Mark 3:1-5

Our hardness of heart grieves God. To love our neighbors is an outward expression of our love for Him and the salvation He gives in Jesus. 

With all the hatred that is in the world today we should be the examples of God’s love for all of His creation. 

John 3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Without love we are just making noise.

I carry with me Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s reminder, “To pray is to take notice of the wonder, to regain a sense of the mystery that animates all beings, the divine margin in all attainments. Prayer is our humble answer to the inconceivable surprise of living.” Sabbath Moments 

It's always good to care, It's always good to help people in need, It's always good to be kind and to love, not just with words, but to show it by helping. Foundation Dinners

Mark 3:1-5

3 And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2 So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. 3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” 4 Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. 5 And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. The New King James Version

Jesus’ question about the Sabbath is provocative and was intended to question common viewpoints. Elsewhere Jesus teaches that love of neighbor not only fulfills the law but is central to the kingdom of God. 

Here, Jesus tangibly demonstrates that human traditions and moral codes should not conflict with love of neighbor. This biblical idiom, often rendered as “hardness of heart” indicates both stubbornness and opposition to God’s workings. Faithlife Study Bible

The Sabbath controversy continued as Jesus visited the synagogue. The Pharisees, watched Him closely, not to hear the words of life but to accuse Him. 

Christ put the meaning of the Sabbath to the test. Certainly it was more consistent with the intention of the law to restore this man’s afflicted hand, even on the Sabbath, than to destroy his hopes for the sake of keeping human tradition. The Pharisees did not respond, for they knew that they would condemn themselves. 

It is possible, as Paul exhorts, to be angry and not sin. Jesus demonstrated this righteous anger. He was grieved with sin but did not sin Himself by retaliating or losing control of His emotions. The NKJV Study Bible

We hear what is said amiss, and see what is done amiss; but Christ looks at the root of bitterness in the heart, the blindness and hardness of that, and is grieved. But if we are healed, Christ, his power and grace, must have all the glory. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Deuteronomy 6:5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Matthew 22:35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,

Matthew 22:36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’