The Last Sabbath Controversy BY J. JAMES TISSOT. BY COURTESY OF THE TISSOT + "And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth."-Mark, 3, 3. S |OON after, perhaps the very next Sabbath, as Jesus preached in a synagogue, the Pharisees brought forward the Sabbath question again. They came all prepared with witnesses; for at the pool of Bethesda Jesus had been unseen, and in the cornfield it had been His disciples who broke the Sabbath, not He. This time the Pharisees deliberately pointed out to Jesus a man whose right hand was withered, and asked if it were lawful to heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus, as before, reminded them first of deeds done by themselves: "What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbathday, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?" Then He spoke more angrily, knowing that they plotted to injure Him, "Is it lawful on the sabbath-day to do good, or to do evil?" "And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. “And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him." LUKE X-THE SEVENTY SENT OUT 1621 3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. 5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. 6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. 7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. 8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: 9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, 11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. 13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. 15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. 16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. 17¶ And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. 21 ¶ In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. 22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man know |