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Luke 14

And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

And they could not answer him again to these things.

And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,

When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.

But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

What does Luke 14:4 mean?

Explanation

In Luke 14:4, Jesus is at a meal in the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, and there is a man before him with dropsy, a condition known as edema today, characterized by swelling due to excessive fluid retention in the body.

Jesus asks the Pharisees and lawyers present whether it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath, but they remain silent.

Jesus then heals the man and lets him go.

The verse shows Jesus challenging the rigid interpretations of the law regarding Sabbath observance and illustrating the principle of compassion over ceremonial law.

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Historical Context

Luke 14:4 occurs within the context of strict Jewish Sabbath laws during the Second Temple period in 1st-century Palestine.

According to these laws, work of any kind was prohibited on the Sabbath (sunset Friday to sunset Saturday).

This included any form of healing that was not life-threatening.

Jesus, within this narrative, questions the Pharisees, who were known for their strict adherence to the law, about the rightness of healing on the Sabbath, exposing a possible hypocrisy in their legalistic approach.

Theological Insights

Within Christian theology, this verse reinforces Jesus' approach to the law, prioritizing human need and compassion over strict legalism. It highlights several theological points:

Sabbath Theology: Some argue that Jesus here is redefining the purpose of the Sabbath, from a legalistic observance to one that is meant to serve human beings and glorify God through acts of mercy.
Christ's Authority: Jesus demonstrates his authority to interpret and fulfill the Law.
Sign of the Kingdom of God: Miracles, such as healing, serve as signs of the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God, which Jesus preached.

Healing on the Sabbath thus carries eschatological significance.

Practical Applications

From this verse, practical applications can be drawn:

Compassion should take precedence in our decision-making, especially when dogma or tradition seems to conflict with human welfare.
Believers are encouraged to re-examine religious practices that may cause harm or neglect the needs of others.
It encourages individuals to act with mercy and not to use religious rules as an excuse for inaction.

Cross-References

Here are a few biblical verses that have thematic similarities:

Matthew 12:11-12: "And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?"
Mark 3:4: "And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text from Luke 14:4 include:

"healed" (ἰάομαι, iáomai): To cure, to make whole. It refers to the act of restoring health.
"let him go" (ἀπέλυσεν, apélysen): To release, set free. This conveys not just physical release but could also indicate a social or spiritual liberation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient times, numerous cultures had a day of rest similar to the Jewish Sabbath. For example, many ancient Babylonian myths also emphasized rest on specific days correlated with their lunar calendar.

However, the practice of healing or performing miracles on such days varies across these traditions. Jesus' healing on the Sabbath could be compared with the flexibility seen in other religious interpretations of rest days where mercy or need takes precedence.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the condition known as dropsy or edema can have various underlying causes.

While Jesus’ miraculous healing is beyond the realm of empirical science, healthcare today emphasizes the necessity of timely treatment irrespective of day or week, which mirrors the ethic of Jesus' actions, caring for individuals regardless of societal constraints.

Commentaries

Various scholars and theologians have commented on this verse:

William Barclay notes that this incident illustrates Jesus' willingness to defy social and religious expectations to do what is compassionate and right.
John Calvin comments on the silence of the Pharisees, suggesting that it was due to their inability to answer Jesus' challenge without contradicting their commitment to the law.
The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary highlights that the healing was immediate and complete, once again evidencing the divine power of Jesus.

Commentaries tend to agree that Jesus used this occasion to teach about the spirit of the law rather than the letter, with healing on the Sabbath serving as a powerful example of His ministry's emphasis on mercy.

Luke 14

Luke 14

What does Luke 14:4 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 14:4 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?