Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 12:13

"Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, as the other." — Matthew 12:13 (ASV)

Thus our Lord practically carried out His own teaching. He who could work a miracle of this sort was divine and could rightly interpret His own law. The man was sitting down, and Jesus commanded him to stand up so that all might observe him. Then He further commanded him to hold up his hand so that all could see its lifeless condition.

It does not appear that his arm was withered, as some have supposed, but he was able, by the use of his arm, to hold out his hand for public view. This being done, the Lord restored it at once, before the whole synagogue, and before the fault-finding Pharisees. The man stretched out each finger, perfectly restored to its natural vigor.

The poor man had hidden his hand when it was dried up, but when restored, it was fitting that it should be seen by all in the synagogue. By that restored hand, made whole on the Sabbath, everyone knew that Jesus would work deeds of mercy on the Sabbath.

Let us pray to Him to do the same in our assemblies. Oh, that the hands which have been useless for holy purposes may at His command become whole! Oh, that those who are instructed to believe and live would stop questioning and obey, as this man did! Then His healing would surely come to them, as it did to the obedient man.