Is It Lawful to Do Good or Evil? - Mark 3:4

Mark wrote how Jesus, “entered again into the synagogue; 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 said unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth”, and in chapter three and verse four of his book, Mark shares how Jesus asked, “is it lawful to do good … or to do evil?” where we read:

And he said 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.

The verse reads, “And he said unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil?” Mark began with the words, “and he said” or “Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto them” which refers to “the Pharisees and the people in the synagogue”, “is it lawful” or “is it according to the law of God” “to do good” which means “to do something which profits, favors and benefits others” “on the sabbath days” or “on the seventh days of each week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work”, “or to do evil” which means “or to perform and produce harm, wrong and injury”? Mark shared how Jesus asked whether it is according to the “law” to do “good” or “evil” on the “sabbath day”.

The verse continues, “ to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.” Mark added the words, “to save life” which means “to keep safe, rescue and deliver from penalties the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing”, “or to kill” which means “or to slay, put to death and allow to perish”? “but they held their peace” or “nevertheless, nonetheless and moreover the Pharisees kept silent, still and mute”. Mark shared how Jesus continued His question with the idea of “rescuing life” verses “destroying life” on the “sabbath day”, and that question kept all the religious leaders “silent”.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus again questioned the “rules” of the Pharisees. He knew they were only watching Him to “accuse” Him, however, He addressed their “heart” condition as He questioned the idea of doing “good things” on the “sabbath day” or “bad”. The obvious answer is “good”, and because He was going to “heal” the man with the “withered hand”, He wanted them to consider their “wicked thoughts” concerning abusing the “law”. God's desire is to “save” people from their sins, and the “law” reveals their “sinfulness”. Those who are wise shall realize Jesus is the “Lord of the Sabbath” and submit their lives to His words concerning it.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus “look round about on them with anger” “and said to the man, stretch forth your hand”, 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. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".