PER077

The healing of the man with the paralysed hand

Pericope 77 recounts the healing of a man with a paralysed hand in the synagogue in Capernaum on a Sabbath in AD 31. Reported by Matthew, Mark and Luke, this episode reveals the growing tension between Jesus and the Pharisees. Seeking to accuse him, they refuse to see the miracles performed. The year AD 31 ends with a break between Jesus and the Jewish religious authorities.

4 min healing paralysed hand Sabbath Capernaum Pharisees 3 verses 3 books

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Biblical texts

Matthew
Matthew 12.9-13 (King James Version)

And when he was departed thence, he went into their :

And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
Mark
Mark 3.1-5 (King James Version)

And he entered again into the ; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.

And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.

And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
Luke
Luke 6.6-10 (King James Version)

And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.

But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.

Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?

And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
John
John (King James Version) not cited in the book

Technical details

Location: The in Capernaum in Galilee

Date: All these events take place during AD 31, therefore after Passover on March 24 and the of April 5, AD 31

Method: We continue with Mark

Note on the approach: Mark continues with a healing on the . We cannot affirm that he follows chronological order. He may be grouping events connected with the .

Ministry in Galilee

The Jewish religious authorities see Jesus the Messiah as an opponent who destabilises their interpretation of the law, on which the functioning of their society rests.

The healing of the man with the paralysed hand

The healing of the man with the paralysed hand

Comments

Matthew, Mark and Luke do not consider it necessary to specify explicitly where this episode takes place. Nevertheless, it seems clear that Jesus the Messiah is with his disciples in the in Capernaum.

This man's healing takes on a particular significance because it occurs on a . We observe that Jesus the Messiah regularly performed healings on this specific day, in accordance with the law of Moses.

Sans attribuer au Messie Jésus une volonté systématique de provocation, nous sommes contraints de reconnaître que les réunions à la se tiennent les jours de . Les fidèles semblent profiter de cette situation pour rechercher une délivrance du Messie Jésus. Dans ce cas précis, c’est Jésus qui invite cet homme à s’approcher afin de le guérir.

We notice that the stance of the becomes more firmly rooted in opposition to Jesus the Messiah. They do not accept their rites being called into question by this new Teacher's interventions.

They do not perceive the wonders taking place before their eyes, blinded instead by hatred towards Jesus the Messiah, who challenges their cultural principles.

Pourtant, en cas de besoins personnels impératifs, ils n’hésitent pas à enfreindre leurs règles strictes concernant le respect du . Matthieu le souligne alors que Marc et Luc n’évoquent ici que leur recherche de preuves pour accabler le Messie Jésus.

Analysing the behaviour of these religious men, mainly , leads us to see their reaction simply as a defence of their socially and economically prosperous religious system.

We observe a gulf opening between these religious fundamentalists and this new, free Teacher. The year AD 31 thus ends with a break between the Jewish religious authorities and Jesus the Messiah. The people, for their part, admire and acclaim him, further intensifying the authorities' anger.