Is It Right to Heal on the Sabbath?

14 On a Sabbath day, Jesus went to the home of a leading Pharisee to eat with him. The people there were all watching Jesus very closely. ² A man with dropsy^[a] was brought before Jesus. ³ Jesus said to the Pharisees and teachers of the law, “Is it right or wrong to heal on the Sabbath day?” ⁴ But they would not answer his question. So Jesus took the man, healed him, and sent him away. ⁵ Jesus said to the Pharisees and teachers of the law, “If your son^[b] or ox falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not pull him out quickly?” ⁶ And they could not answer him.

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

²³ On the Sabbath day, Jesus was walking through some grainfields. His followers were with him and picked some grain to eat. ²⁴ The Pharisees saw this and said to Jesus, “Why are your followers doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

²⁵ Jesus answered, “You have read what David did when he and those with him were hungry and needed food. ²⁶ It was during the time of Abiathar the high priest. David went into God’s house and ate the bread that was made holy for God. The law of Moses says that only priests may eat that bread. But David also gave some of the bread to those who were with him.”

²⁷ Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, “The Sabbath day was made to help people. They were not made to be ruled by the Sabbath day. ²⁸ The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Jesus Heals a Man’s Crippled Hand

3 Another time when Jesus went into a synagogue, a man with a crippled hand was there. ² Some people there wanted to see Jesus do something wrong so they could accuse him. They watched him closely to see if he would heal the man on the Sabbath day.

³ Jesus said to the man with the crippled hand, “Stand up here in front of everyone.”

⁴ Then Jesus asked the people, “Which is right on the Sabbath day: to do good, or to do evil? Is it right to save a life or to destroy one?” But they said nothing to answer him.

⁵ Jesus was angry as he looked at the people. But he felt very sad because they were stubborn. Then he said to the man, “Let me see your hand.” The man put his hand out for Jesus, and it was healed. ⁶ Then the Pharisees left and began making plans with the Herodians^[a] about a way to kill Jesus.