Mark iii. 5 — 7. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out : and his hand was restored whole as the other. And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him. But Jesus withdreio himself with his Disciples to the sea.
THE exercise of benevolence is, in itself, calculated to excite universal admiration ; but it is far from pro- ducing that effect on those who are blinded by pre- judice or passion. They whose conduct is reproved by it will rather take occasion from it to vent their spleen the more. This our Lord uniformly experi- enced from the Pharisees. A remarkable instance of it is recorded in the text. Let us, I. Consider the circumstances of the miracle —
The Pharisees, observing our Lord's intention to heal a man who had a withered hand, questioned his right to do so on the Sabbath-day —
oo MARK, III. 5—7. [1421.
rWishin" to accuse him of inconsistency, or a contempt of the law, they asked him whether it was lawful to heal on the sahbath-daya? Our Lord shewed them, that it was . He then asked them, Whether, while they condemned him lor doing so benevolent an action on the Sabbath, they were more justified in indulging murderous purposes against him on the Sabbath c? They, unable to answer except to their own confusion, "held their peace." Though convinced of their unreasonableness and impiety, they would not confess it.]
Our Lord beheld their obstinacy with indignation
and grief —
[Meek as our Lord was, he was susceptible of anger ; yet that anger was not like the passion that too often agitatesus. It was perfectly just and righteous. Sin was the object against which it was directed ; and, while he was angry with the sin, he mourned over the sinner. Hereafter indeed his anger will be unmixed with any pity ; but now it is, as ours also should ever be, tempered with compassion towards the offending person.]
Not intimidated by their malice, he proceeded to heal the withered hand —
[He bade the man stand forth in the midst of all. Surely such a pitiable object should have engaged all to interest them- selves with Christ in his behalf. He then ordered him to stretch forth his hand. The man, notwithstanding he knew his inability to do it of himself, attempted to obey, and, in the attempt, received an instantaneous and perfect cure.]
Having thus more than ever exasperated his ene- mies, Jesus retired from their rage —
[One would have thought that all should have adored the author of such a benefit : but, instead of this, the Pharisees were "filled with madnessd." Alas ! what wickedness is there in the human heart ! They joined immediately with the He- rodians in a conspiracy against his life e : but our Lord's hour was not yet come ; he withdrew therefore from their power, and thus defeated, for the present at least, their efforts against him.]
Having thus touched upon the principal incidents in the miracle, we shall proceed to,
a Matt. xii. 10. * Matt. xii. 11, 12.
: ver. 4. This seems the true import of his question.
(1 Luke vi. 11.
The Herodians and Pharisees differed so widely both in their political and religious sentiments, that they hated each other exceed- ingly. But what enemies will not unite against Jesus? Luke xxiii. 12.