Following Jesus’ correcting the Pharisees when His disciples ate grain from fields without washing their hands, we find Him again going to the synagogue on the Sabbath.
Matthew 12:9 Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. 12:10 And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"—so that they might accuse Him.
They were trying to set Jesus up so they could condemn Him in front of everyone else. Their man-made rules, laws, and oral traditions have no place in God’s kingdom. Jesus knowing all of this clearly exposed their blatant hypocrisy.
12:11 And He said to them, "What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? 12:12 "How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
They did not value the very people that they had placed in slavery to their rules. They had a very real disdain for all who weren’t as ‘righteous’ as them. They did not take kindly to any criticism, certainly not from this uneducated Jesus. As Lord of the Sabbath, who knew best on how to treat the Sabbath and how to treat their fellow man?
12:13 Then He *said to the man, "Stretch out your hand!" He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other.
An undeniable miracle. Publicly displayed. Instantly consummated and confirmed for all to see. A truly good work by our Redeemer and Savior, our great High Priest and King.
12:14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. 12:15 But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all, Mat 12:16 and warned them not to tell who He was.
What were they thinking? How could they see this great compassionate miracle to a man with a useless withered hand. In the culture of their day, a withered hand would almost certainly condemned this man to poverty.
Where is their compassion? Who were they most concerned about? Themselves!!! This is the same character traits of false teachers today. Their primary concern is for their position of authority over the people they have enticed to follow them, rather than follow Jesus.
As I mentioned before, who are you following?
Where are they leading you?