Is It Legal to Do Good or to Do Evil?

Another great question from Jesus

Luke 6:6-16 | Acts 8:1-13

Preset suspicion. It directed both the Pharisees watching Jesus in that synagogue and Saul watching the death of Stephen. (It’s interesting that Saul gets no introduction other than his approval of Stephen’s death.)

How do we go about walking through life, looking at people? On the one hand, Jesus told us to be as wise as serpents, to look out and beware both sinfulness and dishonesty. And yet, his example seems to be unassuming toward almost everybody.

Saul was ready to defend the righteousness of God. The Pharisees, having “heard” about Jesus, were only watching him for evil. They had no vision for good, that he might bring healing to someone. But their intention was only to look for breaking of the law.

So Jesus asks a simple, but important question: Is it legal on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?

Sabbath law was rather specific in the dos and don’ts. But Jesus reminds everyone listening yet again that sabbath is subject to the compassion of God.

---

Luke 6:6-16

On another Sabbath, Jesus entered a synagogue to teach. A man was there whose right hand was withered. The legal experts and the Pharisees were watching him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. They were looking for a reason to bring charges against him. Jesus knew their thoughts, so he said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” He got up and stood there. Jesus said to the legal experts and Pharisees, “Here’s a question for you: Is it legal on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” Looking around at them all, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he did and his hand was made healthy. They were furious and began talking with each other about what to do to Jesus.

During that time, Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night long. At daybreak, he called together his disciples. He chose twelve of them whom he called apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter; his brother Andrew; James; John; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was called a zealot; Judas the son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Acts 8:1-13

Saul was in full agreement with Stephen’s murder.

At that time, the church in Jerusalem began to be subjected to vicious harassment. Everyone except the apostles was scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Some pious men buried Stephen and deeply grieved over him. Saul began to wreak havoc against the church. Entering one house after another, he would drag off both men and women and throw them into prison.

Those who had been scattered moved on, preaching the good news along the way. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and began to preach Christ to them. The crowds were united by what they heard Philip say and the signs they saw him perform, and they gave him their undivided attention. With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many people, and many who were paralyzed or crippled were healed. There was great rejoicing in that city.

Before Philip’s arrival, a certain man named Simon had practiced sorcery in that city and baffled the people of Samaria. He claimed to be a great person. Everyone, from the least to the greatest, gave him their undivided attention and referred to him as “the power of God called Great.” He had their attention because he had baffled them with sorcery for a long time. After they came to believe Philip, who preached the good news about God’s kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Even Simon himself came to believe and was baptized. Afterward, he became one of Philip’s supporters. As he saw firsthand the signs and great miracles that were happening, he was astonished.

Prayer

God,

I’d like to walk through life not feeling like everything beneath me has the potential to be broken glass. I’d like to run as though I’m on the soft sands of a beach or walk easily as though through a grassy field. But I also don’t want to assume that all is well with everything. So help me strike a balance between such discernment and grace.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.