“And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So, they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent.” Mark 3:1-4
Jesus knew their intent was to accuse Him of work on the Sabbath, therefore violating it. The Pharisees were so insistent on charging Jesus with a violation of the Law, they were setting aside the command to “Love thy neighbor as thyself…” Blinded by their jealousy, pride, and desire to convict an innocent man, they were willing to sacrifice compassion toward their fellow man.
Jesus asked, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” Their silent response was revealing. They could not answer Him regarding these things, because to do so would reveal the lack of compassion in their evil heart. To argue that Jesus should not have healed this man, would be a denial of the command to love thy neighbor as thyself.
In Matthew 12:10-12 Jesus asked, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep? Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
Jesus used what appeared to be a common practice on the Sabbath Day to reveal their hypocrisy. Jesus reminds them of their actions when one of their animals would fall into a ditch on the Sabbath. They would not leave it but lay hold of it and get it out. Jesus asked, “Is not this man with the withered hand of more value?”
We should never allow jealousy and the desire to meet a personal agenda cause us to forfeit compassion.
Prospering Pathway 
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