Matthew indicates the man with the withered hand just happened to be in the
synagogue. This might be, but I would not doubt the Pharisees "setting
Jesus up" with this unsuspecting man. The Pharisees might not have
"set Jesus up", but I would not be surprised if they did so. The
books of Mark and Luke do not suggest the Pharisees had anything at all to do
with the situation.
God will use this man as a witness to stiff-necked religionists. What has
happened to him can be a real witness to superficial believers. How the man
happened to have a withered hand is not revealed. Sometimes we do not know the
real reason behind the things that have happened to us in the past. But we
should know that God can and does use every situation for his glory and honor
and our good, Romans 8:28. Real religion shows up false religion. Your wicked
and evil past can be used to give glory and honor and praise to God Almighty.
What a victory!!!! Dont brag on your evil past, speak softly about past
sins, and thank God you no longer do those things you formerly did.
Luke 6:6 - The man with the withered hand was in the synagogue I
suppose to worship. If sinners are not in the place of worship, they will not
be able to receive any more benefits from God.
Luke 6:7 Some are hypocritically watching. Let them watch, all sinners
need to obey Christ.
Luke 6:8 God commanded the man with the withered hand to stand forth in
the middle of them all. When God calls you, you must answer. God will do all
sorts of good things, and will never anything bad to you. Men will do bad
things to you, but God will always do good things. Notice the obedience. If
there is no obedience on the part of sinners, there will never be any healing.
If God has called you, you need to listen to his call and obey him. You are
trusting the Almighty, omnipotent God, who is able to help you and give you
all things necessary for this life and the life to come.
Luke 6:10 Stretch forth your hand. This is something the man with the
withered hand cannot do; yet he is commanded to do. Men are totally depraved
and cannot believe with the heart, but God still commands us all to believe.
The man stretched forth his withered hand, not his good hand. This may go
without saying, but it should be noticed. In stretching forth his hand, the
man is showing his realization of the problem. He is not trying to hide his
infirmity, but is freely admitting he has a problem. If you are a sinner,
please do not try to hide your sinful nature from yourself, from people
around you, and most of all, do not try to hide your sinful nature from God.
God knows all things, so do not try to hide your wickedness from him, but
freely admit all.
Those that are trying to hide their wickedness will stretch forth the
left hand, the one that does all the work, instead of stretching forth the
right hand, which is withered.
Stretch forth your hand.
Exodus 8:5 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron,
Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and
over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt."
When Moses stretched forth his hand over the water, God caused the frogs to
come froth.
Exodus 9:22 - "And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine
hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon
man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land
of Egypt." When Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven, as
commanded by God, hail came upon the land of Egypt.
Gods power will be released when the command from God obeyed
"Stretch forth your hand."
John 1:12,13 We believe by the power of God, not our power.
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift
of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
John 2:23 "Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the
feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he
did."
John 3:18 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he
that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God."
John 20:31 "But these are written, that ye might believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life
through his name."
The power of God.
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for
it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to
the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
1 Corinthians 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them
that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
1 Corinthians 1:24 "But unto them which are called, both Jews
and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."
1 Corinthians 2:5 "That your faith should not stand in the
wisdom of men, but in the power of God."
Acts 3:16 "And his name through faith in his name hath made
this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him
hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all."
The impotent man was healed by the power of God, just like we are saved by the
power of God. We must obey, but it is the power of God that grants unto us
eternal life, and happiness. Do not be content to sit by and do nothing when
God commands us to believe him.
1 John 3:23 "And this is his commandment, That we should
believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave
us commandment." What can we say more? It is a commandment of God
that we believe on the name of Jesus and love one another. We have no choice
in the matter. If we do not do what God commanded, we are the ones who will
suffer the consequences.
1 John 5:12 "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath
not the Son of God hath not life."