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Luke 6:6–11 continues the Sabbath controversy from the previous study. Jesus enters the synagogue and finds a man whose right hand is withered, while the scribes and Pharisees watch closely to see whether He will heal on the Sabbath. Their concern is no longer simply understanding the Law; they are looking for an accusation against Him. Jesus knows their thoughts, calls the man forward and asks a searching question: “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?” Then, with everyone watching, He tells the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man obeys, and his hand is completely restored. Yet rather than rejoicing at the mercy shown to him, the religious leaders are filled with rage.
That simple command — “Stretch out your hand” — becomes the heart of this teaching. Jesus tells the man to do something that, from his experience, he cannot do. He could have looked at his condition, explained why it was impossible and remained exactly where he was. Instead, he responds to the word of Christ. In the teaching I also share a personal testimony from my own early Christian life, when an injured knee had left me with severely restricted movement after surgery and prolonged treatment. After prayer, I was challenged to attempt something I had previously been unable to do. I obeyed, and experienced the healing I had been told to trust Christ for. The point is not to turn healing into a formula; it is to recognise that faith is eventually called to respond.
We face our own “impossible choices” in ways that go well beyond physical healing. Jesus tells us to love not only our neighbour but our enemy. He tells us to forgive a brother who repents, even when the offence has been repeated. Sometimes obedience means telling the truth when protecting our reputation would be easier. Sometimes it means fleeing temptation when compromise would remain hidden. Sometimes it means trusting God when we cannot see how He will provide. And sometimes it simply means doing good to the person our emotions tell us does not deserve it. These are moments when Christianity moves beyond outward compliance and exposes what is happening within the heart.
That is why the heart receives so much attention in this study. When Samuel was sent to anoint Israel’s next king, the Lord reminded him that man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. Later in this same chapter, Jesus will say that a good man brings good out of the good treasure of his heart, because “out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Pressure eventually reveals what has been stored within us. If bitterness, contempt, harsh speech and unforgiveness continually come out when life squeezes us, the problem is deeper than appearances. Christ is interested not merely in producing religious behaviour but in transforming what we love, desire and treasure.
So the final question is not simply, “Can I do this?” The deeper question is, “Will I obey Christ?” Jesus often calls us into obedience where our own strength feels inadequate. But He has not left His people alone. The Holy Spirit dwells within the believer, giving strength to walk in the life Christ calls us to live. We can pray, “Father, strengthen me,” and then choose obedience — with faith, with forgiveness, with trust and especially with love. Jesus said that the world would recognise His disciples by their love for one another. When the impossible choice comes, may our response increasingly be the response of faith: Christ has spoken; therefore I will obey.
Watch or listen to this study from Luke 6:6–11 as we consider what it means to “stretch out your hand” – trusting Christ enough to obey even when faithfulness feels beyond our own strength.
Scriptures Mentioned / Referenced
- Luke 6:6–11 – main passage
- Matthew 12:9–14 – parallel account of the Sabbath healing
- Matthew 5:43–44 – loving neighbour and enemy
- Luke 17:3–4 – rebuke, repentance and repeated forgiveness
- Matthew 18 – further teaching concerning sin within the fellowship
- John 3:16 – God giving His Son in love
- 1 John 4:19 – “We love Him because He first loved us”
- 1 Samuel 16:7 – the Lord looks at the heart
- Luke 6:45 – out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks
- John 13:34–35 – disciples recognised by their love
- 2 Corinthians 5:20 – believers as ambassadors for Christ
