The Power of Compassion: Jesus Heals the Man with the Shriveled Hand (Luke 6)

We continue our series of 3-minute daily meditations on the supernatural power of Jesus. Here’s another example of Jesus’ miraculous power:

⁶On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. ⁷The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. ⁸But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." So he got up and stood there. ⁹Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?" ¹⁰He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was completely restored. ¹¹But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus (Luke 6:6-11).

Understanding the Miracle in the Synagogue

The Lord Jesus did not follow all the Pharisees' fabricated rules about the Sabbath. That morning in the synagogue, there was a man with a shriveled right hand. The Greek term describes something shriveled or atrophied, similar to a dried-up plant or fruit. Luke 6:7 mentions that the Pharisees and scribes were watching Him intently. I wonder if the Pharisees “encouraged” the man to come that morning, hoping to find a reason to accuse Jesus of healing on the Sabbath. Jesus was unhappy with the restrictive rules that burdened His people and robbed them of the joy of simple living. Seizing the moment, Christ challenged His opponents and, showing compassion, healed the man.

 

Choosing Mercy Over Legalism

Jesus did not heal him immediately; instead, He asked the man to stand before everyone and then challenged the Pharisees’ views on God. He questioned, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” (v. 9). For Jesus, refusing healing just because it was the Sabbath was cruel and showed more evil than good. He was willing to set aside tradition and rules to show mercy and compassion.

Why the Pharisees Reacted with Fury

The Pharisees cared little for ordinary people; they portrayed God as law-focused and harsh. Jesus didn’t touch the man but instructed him to stretch out his hand. As he did, the Lord looked around the room, hoping the congregation would find reason and compassion (6:10) before healing the man in full view of everyone. With everyone watching, the man’s hand became completely well. How furious the rule keepers were! Where was the love and mercy of God within them? You’d think they would be filled with wonder and joy for the man with the withered hand. Instead, the original Greek reveals the Pharisees' fury: “But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus” (v. 11). The word 'furious' describes them as having hot-headed, impulsive hostility toward the Lord for healing the man, while simultaneously belittling them. Isn't it remarkable that the Pharisees did not recognize their hypocrisy and instead walked away with murderous intentions?

Spiritual Application: Seeking the Heart of God

As believers in Christ, we must be cautious not to resemble the Pharisees, become too legalistic, and lose sight of what truly matters. The Pharisees were familiar with the Word of God, yet they did not know the God of the Word. They valued the recipe book more than the meal itself. The Bible tells us how to have a living relationship with the God of the Bible. Let’s be careful to seek the heart of the God who wrote the book. Keith Thomas.

Continue Your Journey…

If you found this meditation meaningful, there is so much more to explore about God’s plan in Luke 6:1-11, Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath, found in the series on Luke's Gospel, located in the All Studies box on the Home Page.

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