn't just a physical instruction; it was an act of profound faith-building. By telling the man to do something impossible for him to do on his own, Jesus demonstrated that His words not only declare healing but also impart the power to obey them.
In the synagogue on the Sabbath, Jesus encountered a man with a withered hand, and the religious leaders were watching closely, hoping to catch him violating the Law. Jesus knew their intentions and, after looking around at them all, commanded the man to stretch out his hand. The man obeyed, and as he did so, his hand was instantly made whole.
In the synagogue on the Sabbath, Jesus encountered a man with a withered hand, and the religious leaders were watching closely, hoping to catch him violating the Law. Jesus knew their intentions and, after looking around at them all, commanded the man to stretch out his hand. The man obeyed, and as he did so, his hand was instantly made whole.
"And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored." — Jesus' command to "Stretch out your hand" wasn't just a physical instruction; it was an act of profound faith-building. By telling the man to do something impossible for him to do on his own, Jesus…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026