Stretch Out Your Hand

 Jesus stretched out His hand toward his disciples and said, 

“Here are my mother and my brothers" 

MATTHEW 12 : 48

Stretch means to extend or expand, reach out, draw up, cause to reach or continue. (Merriam-Webster). In this reading, Jesus extends His hand to emphasize that all who are with Him is His family.

"Stretch out His hand" is a phrase that can be used in different contexts. It can mean to reach something out to someone or something1. In a biblical context, it can refer to a story in which Jesus heals a man with a withered hand. Jesus tells the man to "Stretch out your hand," and the man's hand is restored. (Idioms - Free Dictionary)

At the start of story of Job, there is a recurring phrase - ‘stretch out your hand and touch’ (Job 1:11, 2:5). The accuser is demanding this of the Lord. What is the meaning of the two parts (stretch out your hand [and] touch.) in this Hebraic phrase? This seems to be a Hebraic idiom. Here, the accuser is asking the Lord to do something. But, what?

The expression which is translated "can't afford" or "too poor" is literally "your hand can't reach". When your hand can't reach something, or something is outside your grasp, then it is impossible for you to accomplish. But God is omnipotent, and His hand can reach everywhere, and this is often used when visiting destruction: "And the Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh when I stretch out my hand over Egypt and bring the Israelites out from their midst (Ex 7.5). And I will stretch out my hand against them, and I will make the land a desolation and a wasteland from the desert to Riblah in all of their dwellings, and they will know that I am Yahweh (Eze 6.14). And their houses will be turned over to others, their fields and their wives together. For I will stretch out my hand against the inhabitants of the land,” declares Yahweh (Jer 6.12).

It's really important to understand that when you are talking about word pictures and imagery, it is a great error to assume that each word picture is limited to a single root or lemma. When there is a metaphor that something in the reach of your hand is within your power, then it does not matter if you are reaching, grabbing, stretching, swooping, with your hand. All of these are examples of this hand-reaching metaphor. (Biblical Hermeneutics)

Published:

July 20, 2024, 3:43 AM

July 20, 2023, 8:31 AM

HANDS STRETCHED

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” 

Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, 
touched him, and said to him,

“I do will it. Be made clean.”

The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.

Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” 

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere. -- Mark 1:40-45


Work according to God's Will and everything will be well for you. . .

Submitting or surrendering oneself to the will of God is an act that moves the Lord to work miracles in our lives. In the case of the leper, it is very easy and simple to just say "Lord, heal me" but instead, he first offered himself to the mercy of God by saying "If you wish".

This powerful statement is also similar to what our Blessed Mother Mary said when angel Gabriel announced to her that she will give birth to our Lord. Her response was "May it be done to me according to your Word" (Lk 1:38).

The power of God's Work to do the impossible such as curing an incurable disease or giving a child to a woman who has no relationship with a man comes from an act of surrendering oneself to the will of God. It is an admission that there are things that we can not possibly do on our own and a need for the Lord's intervention.

Friend, nothing is impossible with God. You may be in a situation where you seem to be hopeless or can not find the right solutions to your problems. Trust in the Lord who is always with you and wants the best for you. Surrender yourself to His will and cast all your burdens upon Him. The Lord will surely work great miracles in your life.

Lord, if your wish, you can make me clean. May it be done to me according to your Word.

Published:
April 13, 2015, 7:21 AM
January 15, 2015 - 8:39AM