Context: Jesus is in a synagogue in the region of Galilee. He is being watched closely by his enemies to see if He will break the Law.
JESUS SAID TO THE MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND 'COME AND STAND IN FRONT OF EVERYONE
The Greek actually indicates that the man should stand in their midst. Nevertheless it is an overt defiance for 'his enemies' who are watching him. As the writer knows that his enemies are watching Him, we know that Jesus would have known. Previously, Jesus has asked those He has healed not to tell anyone presumably to keep the attention on his teaching. Jesus is then deliberately confronting his enemies. He would have known that this would have increased the risk for Him and made Him more of a target. He could have waited until the service was over and done the healing more secretly.
The tension is thus heightened in the narrative. In the following verse He asks the teachers of the Law whether it is permitted to do good deeds on the Sabbath or evil deeds? The question must be asked what kind of deeds is Jesus referring to as 'evil deeds'. The 'good deeds' clearly refers to the healing He is about to do, but the 'evil deeds' encompasses all possible sin. Is it an implicit criticism of the teachers' of the Law and their lives and evil deeds?
Notice what is absent: no description of anyone, including Jesus, or the Synagogue - but what could be described as a detail of description in the state of the withered hand. The focus therefore rests on Jesus' words and his compassionate action. There are no distractions.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment