Single lesson
Jesus Heals a Man's Withered Hand
Matthew 12:9–14; Mark 3:1–6; Luke 6:6–11
In this lesson, children will follow what happened when Jesus met a man with a withered hand in the synagogue on the Sabbath. They will notice the different choices people made and what those choices showed.
Before you teach
Matthew, Mark and Luke each tell about Jesus entering a synagogue on the Sabbath, where a man with a withered hand was present. Some religious leaders watched Jesus closely, hoping to accuse him. Jesus spoke, asked a question about doing good on the Sabbath, and restored the man’s hand.
Students will be able to retell the order of this account and explain from the passage that Jesus says it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.
Welcome: Notice the setting and the problem
4 minAsk children to listen for where Jesus is, who is there, and what the problem is. Read the opening verses aloud. Point out that the setting is a synagogue on the Sabbath, and the man’s hand is described as withered. Luke also says it was his right hand. Explain that some people were already watching Jesus carefully.
Matthew 12:9, Matthew 12:10, Mark 3:1, Mark 3:2, Luke 6:6, Luke 6:7
Read and explain: Jesus speaks to the man and to the watchers
8 minRead the middle verses. Show the sequence: Jesus calls the man forward, then asks a question about what is lawful on the Sabbath. Explain that Jesus contrasts doing good with doing harm, and saving life with killing. In Matthew, Jesus also uses the example of helping a sheep from a pit and says a person is worth more than a sheep.
Mark 3:3, Mark 3:4, Luke 6:8, Luke 6:9, Matthew 12:11, Matthew 12:12
Discuss: What choices do we see?
6 minTalk through the choices in the passage. The watchers wanted an accusation. The man obeyed Jesus by standing up and stretching out his hand. Jesus chose to do good. The religious leaders did not answer Jesus’ question, and the passages describe silence, hardened hearts, rage and plans against Jesus. Help children compare these responses carefully from the text.
Matthew 12:10, Mark 3:2, Luke 6:7, Luke 6:8, Mark 3:4, Mark 3:5, Luke 6:11, Matthew 12:14
Make and respond: Sequence cards of the account
8 minGive children simple cards to draw or label in order: Jesus enters the synagogue, the man stands up, Jesus asks about doing good, Jesus says, “Stretch out your hand,” the hand is restored, opponents plan against Jesus. As they arrange the cards, ask them to match each scene to a verse and say what choice or outcome it shows.
Matthew 12:9, Mark 3:3, Luke 6:9, Matthew 12:13, Luke 6:10, Mark 3:6
Closing: Say the lesson clearly
4 minReview the account together in one minute per step. Finish by asking the group to say one sentence from the passage’s teaching: Jesus says it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. Briefly note that the man’s hand was restored, while others left angry and planning against Jesus.
Matthew 12:12, Matthew 12:13, Mark 3:5, Matthew 12:14, Luke 6:11
Questions to explore
Why were the scribes and Pharisees, or the Pharisees, watching Jesus so closely?
Guide children to the verses that say they watched to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath so that they might accuse him or find an accusation.
Matthew 12:10, Mark 3:2, Luke 6:7
What question did Jesus ask about the Sabbath, and what answer does Matthew record?
Help children quote Jesus’ question about doing good or harm, then notice Matthew’s clear statement, ‘Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.’
Mark 3:4, Luke 6:9, Matthew 12:12
What happened after Jesus told the man, ‘Stretch out your hand,’ and how did others respond?
Point children to the restored hand first, then compare that good outcome with the anger, rage and plotting described afterwards.
Matthew 12:13, Mark 3:5, Matthew 12:14, Mark 3:6, Luke 6:11
Make, think or respond
Withered Hand Story Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or scrap card
- pencils or crayons
- scissors
- Bible verses written by the teacher on a board or sheet
Try it together
- Prepare six simple story prompts from the passage for children to draw or label on separate cards.
- Read the account again and help children place the cards in the correct order.
- Invite children to add a short phrase or verse reference to each card.
- Ask pairs to retell the story using the cards and name the choice or outcome shown on each one.
Sequencing the cards helps children follow the account in order and notice that Jesus says it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, make the six cards together as a group and use short repeated phrases such as ‘stand up’, ‘do good’, and ‘stretch out your hand’.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to sort details under headings such as setting, question, action and response, using references from Matthew, Mark and Luke.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: ‘Lord Jesus, thank you that this passage shows you doing good. Please help us listen carefully to your words and respond with hearts that are ready to obey.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 12
9 He departed from there and went into their synagogue.
10 And behold, there was a man with a withered hand. They asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?” so that they might accuse him.
11 He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, won’t he grab on to it and lift it out?
12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.”
13 Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out; and it was restored whole, just like the other.
14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how they might destroy him.
Mark 3
1 He entered again into the synagogue, and there was a man there whose hand was withered.
2 They watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, that they might accuse him.
3 He said to the man whose hand was withered, “Stand up.”
4 He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good or to do harm? To save a life or to kill?” But they were silent.
5 When he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored as healthy as the other.
6 The Pharisees went out, and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
Luke 6
6 It also happened on another Sabbath that he entered into the synagogue and taught. There was a man there, and his right hand was withered.
7 The scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him.
8 But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Rise up and stand in the middle.” He arose and stood.
9 Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you something: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?”
10 He looked around at them all, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his hand was restored as sound as the other.
11 But they were filled with rage, and talked with one another about what they might do to Jesus.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.