Mar 3:5 Stretch forth your hand.
Alternative: Extend your abilities.

Christ used the hand, both in his actions and words, as symbolic of an invidivual's personal power. Every time he used the word (or used his hands), they were an expression of power. Being "in someone's hands" means being in their power (Mat 17:22). He said that we are better off losing our abilities as symbolized by our hands (Mat 5:30) than misusing them.

The Greek word for "stretch" has the same meaning as the word in English with all its related ideas of extending yourself and your abilities. This extension of abilities has the same sense of being work and a struggle.

Though the immediate context is healing a man with a withered hand, the man represents everyone with limited abilities. Notice that Christ heals the man, but immediately after doing so asks him to demonstrate those abilities. We are given our abilities by God, but it is up to use to work to extend them. This demonstrates what God has done for us and our desire to use those abilities.

In terms of the larger discussion about religion and the Sabbath, Christ answers his own question about the priority of doing good in the context of religious tradition. He has said clearly that religious tradition is our servant not our master. It is meant to give us power and ability not to take it away. Not only does Christ demonstrate his own power in the context of religious tradition, but he asks those that he heals to do so as well.

"Stretch forth" is ekteinô (ekteino), which means "to stretch out," but also means "to offer food," "to prostrate yourself," and "to extend." Its root is teinô, which means "to stretch," "to pull tight," "to strain," "to spread," "to aim at," "to extend," "to struggle," "to exert oneself," and "to reach."