12:10 A man which had [his] hand withered. That is, dried up from a deficient absorption of the nutriment. Luke says his right hand (Lu 6:6). The disease here indicated results in a loss both in size and in power of the arm; for it there is no remedy known to man. Compare Mr 3:1-6 Lu 6:6-11.
And they asked him. Luke says it was the scribes and Pharisees.
Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath? In the opinion of the Pharisees, to kindle or extinguish a fire on the Sabbath was a great desecration of the day, nor was even sickness allowed to violate rabbinical rules. It was forbidden to give an emetic on the Sabbath, to set a broken bone, or put back a dislocated joint. Of course, they had added all this to the law of Moses.
That they might accuse him. Not in the conversation merely, but before the local judge, the officers of the synagogue, or the council.
12:9-13 Christ shows that works of mercy are lawful and proper to be done on the Lord's day. There are more ways of doing well upon sabbath days, than by the duties of worship: attending the sick, relieving the poor, helping those who need speedy relief, teaching the young to care for their souls; these are doing good: and these must be done from love and charity, with humility and self-denial, and shall be accepted, Ge 4:7. This, like other cures which Christ wrought, had a spiritual meaning. By nature our hands are withered, and we are unable of ourselves to do any thing that is good. Christ only, by the power of his grace, cures us; he heals the withered hand by putting life into the dead soul, works in us both to will and to do: for, with the command, there is a promise of grace given by the word.
