Read the Scripture. Then Read it Again

by Katie Harding on June 5, 2023

I am always amazed what additional insights the Lord might reveal when we don’t rush our reading of the Scripture. For almost a week now, I have hung out in Luke 6 reading and re-reading the story about the man with the withered hand.

Here are a few of my observations:

1. Jesus never preached.

“On another sabbath, he entered the synagogue and taught…”

Everywhere He went, Jesus taught. Whether He was in the synagogue, by the Sea of Galilee, or standing by a fig tree, He was always teaching. He taught about God the Father, our actions and reactions, the Kingdom of God, obedience, prayer, priorities, the sabbath, the Spirit, abiding, and much, much more—too many topics to list. Throughout His ministry, Jesus taught about life in God’s Kingdom here on earth and then modeled it for His followers.

2. Jesus wasn’t intimidated.

“The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Come and stand here.’”

The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Come and stand here.’” Jesus was being watched, and He knew it. The Pharisees were waiting for Him to cross one of their long-held procedural lines, yet that didn’t stop Him from doing what was right. He wasn’t going to stop teaching truth just because they didn’t like it, even though it would later cost Him His life.

3. Doing nothing was not an option.

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?’”

The choice Jesus offered the Pharisees wasn’t to heal the man on the sabbath or leave him as is. The choice was to heal him or harm him by allowing him to continue to suffer. They were so strict about doing nothing on the sabbath that they were willing to sacrifice a life to maintain a law. They took God’s law to the extreme, and Jesus countered their practice by teaching that the purpose of the law was to help God’s people not to hurt them.

If the Lord keeps leading you back to a certain passage in the Scriptures, don’t ignore His promptings. He may have something more for you to glean. Keep revisiting the passage until you understand the truth He has for you.

What Scripture passage(s) are you currently reading? What has God recently revealed to you?