And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Pharisees' question, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" isn't truly a question seeking knowledge; it's a trap. They weren't genuinely curious about the law but were poised to accuse Jesus based on his expected compassionate response, revealing their focus on legalistic guilt over genuine human need.
And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just been in a dispute with the Pharisees about plucking grain on the Sabbath, and now he enters a synagogue where a man with a withered hand is present. The religious leaders, already looking for a reason to condemn Jesus, deliberately ask him if it's permissible to heal on the Sabbath, hoping to catch him breaking their strict interpretation of the Law.
The Pharisees present Jesus with a loaded question, hoping to trap him. But Jesus sees right through their intentions.
The heart of the Sabbath isn't just about resting from work; it's about reflecting God's character. The Pharisees were so focused on rigid rules that they missed the divine heart of the Sabbath – compassion and doing good.
More Than Just Rules
The religious leaders were obsessed with external observance. They’d developed intricate laws about what was and wasn't permissible on the Sabbath, and healing a
Jesus uses a simple, everyday scenario to expose the flawed logic of his accusers.
Jesus turns the tables by comparing the man’s withered hand to a sheep in a ditch. The Pharisees would rescue their animal on the Sabbath without a second thought, yet they condemned Jesus for wanting to heal a person.
The Value of a Person
This comparison highlights a crucial point: human life and well-being are infinitely more valuable than animal possessions or strict adherence to ritual. Jesus argued that if it’s permissible to perform an act of practical kindness for an animal, it is certainly lawful to do good for a human being on the Sabbath.
The core of his argument is about prioritizing compassion and alleviating suffering, which aligns with God’s own heart for humanity.
Understand the original words
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xēros · Greek Adjective
An adjective describing a condition of drying up or atrophy, often used biblically to denote a physical disability that prevents normal function.
exestin · Greek Verb
Refers to that which is permitted or allowed according to the divine Law of God (Torah).
katēgoreō · Greek Verb
To bring a formal charge or to find fault with someone, often with the intention of trapping them or causing their downfall.
The conflict in this verse wasn't just about healing on the Sabbath; it was a deep theological and political struggle over the interpretation and application of God's law, with Jesus emphasizing mercy and the Pharisees focusing on rigid human traditions.
c. 5th - 2nd century BC
Development of Sabbath Laws
Over centuries, Jewish tradition and interpretations (like those found in the Mishnah later) increasingly detailed prohibitions about activities on the Sabbath, extending beyond the core biblical commands.
c. 1st century BC - 1st century AD
Rise of Pharisaic Influence
The Pharisees, with their emphasis on strict observance of the Law and oral traditions, gained significant influence. Their interpretations often clashed with Jesus' more expansive understanding of God's will.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching, healing, and challenging the religious establishment, including the Pharisees and scribes.
c. AD 30— this verse
Pharisees' Watch for Accusation
Religious leaders, specifically the Pharisees and scribes, actively watched Jesus' actions, looking for any perceived violation of Sabbath law to use against him.
This passage presents a similar scenario where Jesus is challenged about healing on the Sabbath, this time with a man suffering from dropsy, highlighting the ongoing tension between Jesus' compassion and the Pharisees' strict interpretation of the law.
John 5:1-18Here, Jesus heals a man who had been an invalid for 38 years on the Sabbath, leading to similar accusations and Jesus' defense that His Father is always at work, and so is He, underscoring the theme of God's continuous activity beyond human-imposed rest.
Mark 3:1-6This parallel account from Mark shows Jesus' anger and grief in response to the Pharisees' hard-heartedness as they plot against him after he heals the man with the withered hand, revealing Jesus' emotional response to their malicious intent.
Isaiah 58:6-7This prophetic passage speaks of the kind of 'fast' God desires, which includes loosening the chains of injustice and caring for the oppressed, offering a divine perspective on true Sabbath-keeping that emphasizes mercy and justice over rigid ritual.
barnesMatthew 12:10: "And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him."
The very hairs of your head are all numbered - That is, each one has exercised the care and attention of God. He has fixed the number; and, though of small importance, yet he does not think it beneath him to determine how few or how many they shall be. He will therefore take care of you.
vincentMatthew 12:10: "And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him."
Is it lawful ? (εἰ ἔξεστιν)The εἰ can hardly be rendered into English. It gives an indeterminate, hesitating character to the question: I would like to know if, etc.
The Pharisees' question, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" isn't truly a question seeking knowledge; it's a trap. They weren't genuinely curious about the law but were poised to accuse Jesus based on his expected compassionate response, revealing their focus on legalistic guilt over genuine human need.
Jesus has just been in a dispute with the Pharisees about plucking grain on the Sabbath, and now he enters a synagogue where a man with a withered hand is present. The religious leaders, already looking for a reason to condemn Jesus, deliberately ask him if it's permissible to heal on the Sabbath, hoping to catch him breaking their strict interpretation of the Law.
Jesus has just been in a dispute with the Pharisees about plucking grain on the Sabbath, and now he enters a synagogue where a man with a withered hand is present. The religious leaders, already looking for a reason to condemn Jesus, deliberately ask him if it's permissible to heal on the Sabbath, hoping to catch him breaking their strict interpretation of the Law.
"And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him." — The Pharisees' question, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" isn't truly a question seeking knowledge; it's a trap. They weren't genuinely curious about the law but were poised to accuse Jesus bas…
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Last reviewed October 2026