Universal Utterings

for July 19, 2025

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07-19-2025 Matthew 12 v0914 Lawful to Cure on the Sabbath

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The Gospel of Matthew Chapter 12 Verses 9 thru 14

9 Moving on from there, he went into their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man there who had a withered hand. They questioned him, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?” so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep that falls into a pit on the sabbath will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable a person is than a sheep. So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and it was restored as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him to put him to death.

In Matthew 12:9-14, we find Jesus confronted by religious leaders over the issue of Sabbath observance. After entering a synagogue, He encountered a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees, intent on trapping Jesus, posed a question: "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" Their intent was not merely to understand the law but to criticize Jesus’ actions, considering healing as work that violated the Sabbath rules.

Jesus responded with profound insight, first emphasizing the value of human life over ritualistic adherence to the law. He posed a rhetorical question: if one of them had a sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath, wouldn’t they rescue it? The implication was clear: people are more important than rigid legalism. His teachings aimed to reveal the true heart of the law—compassion over condemnation.

By healing the man with the withered hand right before their eyes, Jesus demonstrated that the Sabbath was intended for mercy, not merely for maintaining a list of prohibitions. This act of healing was not just a miracle; it was a profound statement about the nature of God’s kingdom. Jesus was redefining the understanding of the Sabbath, underscoring that its purpose was to promote life, restoration, and healing rather than strict adherence to rules.

In doing so, He challenged the legalistic mindset of the Pharisees and invited His followers to embrace a more profound, relational understanding of God's law—one rooted in love and mercy. This passage encourages believers today to reflect on their own practices and attitudes toward religious observance, urging them to prioritize compassion and humanity in their faith. Ultimately, Jesus taught that true rest and fulfillment in Him transcends mere rule-keeping, leading to a deeper relationship with God and others. Amen.

Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer.

At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.

I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen Son in Law Mark Stern; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. We pray for Holy Mother Church. Our prayers for our niece Brittany. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.

I am a poet obedient to Christ,

Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins

†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®

Ephesians 6:17-20

07-19-2025 Matthew 12 v0914

**Lawful to Cure on the Sabbath**

In the synagogue, a stillness lay,

Where hearts were heavy, lost in the fray.

A man stood quietly, hand withered and worn,

Awaiting a healer, in hope to be reborn.

Pharisees were watching, their eyes like a net,

Cloaked in traditions, their hearts were upset.

“Is it lawful to heal on this sacred day?”

A question of law, not love, they conveyed.

But Jesus, with wisdom, responded with grace,

“Our lives are of value, beyond time and place.

If a sheep falls in trouble on the Sabbath's sweet rest,

Would you not lift it up? Isn’t mercy the best?”

He called to the man with the hand of despair,

“Stretch out your arm, for compassion I share.”

With a whisper of hope, the healing light streamed,

A testament spoken, of what the heart dreamed.

The hand was restored, a miracle bright,

Yet bitterness lingered, their hearts shunned the light.

For love was dismissed, in the name of the law,

Blind to the goodness that stood in their awe.

Oh, to know the Sabbath is more than a day,

It’s a gift of grace, where compassion holds sway.

In the silence and stillness, let love be our guide,

For with hearts open wide, in Him we abide.

So let us remember, in actions and deeds,

It’s the healing of hearts that our world truly needs.

For the King of all mercy, today still does call,

To lift up the broken, to love one and all. Amen.

© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins

July 19, 2025 @ 04:43 AM EST

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