Is There Ever A Wrong Time To Heal Someone? Matthew 12:9-14

9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 

The synagogue was where local Jews congregated to listen to different rabbis preach on the Law and the Prophets and participate in prayers.  Jesus showed by example that he was obedient to go to the public place of worship, though it didn't have the authority of the temple.  

"Before any group of Jews could establish a new congregation and build or use a synagogue, they had to have at least ten active male members, age 13 or older, who could constitute a minyan (or quorum) of worshipers for the services that were to be held three times daily."

10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

The man who showed up with a shriveled hand gave the religious leaders the perfect opportunity to set a trap for him.  If he taught against the Law of Moses, they could brand him as a heretic.  

"The Rabbis allowed the healing art to be practised on the Sabbath in cases of life and death, but the “withered hand,” a permanent infirmity, obviously did not come under that category." Ellicott

11 He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 

Jesus turns the table on them by asking if they had a sheep who fell into a pit, would they rescue it?  Jesus is citing an example which was happening at the time, so they could not deny the analogy he is using.  They often had ways of trying to get around the law.  I.e. They wouldn't pull the sheep out of the pit, but feed it and keep it alive until the day after the Sabbath.  You can see how the purpose of the Sabbath laws had been completely lost.  

12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

"As if he had said, If the regard you have for the life of your cattle leads you to do servile work on the sabbath, for the preservation of a single sheep, charity should much rather induce you to labour for the preservation of a fellow-creature, though the good office is to be done on the sabbath day."

Now that Jesus has given them the clear argument that healing a person on the Sabbath is more important than saving a sheep, he could state authoritatively that it was okay to do good on the Sabbath. 

13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 

In keeping with the other miracles Jesus did, he completely healed the man's hand.  In this case the healing happened by the man merely stretching out his hand.  It ironic to see how little "work" was done to heal this man.  Certainly a lot less work than hauling a sheep out of a pit.

14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

Instead of having any compassion on the man or even celebrating his healing, the Pharisees were furious that Jesus had so thoroughly destroyed their attempt to besmirch him.  So great was their ire, they started plotting how to get rid of him permanently.  

How can the church act like the Pharisees by worrying more about their power and image than having compassion for those in need of healing? Do you think churches should leave room in their worship services for praying for those who need healing?  When you see someone in need of healing, how do you usually respond?  How can Jesus' example inspire you?