Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, ‘Come forward.’ Then he said to them, ‘Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?’ But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. (Mark 3: 1-6)

Jesus was angry. The Greek is orge which suggests indignation, wrath, and agitation. He was angry at the porosis of the Pharisees: their callousness, dullness, and stubborness.

The Pharisees were the most orthodox of the faithful. Too many of the Sadducees had been attracted to a sophisticated Hellenistic worldview. The Essenes could lose themselves in abstraction. The Pharisees were scrupulous in their disciplined observation of the law.

Jesus was loving, caring, patient, and forgiving with nearly all. But again and again the Pharisees draw his anger and disdain.

Wandering, failing, falling, neglecting, and more Jesus could work with. But self-righteousness was beyond the reach of even his miracles. The Pharisees treated the law of Moses as an idol. As long as they worshiped that idol they were unable to perceive the intention behind the law.

Dear God, lead me not into temptation. Protect me especially from the temptation to confuse my purposes for your purposes.