Matthew the apostle wrote when Jesus, “was departed from there, he went into their synagogue: 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 said he to the man, Stretch forth your hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other”, and in chapter twelve and verse fourteen of his book, Matthew shared how, “the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him” where we read:
Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
The verse reads, “Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, ...” Matthew began with the word, “then” which means “at that time and moment” “the Pharisees” which means “the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life. They sought for distinction and praise by outward observance of external rites and by outward forms of piety, and such as ceremonial washings, fasting, prayers, and alms giving; and, comparatively negligent of genuine piety, they prided themselves on their fancied good works” “went out” or “left and departed from the synagogue”, “and held” which means “and carried about, procured and seized” “a council” or “a deliberation or an assembly of counselors or persons in consultation (the governors and procurators of provinces had a board of assessors or advisers)” “against him” which means “in opposition to Jesus”. Matthew shared how the “Pharisees” response to Jesus healing the man with the “withered hand” was to gather together and hold a “council” against Him.
The verse goes on to say, “... how they might destroy him.” Matthew added the word, “how” which means “in what way and manner” “they might destroy” or “the Pharisees might render useless, abolish, put to and end and destroy” “him” which refers to “Jesus”. Matthew shared how the Pharisees desired to destroy Jesus, and they held a meeting to discuss how they might do so.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see an interesting reaction to Jesus from these Pharisees. Because Jesus healed the man with the “withered hand”, they decided to assemble and plan how they might “destroy” Him. Jesus ministered to the most needy person in the synagogue, and in doing so, Jesus embarrassed the leadership of Pharisees and caused them to desire to ruined Him. God, who is the Creator of all, loves to help and heal people, and the most important “healing” is that of the soul. Those who yield to Him shall be saved, and those who reject Him will find themselves among those who take “council” to “destroy” the only One who can truly “save”.
Next time Matthew shares, “when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from there”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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