Luke 6:6
And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
On another Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue to teach, and a man whose right hand was withered was there. He healed the man, showing that doing good and restoring life and deeds of mercy are lawful on the Sabbath. By this He swept away senseless human restrictions while leaving the fourth commandment standing as God gave it, so that mercy honors the day and upholds its binding claims. Scribes and Pharisees and other religious leaders watched Him to find grounds to accuse the Lord of the Sabbath of breaking it, and they became furious and enraged that He did this good work on the Lord's day. His pattern of teaching and comforting and healing the sick on the Sabbath is the example to follow, making the Sabbath a fitting time to remember the afflicted in fasting and prayer and to expect God to uphold and raise them up.
Synagogue Scene and Miracle
On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught, and there was present a man whose right hand was withered. The setting is a Sabbath controversy, with scribes and Pharisees watching for grounds to accuse the Lord of the Sabbath of breaking it. There He healed the man with the withered hand, doing good and restoring life on the Sabbath. The work was done on the Sabbath day upon the right hand and upon the left, even on the Sabbath.
The healing of the withered hand belongs together with the plucking of the ears of corn. His healing on the Sabbath day was extensive and widespread and beyond computation. He never grew weary in comforting the sick and healing disease, with the world as His practice.
The Sabbath miracle provoked great hostility and intense opposition. Because of it He and His disciples withdrew to the seaside of Galilee to a more favorable place to work. Yet crowds followed, including the sick and those possessed by demons. Those who touched Him in faith were healed, and demons as they left their victims acknowledged Him as the Son of God.
Sabbath Law Upheld
The entry into the synagogue to teach on another Sabbath, with a man whose right hand was withered present, sets the scene for the defense of Sabbath mercy against those watching for grounds to accuse Him of breaking it. The healing that follows shows that to do good on the Sabbath is lawful, to restore life is lawful, and deeds of mercy are lawful on that day. It was done to correct false teaching about the Sabbath and to impress that truth upon minds bound by human tradition.
It breaks down Jewish custom while leaving the fourth commandment standing as God gave it to the world, exalting the Sabbath and sweeping away the senseless restrictions that encumbered it. The mercy done in healing honors the day, whereas complaining about such healing dishonors it with useless rites and ceremonies. By continuing to observe the Sabbath according to God's law despite rabbinical hostility and human requirements, He upheld the Sabbath's binding claims and rejected false teachings that had made its observance reflect human selfishness and arbitrary rules rather than God's character.
Opposition and Present Application
The setting is a Sabbath controversy in which scribes and Pharisees were watching for grounds to accuse the Lord of the Sabbath of breaking it. Jesus entered the synagogue and taught on another Sabbath when a man with a withered right hand was present, and the healing that followed set the scene for His defense of Sabbath mercy. The Pharisees, scribes and other religious leaders became furious and enraged because He did this good work of restoring life on the Lord's day. Doing good on the Sabbath was thereby shown to be lawful.
Those who complained about the healing dishonor the Sabbath themselves by their many useless rites and ceremonies. This work of healing an afflicted man on the Sabbath could have been revealed if His accusers had charged Him with Sabbath-breaking, undermining their attempt to condemn Him.
Christ's pattern of entering the synagogue on another Sabbath to teach and to speak words to comfort the sick and heal their disease is the example to follow. The Sabbath is therefore a fitting time to remember the afflicted and to hold fasting and prayer in their behalf. When hearts are humbled before Him, God is to be expected to uphold the dying, to raise them up, and to work abundantly, even working healing on the right hand and on the left on the Sabbath.