1 Now it happened, as He went into
the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath,
that they watched Him closely. 2 And
behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. 3 And
Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” 4 But they
kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. 5 Then He
answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a donkey
or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the
Sabbath day?” 6 And they
could not answer Him regarding these things.
Commentary
The Lord Jesus now enters the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, which for Him was simply to be gracious and receiving of others, but for Pharisees this appears to be another time of trying to entrap Him, because as Jesus did so they were watching Him closely (vs. 1). Now in that house there was a certain man who had dropsy, (a condition whereby there is water swelling in the bodily tissues, vs. 2.). Why that man was there at that time is not stated, however Jesus seeing the man, and likely seeing their observing Him intently, now asks them, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” (vs. 3). However, they would not answer Jesus’ a word, but rather kept silent. Therefore, Jesus took the man and healed him in their presence, and then let him go (vs. 4). And having done so Jesus now says to them, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” Thus, if they cared so much for their personal livestock and animals that they would break the Sabbath (that is break it according to their own interpretations of it) why is it that they are angered at Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath? For the Sabbath was a day given by God to give man rest and that is just what Jesus did. For as Jesus’ says elsewhere God did not make man for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for man (Mark 2:27)! Therefore, having asked them why they allow themselves to care for their own livestock on the Sabbath, and yet they are offended at Him for caring for a man on the Sabbath, they could answer Jesus nothing (vs. 6). Because for them keeping the Sabbath according to their man-made rules was the supreme thing, and when that becomes one’s measure of one’s faith in God, the keeping of the traditions and commandments of men one only becomes hardened to mercies and love and grace of God like those Pharisees.
Commentary
The Lord Jesus now enters the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, which for Him was simply to be gracious and receiving of others, but for Pharisees this appears to be another time of trying to entrap Him, because as Jesus did so they were watching Him closely (vs. 1). Now in that house there was a certain man who had dropsy, (a condition whereby there is water swelling in the bodily tissues, vs. 2.). Why that man was there at that time is not stated, however Jesus seeing the man, and likely seeing their observing Him intently, now asks them, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” (vs. 3). However, they would not answer Jesus’ a word, but rather kept silent. Therefore, Jesus took the man and healed him in their presence, and then let him go (vs. 4). And having done so Jesus now says to them, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” Thus, if they cared so much for their personal livestock and animals that they would break the Sabbath (that is break it according to their own interpretations of it) why is it that they are angered at Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath? For the Sabbath was a day given by God to give man rest and that is just what Jesus did. For as Jesus’ says elsewhere God did not make man for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for man (Mark 2:27)! Therefore, having asked them why they allow themselves to care for their own livestock on the Sabbath, and yet they are offended at Him for caring for a man on the Sabbath, they could answer Jesus nothing (vs. 6). Because for them keeping the Sabbath according to their man-made rules was the supreme thing, and when that becomes one’s measure of one’s faith in God, the keeping of the traditions and commandments of men one only becomes hardened to mercies and love and grace of God like those Pharisees.
Scripture Quotations
New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson
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