(7) The scribes and Pharisees watched him.--Better, were watching.

Verse 7. - And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him. The Pharisee emissaries from the capital were carefully watching him. The Master was perfectly aware of their presence, and well knew the spirit in which they listened to his words and marked his acts, and on this sabbath day he was evidently determined to let them see clearly what was in his mind respecting the present state of Jewish religious training.

6:6-11 Christ was neither ashamed nor afraid to own the purposes of his grace. He healed the poor man, though he knew that his enemies would take advantage against him for it. Let us not be drawn either from our duty or from our usefulness by any opposition. We may well be amazed, that the sons of men should be so wicked.And the Scribes and Pharisees watched him,.... See Gill on Mark 3:2.

whether he would heal on the sabbath day: there being such an object before him:

that they might find an accusation against him; as they had before against his disciples.