No, Jesus’ healing of the man with the withered hand shows that he is the Owner who cares for his creatures. His healing is technically not in the category of medical work,
but rather in that of doing good to his own. As a farmer gives rest to his workers and his animals, so Jesus does as the Lord of all nations. His action thus fully accords with the Sabbath laws, provided one sees that he is far more than a mere man among men. Jesus’ action goes further than healing alone. His freely given healings show redemption from sin (Matthew 8:17) and are part of his work as Mediator. That is why they are allowed on the Sabbath, and why it would be wrong to withhold them on the Sabbath, since the Sabbath was the day to bring the gospel here as well (Luke 13:16). Jesus’ mercy exposes the Pharisees’ hardness of heart (Luke 13:16). Only after refuting the Pharisees, to show how the Sabbath ought to be celebrated, does he heal the man—as is typical of his ministry: the preaching first, and then the healing. As well, Jesus’ actions may also be justified by how he heals by speaking, since speaking was certainly allowed on the Sabbath. In any case, God places his seal upon Jesus’ action: that it is not a violation of the Sabbath. The illness itself thus fades into the background; the issue is the proper observance of the Sabbath.
No, by healing the man with the withered hand, Jesus demonstrates that he is the true Owner who cares for his creatures. His healing does not, strictly speaking, belong to the category of medical work,
but rather to that of doing good to his own. Just as a farmer is obliged to grant rest to his workers and his animals, so Jesus assumes these duties as the Lord of all nations. His action therefore fully accords with the Sabbath laws—provided one recognizes that he is far more than merely a man among men.1
Jesus’ action goes further than healing alone. His healings, freely given, portray the redemption from sin (Matthew 8:17) and form part of his mediatorial work; such deeds are noble acts. That is why they are permitted on the Sabbath—in fact, it would be sinful to withhold them on the Sabbath, since the Sabbath was the day to bring the gospel here as well (Luke 13:16). In showing mercy, Jesus exposes the Pharisees’ hardness of heart (Luke 13:16). It is only after refuting the Pharisees—and then in such a way that his reply teaches how the Sabbath ought to be celebrated—that he proceeds to heal the man. As is so characteristic of his ministry—the preaching comes first, and only then is this followed by the act of healing. Furthermore, perhaps Jesus’ actions are also justified by the fact that he heals by speaking, since speaking was certainly permitted on the Sabbath. In any case, God places his seal upon Jesus’ actions: that it does not constitute a violation of the Sabbath. The illness itself therefore fades into the background; everything turns upon the proper observance of the Sabbath.2
13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.