Luke 14 (1)

Pray Psalm 92.1-4.
It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
And Your faithfulness every night,
On an instrument of ten strings,
On the lute,
And on the harp,
With harmonious sound.
For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work;
I will triumph in the works of Your hands.

Sing Psalm 92.1-4.
(Sweet Hour: Sweet Hour of Prayer)
How good it is to thank the Lord and praise to God Most High accord;
by day to let His kindness ring, His faithfulness by night to sing.
With ten-stringed lute, resounding lyre, and sweetest harp we’ll lift You higher.
For You have made our souls rejoice; we sing Your praise with blended voice!

Read and meditate on Luke 14.1-6.

Preparation
1.Where does this story take place?

2. What did Jesus do?

Meditation
The scribes, Pharisees, and lawyers must have been somewhat tyrannical when it came to Sabbath violations. The religious leaders had devised many regulations to keep people in their homes doing nothing on the Sabbath – way beyond anything outlined in the Law of God. And, while the Sabbath – now the Lord’s Day – should be a day for physical and spiritual rest, Jesus explained that certain works must not be neglected when the opportunity to do them arises.

In the home of a Pharisee for a Sabbath meal, Jesus noticed a man who had “dropsy”, which we know as oedema, or the retention of excess bodily fluids (v. 2). Everybody present knew Jesus’ views about healing on the Sabbath (cf. 13.10-17), so they watched to see what He would do (v. 1). But Jesus invited them to offer their opinion: “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” (v. 3)

No one took the bait (v. 4). They appear not to have cherished their traditions enough to risk being called a hypocrite by defending them. In that glorious silence, Jesus healed the man and let him go (v. 4). This was a work of mercy, and works of mercy are appropriate any time and every time.

Then Jesus also pointed out another kind of work that was lawful on the Sabbath. Hauling an animal out of a pit is merciful, to be sure, but it’s also a work of necessity. You need that creature to be alive and well so that it can get back to work on the next day (v. 5). So works of necessity also are appropriate on the Sabbath.

Once again, the power of Jesus’ love coupled with the excellence of Word-based logic silenced His adversaries (v. 6). The Greek says “they were not strong” to answer Him. No kidding.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes” (Prov. 26.4, 5).

Jesus managed to get this right every time!

Ever wonder who was watching Him so closely?
Was it the Pharisees trying to catch Him in a mistake?
Or maybe it was other onlookers trying to learn His wisdom?

Either way, they heard good questions that went unanswered.

And those trying to learn something surely did. As we do. Paul said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11.1).

How do we learn to imitate Paul, who imitated Christ?
How do we learn to do anything? By observation, study, and work.

Where can we observe Paul? In the Bible.
Where can we observe Jesus? Also, in the Bible.

Do we have this Book available to study?
Do we understand that this is important?

Jeremiah said, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts” (Jer. 15.16). He also said, “But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not” (Jer. 20.9). Jeremiah found God’s mighty word supremely important in his life. It sustained him and drove him forward.

The psalmist wrote, “I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119.11, 105). The Word keeps us from sin, and it guides and lights our way on the right path.

The Kingdom work we are called to cannot be accomplished without the wisdom of Jesus. Only through His Word can we know Paul and the other followers of Christ; and only through this Word can we learn Jesus enough to meagerly attempt to imitate Him. But imitate Him we must.

Whether the question is about Sabbath works of necessity and mercy or about rest and obedience, the only way we will ever find our way to the right answer is through God’s Word.

The “power of Jesus’ love coupled with the excellence of Word-based logic” will make us “strong” in His wisdom, to ask good questions, to answer other’s questions, and to live the Law in our Personal Mission Field.

For reflection
1. Paul says we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2.16). How does having the mind of Christ relate to reading and studying His Word?

2. How does the Word help us in differentiating between God’s will and mere human traditions?

3. To what does neglecting the Word of God lead?

It requires care to understand the proper connection between piety and charity in observing the Sabbath, and the distinction between works of real necessity and habits of self-indulgence. Wisdom from above, teaches patient perseverance in well-doing. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Luke 14.1-6

Pray Psalm 92.5-15.
Praise God for His many mighty works. Call on Him to help you flourish in every good work and to bear holy spiritual fruit for Him in all you do.

Sing Psalm 92.5-15.
(Sweet Hour: Sweet Hour of Prayer)
How sweet Your works, Your thoughts how deep: The fool cannot such knowledge keep.
Like grass the wicked rise each day; in judgment they are swept away.
But You, O Lord, abide on high; Your enemies shall fall and die.
All those who sin shall scattered be, but, Lord, You have exalted me!

My eye my vanquished foe shall see; my ears hear those who threaten me.
Yet in God’s house, where he belongs, the righteous like a tree grows strong.
Then let us green and fruitful be and flourish like a mighty tree,
to tell God’s righteousness abroad: He is our Rock, our sovereign God!

T. M. and Susie Moore

You can download all the previous studies in our Luke series by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available free by clicking here.