Mark 3:1 - Exposition

He entered again into the synagogue . St. Matthew ( Matthew 12:9 ) says, "their synagogue" ( εἰς τὴν συναγωγὴν ) This would probably be on the next sabbath after that named at the close of the last chapter. And there was a man there which had a withered hand ( ἐξηραμμένην ἔχων τὴν χεῖρα ); literally , which had his hand withered, or dried up. And they watched him ( παρετήρουν αὐτὸν ); kept watching him. There were probably scribes sent for this purpose from Jerusalem. St. Jerome informs us that in an apocryphal Gospel in use amongst the Nazarenes and Ebionites, the man whose hand was withered is described as a mason, and is said to have asked for help in the following terms:—"I was a mason, seeking my living by manual labour. I beseech thee, Jesus, to restore me the use of my hand, that I may not be compelled to beg my bread." This is so far consistent with St. Mark's description ( ἐξηραμμένην ἔχων τὴν χεῖρα ) as to show that the malady was the result of disease or accident, and not congenital. St. Luke ( Luke 6:6 ) informs us that it was the right hand. The disease probably extended through the whole arm according to the wider meaning of the Greek word It seems to have been a kind of atrophy, causing a gradual drying up of the limb; which in such a condition was beyond the reach of any mere human skill.