Lord of the Sabbath (Grain and Withered Hand)
1At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them.
2But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”
3Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
4He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat.
5And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?
6I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!
7But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’
8For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”
9Then Jesus went over to their synagogue,
10where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.)
11And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would.
12And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”
13Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one!
1One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples broke off heads of grain, rubbed off the husks in their hands, and ate the grain.
2But some Pharisees said, “Why are you breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?”
3Jesus replied, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
4He went into the house of God and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests can eat. He also gave some to his companions.”
5And Jesus added, “The Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath.”
6On another Sabbath day, a man with a deformed right hand was in the synagogue while Jesus was teaching.
7The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.
8But Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” So the man came forward.
9Then Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?”
10He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!