Mark 3:1
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Mark 3:1
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The phrase "his hand withered" highlights that this wasn't a birth defect, but a condition that happened to him, emphasizing the man's suffering and the potential for healing. This detail underscores the profound urgency of Jesus' compassion, even as the religious leaders focused on rigid rules.
Jesus returns to a synagogue, a place of worship and community, but this time a man with a withered hand is present. The religious leaders are watching intently, not to see if the man will be healed, but to find a reason to accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath. This encounter sets the stage for Jesus to challenge their rigid interpretation of the Law and highlight the compassionate nature of God's commands.
Imagine walking into a place of worship, a community hub, and being defined by what's missing or broken. This is the reality for the man with the withered hand.
The text tells us the man's hand was 'withered' (εξηραμμένην). This wasn't a congenital condition, but likely the result of disease or injury. It points to a life limited by physical inability, a constant, visible reminder of his struggle. His presence in the synagogue on this particular day wasn't accidental; he was there with Jesus, likely hoping for healing. This sets the stage for Jesus' confrontation with the religious leaders.
When Jesus saw the man, and the trap being set by the religious leaders, His reaction was complex. It wasn't just anger, but a deep, divine sorrow.
Mark uniquely highlights Jesus' emotional response: He 'looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardness of their hearts' (Mark 3:5). This isn't a petty rage, but a righteous indignation stemming from a profound sorrow. The religious leaders were so focused on their rigid interpretation of the Law that they were blind to the very compassion and mercy God desired. Their 'hardness of heart' (a concept linked to a refusal to be affected by God's truth) prevented them from seeing the miracle right before them. Jesus’ anger is a holy anger, grieved by spiritual blindness.
The synagogue was a place for worship and teaching, but on this day, it became a battleground for the very meaning of the Sabbath.
The core conflict here is the interpretation of the Sabbath law. The Pharisees were 'watching him, to see if he would cure him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him' (Mark 3:2). Their focus was on the ritualistic prohibition of work, even when it meant ignoring human suffering. Jesus, however, cuts through their legalism by appealing to reason and compassion. He asks if it's lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath, to save life or destroy it (Mark 3:4). By asking 'How much more is a man of value than a sheep?' (Matthew 12:12, though not in Mark's account), Jesus highlights that acts of mercy and healing are not violations, but rather fulfillments of the Sabbath's intent. God's heart is for people, not just for rules.
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.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
Jesus' public ministry, including teaching and healing, gained significant attention across Galilee, drawing large crowds but also sparking opposition from religious leaders.
Early 1st century AD
Growing Opposition from Religious Leaders
As Jesus' popularity grew and his teachings challenged traditional interpretations of the Law, religious authorities like the Pharisees and scribes began to scrutinize his actions, particularly his Sabbath practices.
Early 1st century AD
Pharisees Seek to Accuse Jesus
The religious leaders, observing Jesus closely, looked for opportunities to find fault with him, especially concerning his observance of the Sabbath laws, hoping to discredit his ministry.
This passage describes the same event, highlighting the Pharisees' attempt to trap Jesus by asking if it's lawful to heal on the Sabbath, mirroring the setup in Mark 3:1.
Luke 6:6Luke provides another parallel account of Jesus entering the synagogue and finding a man with a withered hand, emphasizing the hostile watchfulness of the Pharisees.
Isaiah 35:5-6This prophecy speaks of a time when the blind will see, the deaf hear, and the lame leap, which Jesus' healing of the withered hand on the Sabbath fulfills, demonstrating God's restorative power.
John 5:16This verse reveals the intense persecution Jesus faced from religious leaders for doing such works on the Sabbath, providing context for the dangerous opposition Jesus encountered in Mark 3:1-6.
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.
The phrase "his hand withered" highlights that this wasn't a birth defect, but a condition that happened to him, emphasizing the man's suffering and the potential for healing. This detail underscores the profound urgency of Jesus' compassion, even as the religious leaders focused on rigid rules.
Jesus returns to a synagogue, a place of worship and community, but this time a man with a withered hand is present. The religious leaders are watching intently, not to see if the man will be healed, but to find a reason to accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath. This encounter sets the stage for Jesus to challenge their rigid interpretation of the Law and highlight the compassionate nature of God's commands.
Jesus returns to a synagogue, a place of worship and community, but this time a man with a withered hand is present. The religious leaders are watching intently, not to see if the man will be healed, but to find a reason to accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath. This encounter sets the stage for Jesus to challenge their rigid interpretation of the Law and highlight the compassionate nature of God's commands.
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"Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand." — The phrase "his hand withered" highlights that this wasn't a birth defect, but a condition that happened to him, emphasizing the man's suffering and the potential for healing. This detail underscor…