April 17, 2026

Today's Reading: Luke 6:1-19

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 31:1-18; Luke 6:1-19

“And Jesus said to them, ‘I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?’” (Luke 6:9)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus takes them to task. The scribes and the Pharisees throw the Law in His face; they try to catch the One whom the very words concern that they might accuse Him. When you try to trap God with the Law, you will only leave withered and defeated.

The scribes and Pharisees leave angered. The man with a withered hand leaves restored.

Jesus restores the fallen creation. This being revealed in the withered man’s hand. Jesus isn’t a savior of symbolic brokenness or object lessons. He’s the savior of sinners, who cannot save themselves. Jesus confronts the Pharisees with the law, challenging them to face the reality that they cannot save themselves according to it. They hardened themselves against Him and sought to find a way to deal with Jesus even more.

The man with a withered hand comes as he is. No way to hide his suffering. He goes to where God’s word is read, and where the One who is the fulfillment of that word happens to be.

Go to where God has promised to be. In His Word preached, for you. Church is where we who are broken by the Law come before God, not seeking to trap Him to our demands or convince Him we’ve done our best. It is where we lay ourselves bare and say, “God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Through absolutions proclaimed, sermons preached, water poured, and bread and wine distributed, the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given for you. The God of sinners restores them, heals them, binds them to Himself in His Son Jesus, and the means He initiated to call, gather, and enlighten you to saving faith, and keep you in the one true faith until He comes again.

No tricks or traps with Jesus. He heals your diseases, binds your wounds, and forgives your sins. Thanks be to God, He has died, He has risen, and will come again.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

“You shall observe the worship day That peace may fill your home, and pray, And put aside the work you do, So that God may work in you.” Have mercy, Lord! (LSB 581:4)