Étude 1 sur 4 · La guérison de l’homme à la main paralysée

  1. Étude 1 : La guérison de l’homme à la main paralysée
  2. Étude 2 : La femme adultère
  3. Étude 3 : Les pharisiens
  4. Étude 4 : Le code d'Hammourabi

From the second to the third Passover festival

  • The healing of the man with the paralysed hand

    Pericope 77 recounts the healing of a man with a paralysed hand in the synagogue in Capernaum on a Sabbath in AD 31. Reported by Matthew, Mark and Luke, this episode reveals the growing tension between Jesus and the Pharisees. Seeking to accuse him, they refuse to see the miracles performed. The year AD 31 ends with a break between Jesus and the Jewish religious authorities.

    Matthew 12.9-13 (King James Version) :
    And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
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From the 3rd Passover to the start of the final week

  • The woman caught in adultery

    Pericope 217 recounts the episode of the woman caught in adultery (John 8.1-11), in which Pharisees set a trap for Jesus by bringing him a woman caught in the very act. Jesus foils the trap with his famous saying inviting the one who is without sin to cast the first stone, then forgives the woman. This account, whose textual authenticity is debated, illustrates the union of divine justice and mercy, and reveals Jesus' unique authority to justify.

    Leviticus 20.10 (King James Version) :
    And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.Notediscovered: Heb. made nakedNoteuncovereth: Heb. hath made nakedNotean…: Heb. a separation
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Historical notes

  • The Pharisees

    The Pharisees, who appeared after the Maccabean revolt (165 BC), were an influential religious group of ancient Judaism. Devoted to the written and oral Torah, they believed in the resurrection and remained close to the people. Often in conflict with Jesus in the Gospels, they nevertheless produced figures such as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. Their teachings founded rabbinic Judaism after the destruction of the Temple in AD 70.

    John 3.1-21 (King James Version) :
    There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
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  • The Code of Hammurabi

    The Code of Hammurabi allowed a barren woman to offer her servant to her husband to secure descendants, the child being recognized as legitimate. This practice, widespread in the ancient Near East, was not prescribed in the Law of Moses. It sheds light on Sarah's gesture in offering Hagar to Abraham, an act that was culturally acceptable but contrary to the specific divine promise made to Abraham concerning his descendants.

    Genesis 16.1-4 (King James Version) :
    Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.Noteobtain…: Heb. be built by herAnd Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.Noteas…: Heb. that which is good in thine eyesNotedealt…: Heb. afflicted her
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Further reading
  • ANN024 The Sabbath

    The article examines the origin and importance of the Sabbath, one of the ten commandments, as a day of rest and worship in the Jewish tradition, based…