The Chosen and Friends: God With UsNäide

A Withered View
From Come and See

You can’t help but notice that the man’s hand isn’t the only thing that’s withered in the story. The hearts of the Pharisees are in a sad state, too—all shriveled up and lifeless. As to how it happened? The list of reasons is probably a mile long, but here’s what’s at the top: they’d allowed a right view of God’s heart to wither first.

The mere mention of Sabbath sends you to those first few chapters of the Bible (Genesis 1-2), to the seminal plotline of a Children (mankind) deeply loved by their Father (God). That Father’s love is seen in the creation of a robust ecosystem for his Children and in related counsel for them, too—counsel that includes a divinely-established rhythm of rest for the sake of their well-being (Sabbath).

Now—look closely: just as he did with that robust ecosystem, the Father created the Sabbath for his Children out of paternal love and concern; he didn’t create his Children for the Sabbath.

And this brings us back to Matthew 12: The Pharisees engage in a horrifying exercise of pitting one form of divine care (Sabbath) against another (the healing of a lifeless limb). It’s terribly cruel. And it’s happened because—even if the Pharisees never set out to do so—they’ve cultivated an image of a Father God who also pits one form of divine care against another when it comes to his Children. Which sort of leaves you with a Father God who doesn’t care much at all—and certainly not about what one of his Children is going through seven-days-a-week if it happens to be the seventh day of the week.

But then there stands the Son in the synagogue to show them the Father’s heart.

Despite it being the Sabbath, when Jesus spots the need for another kind of care—the restoration of a withered hand—he brings healing, that maybe, just maybe, he can heal withered views, too. That we can once again see that the Father cares. He cares about the keeping of Sabbath, but he cares, too, about the healing of hands.

The Father simply cares, and so he offers care within care—one form of care alongside another.

Let not this view of God’s heart be withered, lest your heart be withered itself.

About The Author
Come and See is a faith-based nonprofit that exists to share the authentic Jesus with at least one billion people worldwide. Because of the generosity of supporters around the world, Come and See is able to ensure that all seven seasons of “The Chosen” are produced, translated into 600 languages, made globally accessible, and free to all. Learn more at comeandsee.net.