CHAPTER XIV.
DISCIPLES IN THE CORN FIELD—WITHERED HAND.
AND it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that Jesus went through the corn fields; and his disciples were an hungered, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. But he said unto them,
Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungered, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shew bread, and gave also to them that were with him, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests.
Or have ye not read in the law,
[69]how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
And he said unto them,
The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
And it came to pass also on another sabbath, when he was departed thence, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day.
And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand,
Rise up and stand forth in the midst.
And he arose and stood forth. Then said Jesus unto them,
I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
But they held their peace. And he said unto them,
What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man,
Stretch forth thine hand.
And he stretched it forth; and his hand was restored whole as the other. And they were filled with madness.
And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.
And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues. And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known:
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.