Luke 6:6-11 :

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. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him. 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. 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?” 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. But they were filled with rage, and talked with one another about what they might do to Jesus.

The “scribes and the Pharisees” were watching Jesus so that they could trap Him and remove Him from power somehow. They were so filled with ambition that they failed to see that they were fighting against God and the people that they were supposed to be serving. It is easy to come down on the Pharisees, but it is difficult for us to see ourselves sometimes. Selfish ambition is a real problem in humanity and without the Holy Spirit’s power and our dependence on Him to overcome this sin, even we as Christians can become a force of destruction against those who do the work of God. We should be on guard against this kind of behavior and stay away from selfish ambition by God’s power.

Jesus had a decision at this point. Clearly there was a man who needed His help, but He was also aware that He was being set up by the religious leaders in such a way that if He were to help, He would suffer physical consequences. Satan has a way of setting these situations up against us in the world today. Sometimes we have to go against our own physical comfort in order to do what we know is right for someone that God brings into our lives. Notice that Jesus not only continued to help this man, but He boldly stood the man up and made it clear that He would not be intimidated. Jesus was a man of true power and strength. He has helped us at His own expense. Notice that Jesus also made it clear that doing good isn’t illegal which made the religious leaders even more angry.

Instead of being amazed and thanking God for a miracle, the religious leaders “were filled with range, and talked with one another about what they might do to Jesus.” Jealousy is a vicious evil and these religious leaders were filled with it. We should also be aware that when we are angry when someone is blessed, that something is wrong and turn back to the way of love so that we can be happy when good things happen to others instead of focusing on our own selfish ambition.