Stretch Forth Your Hand - Matthew 12:13

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”, and in chapter twelve and verse thirteen of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told the man, “stretch forth your hand” where we read:

Then said he to the man, Stretch forth your hand. And he stretched it forth;

and it was restored whole, like as the other.

The verse reads, “Then said he to the man, Stretch forth your hand. And he stretched it forth;” Matthew began with the words, “then said he” which means “at that time and moment Jesus uttered, proclaimed, declared and gave instruction” “to the man” which means “to the male human being with the withered hand”, “stretch forth” or “extend and put forth” “your hand” which means “the hand of the man which was withered”. “And he stretched it forth” or “the man with the withered hand extended and put his hand forth”. Matthew shared how Jesus turned to the man with the withered hand, instructed him to “stretch” it out, and the man obeyed Jesus and “extended” his hand.

The verse continues, “and it was restored whole, like as the other.” Matthew added the words, “and it was restored” which means “and the withered hand of the man was brought back to health and in its former state” “whole” or “sound, healthy and well” “like as the other” which means “even as and in like manner to the man's other hand”. Matthew shared how the man's hand was “made completely healthy and whole” like his other hand.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see the power of Jesus' word over the physical things in the world. Jesus, as Creator of the Universe, certainly had no problem “restoring” this man's hand, and He taught those surrounding Him the importance of a person's well being over traditionally established rules. God loves people, and He demonstrated it over and over again in His Son Jesus. Those who are wise will consider Jesus who is the Christ, Messiah and Savior of the world. Not only does He have power to restore “withered hands”, but He will also make whole every “withered soul” who puts their “faith and trust” in Him as “Savior and Lord”. Extend your soul to Him today, and let Him make you whole.

Next time Matthew shares how, “the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him”, 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" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.