Religion Sees Problems. Jesus Sees People.
“Then He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’” — Matthew 12:13
The Pharisees saw a theological opportunity. Jesus saw a hurting man. That difference is the heart of the second scene in Matthew 12.
A man with a withered hand enters the synagogue. We don’t know his name. We don’t know exactly how his condition developed. We simply know that something in his body was broken, and that brokenness affected his everyday life. His hand was withered.
The Pharisees weren’t concerned about him. They were watching Jesus. They wanted to know whether He would heal on the Sabbath, not because they cared about the man, but because they wanted evidence with which to accuse Jesus.
What a tragedy.
A hurting person was standing in front of them, and they were more interested in preserving their rules than seeing his life restored.
But Jesus sees differently. Religion sees problems. Jesus sees people. The Pharisees saw a man who could help them make their theological point. Jesus saw someone made in the image of God.
And Jesus makes the principle unmistakable: “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” The Sabbath was never designed to prevent mercy. It was designed to remind people of the goodness and provision of God.
Perhaps there is someone around you today who is hurting. Don’t merely see the inconvenience. See the person. Don’t merely notice the problem. Look for the opportunity to show mercy.
Because people matter to God. And if people matter to God, they should matter to us.
The King of Rest doesn’t produce cold, rigid religion.
He produces people whose hearts have been transformed by grace and who therefore become people of mercy.