Luke 14:1

This section of Luke (Luke 14:1-17:10) is made up practically altogether of "material which Luke alone reports."[1] This chapter recounts the healing of the man with dropsy at the Pharisee's feast (Luke 14:1-6), the teaching on humility which Jesus addressed to the guests (Luke 14:7-11), advice to the host regarding his list of guests (Luke 14:12-14), the parable of the slighted invitation (Luke 14:15-24), and Jesus' pronouncement on the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:25-35).

THE HEALING OF THE MAN WITH DROPSY

And it came to pass, when he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a sabbath to eat bread, that they were watching him. (Luke 14:1)

Went into the house of one of the rulers ... In view of the opposition of the Pharisees and rulers to Jesus, it is a little surprising that he should have been invited and that he should have accepted such an invitation; but this is clear in the light of two considerations. First, as Barclay said, "Jesus never refused any man's invitation to hospitality, ... and never abandoned hope of men."[2] Second, the Pharisee intended to use the occasion against Jesus. As Clarke said:

Professing friendship and affection, he invited our blessed Lord to his table, merely that he might have a more favorable opportunity of watching his conduct, that he might accuse him, and take away his life.[3]

On the sabbath ... The following miracles were performed on the sabbath day:

The healing of Simon's wife's mother (Luke 4:38)

The healing of the man with the withered hand (Luke 6:6)

The healing of the woman crippled eighteen years (Luke 13:14)

The healing of the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:9)

The healing of the man born blind (John 9:14)

The healing of the demoniac in the synagogue at Capernaum (Mark 1:21)

The healing of the man with dropsy, as recorded her

Thus, the Pharisees had every reason to believe that if confronted with the opportunity Jesus would surely heal on any sabbath day; therefore they contrived the incident before us. The invitation for Jesus to have a sabbath meal, the dramatic appearance of a man with dropsy, and the presence of many distinguished guests "had been carefully preconcerted among the Pharisees as a trap for Jesus."[4]

"The Jews took only two meals on week days, but they had three meals on the sabbath";[5] that extra meal was celebrated after the morning worship and was the big meal of the entire week. "The only restriction upon those feasts was that the food had to be cooked the day before."[6]

[1] Norval Geldenhuys, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1951), p. 386.

[2] William Barclay, The Gospel of Luke (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1956), p. 194.

[3] Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Whole Bible (New York: Carlton and Porter, 1829), Vol. V, p. 451.

[4] J. S. Lamar, The New Testament Commentary, Vol. II (Cincinnati, Ohio: Chase and Hall, 1877), p. 191.

[5] Norval Geldenhuys, op. cit., p. 387.

[6] Charles L. Childers, Beacon Bible Commentary (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1964), p. 546.