"And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; And charged them that they should not make him known: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust."
Today's lesson demonstrates the ongoing conflict between Jesus and the Jewish hierarchy who were out to destroy Him.
He demonstrated to the Pharisees, through His analogy of the fallen sheep, that caring for the injured and infirm was more important than strict obedience to the Law.
What occurred in this lesson also fulfilled another one of Isaiah's prophesies about the coming of Jesus.
We can apply this lesson to some of today's Christians in that, instead of focusing on and trying to correct their own shortcomings, some too quickly leap to condemn others when they don't fully understand the motives of those they accuse.
In essence, the lesson tells us that we are to help those who need help no matter what the law might say, or what the self-righteous might think of us.
The primary purpose of a child of God is to fulfill the two "great" commandments, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)~
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