STRETCH FORTH THY HAND
The scribes and the Pharisees of Jesus day were very strict keepers of the Law. They prided themselves in their adherence to the commandments and the precepts, and even their name implied that they were the “chosen ones.” Josephus, a Jewish historian of the time, describes them as “a body of Jews who profess to be more religious than the rest, and to explain the laws more precisely.” On a certain Sabbath day, Jesus entered into a synagogue and taught the Word of God. There were Scribes and Pharisees present who were watching Him very closely to see if He would heal anyone on the Sabbath, for they interpreted this as “work,” which was prohibited by the Law on a Sabbath. They were seeking to find some accusation against Jesus so that they might defame Him and His teachings. In this crowd was a man with a paralyzed (or withered) hand. This man was unable to work, or do many normal tasks because of his condition; but he was there to hear the Messiah. He may have even