Mark 3:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He placed him in the midst, that they might be frightened at the sight, and on seeing him compassionate him, and lay aside their malice.

Or, he has his right hand withered, who does not the works which belong to the right side; for from the time that our hand is employed in forbidden deeds, from that time it is withered to the working of good. But it will be restored whenever it stands firm in virtue; wherefore Christ saith, Arise, that is, from sin, and stand in the midst; that thus it may stretch itself forth neither too little or too much.

But some one may wonder how Matthew could have said, that they themselves asked the Lord, if it was lawful to heal on the sabbath-day; when Mark rather relates that they were asked by our Lord, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath-day, or to do evil? Therefore we must understand that they first asked the Lord, if it was lawful to heal on the sabbath-day, then that understanding their thoughts, and that they were seeking an opportunity to accuse Him, He placed in the middle him whom He was about to cure, and put those questions, which Mark and Luke relate. We must then suppose, that when they were silent, He propounded the parable of the sheep, and concluded, that it was lawful to do good on the sabbath-day. It goes on: But they were silent.

Should we act righteously on the Sabbath, or should we commit wrong? Is a soul to be redeemed, or is it destined for destruction? Yet, they remained silent. Observing the hardness of their hearts with sorrow, He addressed the man, saying, "Let those who have sight truly see! And those who choose not to listen may follow their own path! Let the unyielding become as stone. Now stretch forth your right hand. Rise and do not ask anything further. Do not seek your illness, but when your hand is healed, offer it to the beggar. Stand and be present among us" (Luke 6:8). Be a spectacle to onlookers, for in you, the debate regarding the Sabbath finds its resolution. Stand in the center, that even the lame, renewed in strength, may rise...

Or else it means the avaricious, who, being able to give had rather receive, and love robbery rather than making gifts. And they are commanded to stretch forth their hands, that is, let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labour, working with his hand the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (Eph. 4:28)

For, since He had defended the breaking of the sabbath, which they objected to His disciples, by an approved example, now they wish, by watching Him, to calumniate Himself, that they might accuse Him of a transgression, if He cured on the sabbath, of cruelty or of folly, if He refused. It goes on: And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand in the midst.

During the following two Sabbaths, the significance of the Sabbath and the sanctity of its rest, which had not been fully divulged due to recent disputes with the Pharisees, became much clearer and was explained more definitively. The first instance occurred when the Lord’s disciples were traveling from Jerusalem and, feeling hungry as they passed through a grain field, plucked some ears of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate. On another occasion, Jesus healed a man with a withered hand in the synagogue, performing the miracle solely by His command without any physical action. This incident took place in Galilee.

On another Sabbath, Jesus was teaching in a synagogue when a man with a withered right hand was present. The scribes and Pharisees were closely observing Him, eager to see if He would break the Sabbath by healing the afflicted man. Not only did they watch in silence, as stated in Matthew, but they also presented Him with a provocative question meant to test Him. The Lord, having summoned the man with the withered hand to stand in their midst, posed a question to the Pharisees: “Which of you, having one sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?” He further asked, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil?

Christ articulates His thoughts in a manner that they can easily understand. They are uncertain about the possibility of a man being saved on the Sabbath; therefore, He prompts them to reflect on their own selfishness by asking if they would not rescue a straying sheep from a pit on the Sabbath. Their silence reveals that they recognize none among them would let it suffer. If a sheep can be rescued on the Sabbath, how much more valuable is a person! Is it not possible to save him on that day? This illustrates that if good works are always essential, then doing good on the Sabbath is certainly permitted. To demonstrate this principle, He heals the man with a withered hand with just a single command.

Christ gazed at them with righteous anger; His holy indignation burned within Him, radiated from His hand, animated His actions, and echoed in His voice as He surveyed the faces before Him, hardened by stubborn malice, reflecting ignorance and arrogance. Yet, after restraining this intense feeling, He turned to minister compassion, instructing the afflicted man, “Stretch forth thy hand.” To the astonishment of everyone present, the man extended his hand and was restored to perfect health. Thus, Christ confronted His adversaries not merely through words but by performing a magnificent act of mercy, which served to bring further glory to the Messiah.

'Beholding them with indignation' reflects not a frantic rage but rather a profound response to the evident unreasonableness and hypocrisy, highlighting the deplorable moral condition of the Pharisees. Thus, it is a righteous indignation (Eph. 4:26), distinct from sinfulness (Ps. 4:5). - 'Mourning over their hardened hearts': this serves as the origin of this indignation—sorrowing for the callousness of the heart. A heart is often deemed soft when it acutely recognizes its own failings and vulnerabilities, leading it to be profoundly moved by the hardships and sufferings of others, prompting a readiness to assist in any way, filled with love for both neighbor and God.