Verses 11-13
This is the third time in Matthew that Jesus argued for the superiority of human life over animal life (cf. Matthew 6:26; Matthew 10:31). His argument presupposed the special creation of man (Genesis 1-2). Jesus assumed, apparently with good reason, that the Pharisees would lift a sheep out of a pit on the Sabbath. His argument was again qal wahomer (from the light to the heavy, cf. Matthew 12:5-6). Neither the sheep in the illustration nor the man in the synagogue was in mortal danger. Jesus cut through the Pharisaic distinctions about how much help one could give to the more basic issue of doing good.
Jesus again healed with a word (Matthew 9:1-8). The healing confirmed the power of His word, a power that God demonstrated in creation and that marked Jesus as God’s agent. This miracle confirmed again Jesus’ lordship over the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8) and His authority to forgive sins (Matthew 9:1-8). Notice that Matthew made no reference to the healed man’s faith. It may have played no part in this miracle, or Matthew simply may have made no mention of it. Matthew wanted to focus attention on Jesus and the Pharisees, not on the man.
Be the first to react on this!
