Luke 6:6-11
These verses contain another example of our Lord Jesus Christ’s mode of dealing with the Sabbath question. Once more we find Him coming into collision with the vain traditions of the Pharisees, about the observance of the fourth commandment. Once more we find Him clearing the day of God from the rubbish of human traditions, and placing its requirements on the right foundation.
We are taught in these verses, the lawfulness of doing works of mercy on the Sabbath day. We read that before all the Scribes and Pharisees, our Lord healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. He knew that these enemies of all righteousness were watching to see whether He would do it, in order that they might “find an accusation against Him.” He boldly asserts the right of doing such works of mercy, even on the day when it is said, “thou shalt do no manner of work.” He openly challenges them to show that such a work was contrary to the law. “I will ask you one thing,” He says, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good, or to do evil?–to save life or to destroy?” To this question His enemies were unable to find an answer.