Jesus Heals a Man with Dropsy

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Jesus Heals a Man with Dropsy

Date: Jul. 15, 2017

Passage

Luke 14:1-6 (ESV)

1 One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. 2 And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” 4 But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. 5 And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” 6 And they could not reply to these things.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 14:4

But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away.

1. Pharisees' legalism and indifference (1-3)

In order to trap Jesus, a prominent Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner on the Sabbath and stationed a man with dropsy suffering from abnormal swelling in front of him. To the Pharisees, keeping the Sabbath law was vital to their identity. Before doing anything, Jesus tried to help the Pharisees to examine their legalistic stance by asking them, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" Bound by legalism, they were indifferent to people's real suffering. Their legalistic pride blinded them from knowing the true meaning of the Sabbath to restore and give life.

2. Jesus' compassion (4-6)

The Pharisees' silence is contrasted with Jesus' bold action and compassion to take hold of this suffering man and heal him. Jesus' divine compassion allows him to rise above the legalistic atmosphere and to care for one person preciously. To help the Pharisees overcome their legalism, Jesus challenged them to care for others as if their own children were in grievous danger. To God, we are each his precious children whom he wants to rescue and bless.

Prayer: Lord, forgive my legalism and indifference. Help me to care for each soul preciously, to heal and to restore.

One Word: Have Jesus' compassion to heal and restore

Worship Him Who is Forever and Ever

Revelation 4:1-11

Key Verse: 4:11

  “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
  for you created all things,
    and by your will they existed and were created.”

Today's Question

What introduces the ten commandments?

See answer and references