12:13Matthew 12:13

On the Sabbath in the synagogue Jesus told the man with the withered hand to stretch it out, and as he did his useless hand was made whole and complete like the other by power from Christ giving life to nerves, sinews and muscles.Ms 31a, 1898, par. 4–6+3 It is lawful to do well on the Sabbath, so that relieving suffering and showing mercy honors the fourth commandment and sets aside human restrictions, useless rites and ceremonies that obscured its purpose.Ms 31a, 1898, par. 4–6+2 Christ kept the Sabbath according to God's law and not the rabbis' requirements, in perfect harmony with that law as Lord of the Sabbath, revealing the day as a reflection of God's character.PK 183.1+2 Faith is shown by acting on God's word before the help is felt, for the man willed to move his hand as though it were well and was healed in the effort, and relieving suffering in urgent need is right on the Sabbath while work that can wait is to be postponed for rest and worship.Ms 31a, 1898, par. 4–6+3

The healing took place in the synagogue on the Sabbath, where a man with a withered hand had come hoping to be healed.Ms 31a, 1898, par. 4–6 The Pharisees, doctors and scribes were present and watching, gathered near with wicked purposes in their hearts, jealous of power and wisdom.ST Oct 16, 1879 They watched words to confuse and surprise into contradiction or forbidden heresy, expecting a healing so they could accuse Him of being an impostor and condemn Him to death.Ms 31a, 1898, par. 4–6+1

At the command to stretch forth the hand, the man stretched out his useless hand.Ms 31a, 1898, par. 4–6+1 As he made the effort to move it, power from Christ gave life to nerves and sinews and muscles.Ms 31a, 1898, par. 4–6 It was restored whole and complete, like the other, made perfectly whole.Ms 31a, 1898, par. 4–6+3

The Sabbath healing was a good work on the Lord's day.2SP 294.2+2 It was widely reported.2SP 201.1 Yet it provoked great malice and fury from the Pharisees, doctors and scribes, who were filled with madness because He presumed to do this good work on the Sabbath.2SP 201.1+3 The malice was so great that Jesus withdrew with His disciples to another field of labor.4RED 53.1

The healing of the withered hand declares that it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath day.Ms 31a, 1898, par. 4–6+2 Relieving suffering and showing mercy on that day honors the fourth commandment as God gave it.Ms 31a, 1898, par. 4–6+2 The act sets aside human restrictions that obscured the purpose of the Sabbath, removing them while upholding the commandment itself.2SP 198.2–199.1+1 Useless rites and ceremonies that had been added dishonored the Sabbath, while the merciful healing honored it.4RED 51.2

Keeping the Sabbath according to God's law rather than the rabbis' requirements is shown in the restoration of the hand.PK 183.1+2 The work was in perfect harmony with God's law and did nothing contrary to the law, so the charge of Sabbath-breaking was false.ST Oct 1, 1896+1 In this Christ declared Himself Lord of the Sabbath.ST Oct 1, 1896 The Sabbath thus reflects God's character, not the selfish and arbitrary character of those who distorted its observance and misrepresented God by false teaching.PK 183.1

The healing belongs to the controversy in which scribes and Pharisees accused the Lord who made the Sabbath of breaking it.18MR 155.1–3+2 That accusation could not be sustained, for the work was merciful and good in character and brought relief to the afflicted.ST Jun 13, 1878+2 Open examination would have brought the healing miracles to light and defeated condemnation, exposing the injustice of the accusation.ST Jun 13, 1878+2 Where judgment would be by Roman law the accusers dared not press the Sabbath charge, lest the priests' aim to condemn Him be defeated and the works His enemies wanted to conceal be revealed, so they resorted to false witnesses.ST Jun 13, 1878+2

The Sabbath healing was essential and not merely a display of power.3MR 245.1 It was done to meet Satan in his afflicting of suffering humanity, for Christ came to meet the needs of the suffering whom Satan was torturing.3MR 245.1 A great work for the relief of suffering humanity is to be done on the Sabbath day, while common work is not to be done.3MR 245.1 Pleasure seeking such as ball playing and swimming is not necessity but sinful neglect of the sacred day sanctified by Jehovah.3MR 245.1

Faith is shown by acting on God's word even before the promised help is received, for the man willed to move his useless hand and stretched it out as though it were well, believing, and he was healed as he made the effort.Ms 31a, 1898, par. 4–6+1 He had come into the synagogue on the Sabbath hoping to be healed while the Pharisees watched expecting a healing so they could accuse Jesus, and Jesus told him to stretch out his hand, requiring him to act by faith.Ms 31a, 1898, par. 4–6 As he made the effort to move it, power from Christ gave life to nerves and sinews and muscles and the hand was made perfectly whole.Ms 31a, 1898, par. 4–6 The healing means it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath day.Ms 31a, 1898, par. 4–6

The stretching forth in faith was followed by deliverance from sickness and pain, supplying the example of a man who stretched out his withered hand and was healed.3T 570.2+1 That act of faith is comparable to reaching the point of deliverance from pain and sickness after following the directions in James 5.3T 570.2 The hand was restored whole like the other as he obeyed the command to stretch it out.3T 570.1

Relieving suffering is right on the Sabbath, for the healing of the withered hand demonstrates that acts of mercy belong to that day.CH 238.2–3+1 This supports ministering to urgent needs and helping the sick when their needs require it.CH 238.2–3+1 Ordinary treatments and operations that can wait should be postponed so that Sabbath rest and worship can be observed.CH 238.2–3+1