Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Mark highlights that the man's withered hand wasn't a lifelong condition, but the result of disease or injury. This subtle detail underscores that his need wasn't abstract, but a present, physical suffering Jesus was poised to address.
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus returns to the synagogue, where religious leaders are actively looking for a way to accuse him, and finds a man with a withered hand. This encounter sets the stage for Jesus to challenge their rigid interpretation of the Sabbath laws by performing a healing, knowing their malicious intent will follow. Their plan to trap him is revealed as they watch to see if he will heal on the Sabbath.
We see a man with a 'withered hand,' but what does that really signify? Was it just an accident, or something deeper?
The text describes the man's hand as 'withered' (εξηραμμένην). Commentators point out that this participle suggests the condition wasn't from birth, but a result of disease or injury.
This detail is important because it highlights that the man's plight was a tangible, visible suffering. It wasn't an abstract problem, but a physical limitation that would have profoundly impacted his daily life and ability to work.
Jesus intentionally enters the synagogue where this man is, knowing the situation. This sets the stage for a confrontation that will expose the spiritual 'withering' of those who prioritize rigid rules over human need.
Why did Jesus choose the synagogue, the place of worship, for this healing? It wasn't just about helping a man; it was about challenging an entire system.
Jesus re-enters the synagogue, the very place where religious leaders gathered. This wasn't accidental. The Pharisees were 'watching him' ( παρατηροῦντο ), actively looking for a reason to accuse him. Their focus was on finding fault, not on the man's suffering or God's presence.
Jesus deliberately brings the man with the withered hand into the spotlight. He confronts the religious elite with a question: 'Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil? To save life or to destroy it?' (Mark 3:4).
Their silence reveals their inner conflict. They knew what was right – doing good and saving life – but their 'hardness of heart' and malice prevented them from acknowledging it. Jesus' action highlights that true worship and adherence to God's law should always prioritize compassion and acts of mercy, especially on the Sabbath day, which was meant to be a blessing, not a burden.
Ask a follow-up
The passage mentions Jesus looking 'round about upon them with indignation.' What does this reveal about His heart?
Mark uniquely describes Jesus looking 'round about upon them with indignation, grieving on account of the blindness of their heart' (Mark 3:5). This isn't mere anger; it’s a profound, holy emotion.
His indignation stems from seeing the spiritual decay and 'hardness of heart' (a spiritual callousness) in the religious leaders. They were so consumed by their own traditions and desire to trap Jesus that they were blind to the obvious work of God before them. They valued their rigid interpretations over the well-being of a suffering person.
Yet, alongside this righteous anger, there's grief. Jesus mourns for their lost condition. This shows His compassionate heart, even when faced with opposition. He grieves for the people who are being led astray by spiritual blindness, and for the leaders themselves who are missing the true purpose of God's commands.
Understand the original words
synagōgē · Greek Noun
A formal gathering place for the Jewish community for worship, reading of the Scriptures, and teaching. It became the central hub of community life and religious instruction in post-exilic Judaism.
This event occurs during a period of intense scrutiny and opposition from religious leaders who are actively looking for reasons to discredit Jesus, highlighting the tension between Jesus' compassionate ministry and the rigid interpretations of the law.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
Jesus is actively teaching and healing throughout Galilee, drawing large crowds but also attracting the attention and suspicion of religious authorities.
Early 1st century AD
Pharisees Observe Jesus
Religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees and scribes, closely watch Jesus' actions, seeking any pretext to accuse him of violating Sabbath laws.
Early 1st century AD
Plotting Against Jesus
The religious authorities, including the Pharisees and Herodians, begin to conspire to find a way to destroy Jesus due to his growing influence and perceived challenges to their authority.
This passage directly parallels the event, showing the religious leaders' intent to trap Jesus by asking about healing on the Sabbath, highlighting their hypocrisy.
Luke 6:6Luke's account also describes this healing, emphasizing the man's right hand being withered and Jesus knowing the hearts of the accusers, underscoring God's awareness of hidden motives.
Exodus 31:13This Old Testament passage establishes the Sabbath as a sign of God's covenant and holiness, providing the foundational context for the leaders' legalistic arguments against Jesus' healing.
Isaiah 61:1This prophetic passage speaks of the Spirit of the Lord being upon the Messiah to 'proclaim good news to the poor' and 'bind up the brokenhearted,' which Jesus fulfills by healing the man, showing His messianic mission.
Romans 12:2This verse calls believers to not be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewal of their minds, a stark contrast to the Pharisees whose 'hardness of heart' blinded them to God's work.
pooleMark 3:1: "And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand."
Mark 3:1-5 Christ appealing to reason healeth the withered hand on the sabbath day. Mark 3:6-12 The Pharisees conspire his death: he retires to the seaside, and healeth many. Mark 3:13-19 He chooseth his twelve apostles. Mark 3:20-21 His friends look upon him as beside himself. Mark 3:22-30 He confutes the blasphemous absurdity of the Pharisees in ascribing his casting out of devils to the…
vincentMark 3:1: "And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand."
A withered hand (ἐξηραμμένην τὴν χεῖρα)More correctly Rev., his hand withered. The participle indicates that the withering was not congenital, but the result of accident or disease. Luke says his right hand.
Mark highlights that the man's withered hand wasn't a lifelong condition, but the result of disease or injury. This subtle detail underscores that his need wasn't abstract, but a present, physical suffering Jesus was poised to address.
Jesus returns to the synagogue, where religious leaders are actively looking for a way to accuse him, and finds a man with a withered hand. This encounter sets the stage for Jesus to challenge their rigid interpretation of the Sabbath laws by performing a healing, knowing their malicious intent will follow. Their plan to trap him is revealed as they watch to see if he will heal on the Sabbath.
Jesus returns to the synagogue, where religious leaders are actively looking for a way to accuse him, and finds a man with a withered hand. This encounter sets the stage for Jesus to challenge their rigid interpretation of the Sabbath laws by performing a healing, knowing their malicious intent will follow. Their plan to trap him is revealed as they watch to see if he will heal on the Sabbath.
"Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand." — Mark highlights that the man's withered hand wasn't a lifelong condition, but the result of disease or injury. This subtle detail underscores that his need wasn't abstract, but a present, physical su…
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Last reviewed October 2026