THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

87Even the Pharisees had been unwilling to live by these rigid interpretations; they haddevised ingenious loopholes for the enlightened so they could do on the Sabbath things they hadforbidden others to do. For instance, if their neighbor next door needed bread, the Pharisees heldthey were breaking the Sabbath if they took a loaf next door, and their neighbor was breaking theSabbath if he came next door and got a loaf; but, if they could toss a loaf out the window to hisneighbor in the window next door, that would not be considered "working."In the account of Jesus healing a man with dropsy, it seems strange that this man wouldbe invited to such a prestigious dinner party. The word dropsy comes from the words for waterand countenance because with this disease the face of the patient is often obviously bloated.Dropsy is an accumulation of fluid that would indicate illness affecting other parts of the body(this is the only time this word is used in the New Testament). Probably the insidious Phariseehad brought this person with dropsy to the place with the intention of bringing his condition toJesus’ attention and thus His compassion. This would in all likelihood motivate Jesus to heal himand thereby give him and his fellow religious leaders a basis for accusing Jesus of a breach of theSabbath.In all probability then, this man was invited by the Pharisees in order to see howJesus would deal with him.The conduct of this Pharisee was pathetic. Professing friendship and affection, he invitedJesus to his table so he could have a great opportunity to set a trap by watching His conduct.When people eat and drink they feel generally less restraint than at other times and are freer intheir conversations and actions. How spiritually corrupt a person must be to profess Christianity,yet uses hospitality as a snare for his friend!Jesus asked these religious, self-righteous leaders a second question:“ Then He asked them, ‘If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a wellon the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?’ And they hadnothing to say” (Lk 14:5-6).Jesus saw this man with dropsy and questioned the dinner guests if they would help theirox or donkey which has fallen in a well (the Law says that would be permissible). Nobodyanswers Jesus, so He healed the man then spoke a parable. They could not answer the questionbut in the affirmative; and as they were determined to accuse Him if He did heal the man, theycould not give an answer that would not condemn themselves, and therefore they were silent.Notice the shrewdness of Jesus! By questioning them before the miracle, Jesus made itdifficult for the experts in the law to protest afterward.