Controversy Over a Sabbath Healing

We move to Mark's order here because Matthew arranges his material for the purpose of illustration. Matthew's use of the phrase "at that time" is much broader than a specific time of an event. This is a story which John skips, but Matthew, Mark, and Luke include. None of the three synoptic writers give us the location, but from the events that follow, the best guess is that it occurred in Judea, while they were still in Jerusalem.

Matthew tells us that the Pharisees were looking for a reason to accuse him of breaking the religious laws. They soon joined forces with the Herodians in a plot to kill this new rabbi who was a growing threat to their control of the religious activities of the people. Avoiding the conflict, Jesus left. By now, he had collected a large group that followed him for his healing touch.