A man was there with a hand that had withered

Their question was about whether healing was allowed on the Sabbath

They asked the man to explain how the injury happened

They were trying to help the man first and then decide

Notice the need and respond with help before making a case

Use the moment to sharpen your argument and prove a point

Stay back so you do not have to deal with the situation

Treat the rule question as more important than the person

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I admit my sin and my need for your mercy. I have turned my heart toward accusation and away from your way, and I ask you to forgive me. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I turn from my sin and trust you to make me new. Be my Lord and Savior, heal what is broken in me, and lead my life from now on. Amen.

Receive the Healer

Lord, revive your church so that we do not use wounded people as opportunities to win arguments. Make us quick to notice need, willing to help, and slow to accuse. Give us the courage to reflect your mercy and the honesty to walk in truth, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Revive a Merciful Church

Pray by naming one person whose need or weakness you see, ask God to soften your motives, and ask for one merciful next step you can take today.

Pray Before You Judge

Bring these themes to God: compassion for people in pain; honesty about your motives; courage to help before you judge.

A Heart That Sees People

Father, forgive me when I care more about being right than about helping people. Where I have used rules or words to corner others, turn my heart back to mercy. Teach me to see people before arguments, and to do what is good and honest, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Mercy Over Winning

Lord, I lift up the person whose need is visible and easy to overlook. Meet them with healing, dignity, and practical help, and show me how to serve without making their pain about me, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Help the One in Need

καὶ{KE###KEH###And} ἰδοὺ{ee-DOO###ee-DOO###behold} ⸀ἄνθρωπος{AN-thro-pos###AHN-throh-pohs###a man} χεῖρα{KHEE-ra###KHEE-rah###hand} ἔχων{E-khon###EH-khohn###having} ξηράν.{ksee-RAN###ksee-RAHN###withered} καὶ{KE###KEH###And} ἐπηρώτησαν{e-pee-RO-tee-san###eh-pee-ROH-tee-sahn###they asked} αὐτὸν{af-TON###ahf-TOHN###him} λέγοντες·{LE-gon-tes###LEH-gohn-tehs###saying} Εἰ{ee###ee###If} ἔξεστι{EK-se-stee###EHK-seh-stee###it is lawful} τοῖς{TEES###TEES###on the} σάββασιν{SA-vva-sin###SAH-vvah-seen###Sabbaths} ⸀θεραπεύειν;{the-ra-PEV-een###theh-rah-PEHV-een###to heal} ἵνα{HEE-na###HEE-nah###so that} κατηγορήσωσιν{ka-tee-go-REE-so-sin###kah-tee-goh-REE-soh-seen###they might accuse} αὐτοῦ.{af-TOO###ahf-TOO###him}

Matthew 12:10 — Source TextTAB

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