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.

MATTHEW 12:10KJV
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Matthew 12:10 (KJV)

What does Matthew 12:10 mean?

Matthew 12:10 describes a moment when some people, seeing a man with a withered hand, ask Jesus whether it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath, hoping to find a reason to accuse him. The verse shows that their question is not sincere but is meant to trap Jesus into breaking Sabbath law as they understood it.

In this scene, Jesus is being confronted by religious leaders while in a synagogue. The man with the withered hand is present, and the leaders use his condition as a test case. Their question about healing on the Sabbath is less about genuine concern for the law and more about finding grounds to criticize or accuse Jesus, revealing their motives and setting up the events that follow in the chapter.

The Greek behind Matthew 12:10

  • "lawful" (ἔξεστιν, exestin): This Greek word means "permitted" or "allowed." The leaders are not just asking if healing is good, but if it is officially allowed by the law on the Sabbath, highlighting the legalistic focus of their question.
  • "heal" (θεραπεύειν, therapeuein): This word means "to heal" or "to serve medically." In this context, it refers specifically to the act of restoring health, which was debated among Jews as to whether it was permitted on the Sabbath.
  • "accuse" (κατηγορήσωσιν, kategorēsōsin): This word means "to bring charges against" or "to accuse." The verse makes clear that the leaders’ real intent is to find a legal reason to accuse Jesus, not to seek truth or mercy.

Why Matthew 12:10 matters

  • Matthew 12:10 helps readers see that the religious leaders are more interested in trapping Jesus than in helping the man with the withered hand, showing the contrast between their motives and Jesus’ compassion.
  • The verse highlights a key conflict in the Gospels: the difference between strict legalism and the spirit of mercy and goodness that Jesus teaches.
  • This moment sets up the following verses, where Jesus responds to their challenge, teaching about the true purpose of the Sabbath and demonstrating his authority.