The Man with a Withered Hand

31 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was there a man having his hand dried up. 2 And they watched him if he would heal him on the sabbath, that they might accuse him. 3 And he says to the man who had his hand dried up, Rise up [and come] into the midst. 4 And he says to them, Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill? But they were silent. 5 And looking round upon them with anger, distressed at the hardening of their heart, he says to the man, Stretch out thy hand. And he stretched [it] out, and his hand was restored. 6 And the Pharisees going out straightway with the Herodians took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.

A Multitude at the Seaside

7 And Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea; and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, 8 and from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea and beyond the Jordan; and they of around Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, having heard what things he did, came to him. 9 And he spoke to his disciples, in order that a little ship should wait upon him on account of the crowd, that they might not press upon him. 10 For he healed many, so that they beset him that they might touch him, as many as had plagues. 11 And the unclean spirits, when they beheld him, fell down before him, and cried saying, Thou art the Son of God. 12 And he rebuked them much, that they might not make him manifest.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 3:1-12

Commentary on Mark 3:1-5

(Read Mark 3:1-5)

This man's case was piteous; he had a withered hand, which disabled him from working for his living; and those that are so, are the most proper objects of charity. Let those be helped that cannot help themselves. But stubborn infidels, when they can say nothing against the truth, yet will not yield. We hear what is said amiss, and see what is done amiss; but Christ looks at the root of bitterness in the heart, the blindness and hardness of that, and is grieved. Let hard-hearted sinners tremble to think of the anger with which he will look upon them shortly, when the day of his wrath comes. The great healing day now is the sabbath, and the healing place the house of prayer; but the healing power is of Christ. The gospel command is like that recorded here: though our hands are withered, yet, if we will not stretch them out, it is our own fault that we are not healed. But if we are healed, Christ, his power and grace, must have all the glory.

Commentary on Mark 3:6-12

(Read Mark 3:6-12)

All our sicknesses and calamities spring from the anger of God against our sins. Their removal, or the making them blessings to us, was purchased to us by the blood of Christ. But the plagues and diseases of our souls, of our hearts, are chiefly to be dreaded; and He can heal them also by a word. May more and more press to Christ to be healed of these plagues, and to be delivered from the enemies of their souls.