The Gospels record several times when Jesus healed on the Sabbath, and each occasion stirred conflict with the religious leaders. In Matthew we read:
“Now behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’—that they might accuse Him. Then He said to them, ‘What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.’ Then He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.” (Matthew 12:10–13)
Mark records the same event, adding that Jesus was angered at their hardness of heart:
“And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.” (Mark 3:5)
Luke also emphasizes the confrontation:
“The scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, ‘Arise and stand here.’ And he arose and stood. Then Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?’” (Luke 6:7–9)
John records another Sabbath healing, when Jesus healed a lame man at the pool of Bethesda. The leaders accused Him of breaking the Sabbath, but Jesus answered:
“My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” (John 5:17)
Jesus healed on the Sabbath to reveal that mercy fulfills the Law. The Sabbath was given as a gift, a day of rest and blessing, but the leaders had turned it into a burden. By healing, Jesus showed that God’s will is to give life, not to restrict it. Each healing was a declaration that He is Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8), and that true rest and restoration are found in Him.
