The crux of today's Gospel centers on the tension between the Jews and the Lord in the synagogue. Such tension was all about what was licit on a Sabbath, the eminent day of the week for rest. Jesus asked this question about whether it was all right to cure this man with a withered hand. His enemies were ready to pounce on His first wrong move, i.e., if he cured on the Sabbath. This was a no-brainer. Nothing wrong in doing good, even on a Sabbath. But the Jews wanted to maintain their status of being in authority, instead of acknowledging the correct response that Jesus wanted to get from them.
