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Luke 6:8
ESV But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come and stand here." And he rose and stood there.
NIV But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." So he got up and stood there.
NASB But He knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, 'Get up and come forward!' And he got up and came forward.
CSB But he knew their thoughts and told the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand here." So he got up and stood there.
NLT But Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, 'Come and stand in front of everyone.' So the man came forward.
KJV 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.
NKJV But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood.

What does Luke 6:8 mean?

The Pharisees are lying in wait for Jesus to break the Mosaic law. They are in synagogue and Jesus is teaching. A man with a withered hand is listening. If Jesus heals the man, He will have broken the Sabbath in view of many witnesses. The Pharisees don't realize their position is precarious.

First, Jesus knows what they're thinking. Much like the way they quietly judged Jesus for blasphemy when He told the paralyzed man his sins were forgiven (Luke 5:20–22), Jesus perceives their machinations "in his spirit" (Mark 2:8).

Second, Jesus knows this application of the Sabbath law is their own interpretation of the Mosaic law, not the Mosaic law as God provided. The Pharisees' oral law forbids anyone from intentionally straightening a limb because it is too similar to the work of construction. The Mosaic law, itself, isn't nearly so specific.

Third, Jesus knows the heart of God. God gave Israel the Sabbath as a blessing of rest. He did not intend for the Sabbath to be used to hurt or even to avoid doing good to another; "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27). If a person can save a life on the Sabbath—which the Pharisees agreed to—a person can surely heal an ailment (Luke 6:9).
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