Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 12:10

"and behold, a man having a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? that they might accuse him." — Matthew 12:10 (ASV)

A man which had his hand withered. This was probably one form of the palsy. (See Barnes on Matthew 4:24).

Mark and Luke mentioned some circumstances omitted by Matthew. They say that Jesus addressed the man and told him to stand forth in their midst. He then addressed the people.

He asked them if it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath day. This was admitted by all their teachers and could not be denied; therefore, they were silent.

He then appealed to them and drew an argument from their own conduct. A man who had a sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath day would perform the common acts of humanity and pull it out. If a man would save the life of a sheep, was it not proper to save the life of a man? By this reference to their own conduct, he silenced them.

Mark adds that he looked on them with anger; that is, with strong disapproval of their conduct. Their envy and malignity excited feelings of holy indignation. (See Barnes on Mark 3:5).