Luke 6:10
And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
On the Sabbath Jesus commanded a man with a withered hand to stretch it out, and as he did so it was restored whole like the other. The healing was a lawful work of mercy that honored the Sabbath and upheld the fourth commandment by setting aside added restrictions and false teachings rather than abolishing it. As Lord of the Sabbath He asserted its binding claims and kept it according to God's law without conforming to the rabbis' requirements. Scribes and Pharisees who claimed God's special favor accused Him of breaking the Sabbath and reacted with rage and malice, yet He did not break it so the charge could not stand. The man was healed as in faith he moved the withered hand as if well before the change was seen, showing that the Sabbath is a proper time for prayer and healing for the afflicted, which was Jesus' unfailing pattern every Sabbath.
Sabbath Healing and Opposition
This command follows the going through the cornfield and recounts Jesus healing a man's withered hand on the Sabbath by telling him to stretch it forth, whereupon it was restored whole as the other. The setting belongs to that Sabbath controversy, with the healing placed directly after the cornfield account. The healing was a good work of mercy, showing the compassionate, restorative work Jesus did on that day.
The act was lawful and honored the Sabbath, upholding the fourth commandment as God had given it by correcting added restrictions, useless ceremonies, and false teachings rather than abolishing it. As Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus emphasized its binding claims and showed reverence for the institution He Himself had given, going straight forward keeping the Sabbath according to God's law without even appearing to conform to the rabbis' requirements. The command was given when Sabbath observance had become so perverted that it reflected the character of selfish and arbitrary men rather than God, and the healing sets aside the false teaching by which those claiming to know God misrepresented Him.
Scribes, Pharisees, doctors, and Jews were present to watch. Though claiming God's special favor, they blindly accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath for this healing. They reacted with rage, fury, anger, malice, and merciless hostility at His doing this good work on the Lord's day.
Jesus did not break the Sabbath, so the accusation could not be sustained and false witnesses were needed against Him. Bringing the healing to light in a trial would expose the charge of Sabbath-breaking as an account of healing the afflicted. The miracle aroused great malice and led Jesus with His disciples to withdraw to the seaside of Galilee and to another field of labor, while report of it was noised abroad through all that region and drew great multitudes to follow Him.
Faith and Sabbath Example
The withered hand was healed as the man stretched it out in obedience to the command to stretch it forth. He moved the hand as if it were well, and his willing action showed belief before the desired change was seen. Faith here required acting on Christ's command before the change appeared. His stretching out the withered hand and receiving restoration is an example of faith reaching the point of deliverance from sickness.
Healing disease and comforting the sick on the Sabbath was the regular pattern and example set in this healing. That work was done every Sabbath without growing weary. It was extensive and widespread beyond computation, with the world as the practice. The healing of the withered hand on the Sabbath day, working healing on the right hand and on the left, means the Sabbath is a proper time for fasting and prayer in behalf of afflicted and dying ones. God will uphold and raise them up, and when hearts are humbled before Him He will come in and work abundantly.