Jesus Withdraws Himself - Matthew 12:15

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. Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him”, and in chapter twelve and verse fifteen of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus, “withdrew himself from there” where we read:

But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from there:

and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

The verse reads, “But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from there:” Matthew began with the word, “but” which means “nevertheless, moreover and” “when Jesus” which means “at the time and moment Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “knew it” or “understood and perceived that the Pharisees were holding a council against Him”, “he withdrew himself” which means “Jesus left, sought for another place and departed” “from there” or “from the synagogue”. Matthew shared how Jesus understood that the Pharisees set a “council” against Him, and He left the synagogue.

The verse continues, “and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;” Matthew added the words, “and great multitudes” which means “and a large and massive crowd of people” “followed him” or “joined themselves to and accompanied Jesus”, “and he healed” which means “Jesus cured, restored to health and made whole” “them all” or “each, every, the whole and everyone of the crowd”. Matthew shared how people “joined themselves together” with Jesus when He left the synagogue, and He “cured and made whole” every one of them.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus drew many people to Him when He left the synagogue. Many of them were sick and in need of healing, and after seeing Jesus “heal” the man with the “withered hand”, they too desired to be made whole. God delights in loving people, and as Jesus demonstrated His care for people and their ailments, perhaps those reading these words will realize He cares for them as well. “Follow Him”.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus, “charge them that they should not make him known”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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