The scribes and Pharisees were bent on finding out how to bring the ministry of Christ to a halt; they were determined to make a case against Him.

 Compare the healing of the demoniac in the synagogue at Capernaum (see Mark 1:21-28), the healing of the paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda (see John 5:1-16), the blind man at the Pool of Siloam (see John 9:1-7), the woman infirm for 18 years (see Luke 13:10-17), the man with the dropsy (see ch. 14:1-6). In addition to these more public Sabbath miracles, Christ also healed Peter‘s mother-in-law at home (see Mark 1:29-31). Together with the healing of the man with a withered hand, these make seven recorded miracles of healing performed on the Sabbath day. Thus, of about 20 specific cases of healing mentioned in the Gospels, a third occurred on the Sabbath.

 See pp. 210-212; see on John 5:16.

According to the Greek, “kept watching.” The men who so intently watched Jesus were probably present for that specific purpose. In fact, spies continued to dog the footsteps of Christ throughout the remainder of His Galilean ministry.

 For a discussion of these groups see pp. 51, 52, 55. It is likely that there would be scribes and Pharisees in any large synagogue on any particular Sabbath; however, it is probable that some, at least, of those present were in attendance as spies for the specific purpose of observing Jesus and reporting on what He might do and say (see on Mark 2:6).