This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Luke 6:1-11, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
One day, Jesus and His disciples were walking through some fields when His disciples picked some heads of grain to eat. But some of the Pharisees (religious leaders) saw this and got angry.
They said, “Why are you doing something that is not allowed on the Sabbath?” The Sabbath was a day of rest, and there were rules about what you could and could not do on that day.
Jesus answered the Pharisees by asking if they remembered the story of David. He said, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” He continued, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
On another Sabbath day, Jesus went to the synagogue to teach. While He was there, He saw a man with a withered hand. The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He would break the Sabbath rules by healing the man. But Jesus knew what they were thinking, and He asked them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?”
Then Jesus asked the man to come forward and stand in front of everyone. He told him, “Stretch out your hand.” And just when he did what Jesus said, his hand was healed!
The man was so happy, but the scribes and the Pharisees were not. They were angry and talked about what they could do to Jesus.
Biblical Lessons
- Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath.
- The Pharisees’ legalism and obsession with rules blinded them to the love and compassion of Jesus.
- Jesus’ healing of the man with the withered hand demonstrates His power and authority as the Son of God.
- Jesus’ teaching and actions show us that love and mercy are more important than legalistic interpretations of religious rules.
Related Stories
The Healing at the Pool on the Sabbath
Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant
Must-Read Christian Books
Mere Christianity
Lewis lays out the core beliefs of the Christian faith with clarity, logic, and imagination, rooted in Scripture.
View on Amazon
Desiring God
Piper unpacks "Christian Hedonism": that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him, grounded in Scripture.
View on Amazon
The Cost of Discipleship
A penetrating look at Jesus' call to follow Him, contrasting cheap grace with true, costly discipleship.
View on Amazon
The God Who Is There
Shows how the God of the Bible speaks into modern philosophical and cultural confusion.
View on Amazon
Basic Christianity
A timeless introduction to who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him according to Scripture.
View on Amazon
Knowing Scripture
Teaches how to interpret the Bible rightly, emphasizing its clarity and our responsibility to study it.
View on Amazon
The Discipline of Grace
Shows how God's grace and our disciplined effort work together in sanctification.
View on Amazon
According to Plan
An introduction to biblical theology that shows how all Scripture points to Christ.
View on Amazon
Spiritual Leadership
Biblical principles for godly leadership in the church, home, and workplace.
View on Amazon
Morning and Evening
Devotional readings for each day that point believers to Christ and His promises.
View on Amazon
The Heidelberg Catechism
A beloved Reformation catechism that teaches comfort in Christ through a Q&A format.
View on Amazon
Christian Beliefs
A shorter, accessible overview of 20 basic Christian doctrines for everyday believers.
View on Amazon
Christ-Centered Worship
Traces historic worship patterns and shows how to shape Christ-focused services today.
View on Amazon
The Gospel Comes with a House Key
A call to radical, everyday hospitality as a means of gospel witness and discipleship.
View on Amazon
Total Truth
Equips believers to see all of life through a biblical worldview and challenge secular thinking.
View on Amazon
God's Glory in Salvation through Judgment
Argues that God's glory in salvation through judgment is the central theme of Scripture.
View on Amazon
The Hiding Place
The story of Corrie ten Boom's faith and forgiveness in the midst of Nazi persecution.
View on Amazon