Matteo 12:13

13 Allora egli disse a quell’uomo: Distendi la tua mano. Ed egli la distese, e fu resa sana come l’altra.

Matteo 12:13 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 12:13

Then saith he to the man
That is, after he had looked round about upon them, to observe their countenances; and what answer they would make to his arguments; and with anger for their inhumanity and cruelty; being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, i.e. their unmercifulness to their fellow creatures, and the stupidity and blindness of their minds, being ignorant of the Scriptures, and of the sabbath, the nature, use, and Lord of it; which things are observed by the Evangelist Mark; then, in a commanding authoritative way, almighty power going along with his word, he says to the man who stood forth before him, and the Pharisees,

stretch forth thine hand,
which was before contracted and shrivelled up;

and he stretched it forth
with all the ease imaginable, and was, not only able to do this, but to make use of it any way;

for it was restored whole like as the other;
his left hand, which had never been damaged. This was an instance of Christ's power; a proof of the lawfulness of healing on the sabbath day; and a rebuke to the Pharisees for their cruelty and uncharitableness. This man was an emblem of the inability of men to do anything that is spiritually good, and of the power and efficacy of divine grace to enable persons to stretch out their hands, and do things which they of themselves are not equal to.

Matteo 12:13 In-Context

11 Ed egli disse loro: Chi è l’uomo fra voi, il quale avendo una pecora, se quella cade in giorno di sabato in una fossa, non la prenda, e non la rilevi?

12 Ora, da quanto più è un uomo, che una pecora? Egli è dunque lecito di far del bene in giorno di sabato.

13 Allora egli disse a quell’uomo: Distendi la tua mano. Ed egli la distese, e fu resa sana come l’altra.

14 Ma i Farisei, usciti fuori, presero consiglio contro a lui, come lo farebbero morire.

15 Ma Gesù, conoscendo ciò, si ritrasse di là; e molte turbe lo seguitarono, ed egli li guarì tutti.