Jesus Heals the Man Who Had Dropsy

141 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the rulers, [who was] of the Pharisees, to eat bread on [the] sabbath, that they were watching him. 2 And behold, there was a certain dropsical [man] before him. 3 And Jesus answering spoke unto the doctors of the law and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath? 4 But they were silent. And taking him he healed him and let him go. 5 And answering he said to them, Of which of you shall an ass or ox fall into a well, that he does not straightway pull him up on the sabbath day? 6 And they were not able to answer him to these things.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 14:1-6

Commentary on Luke 14:1-6

(Read Luke 14:1-6)

This Pharisee, as well as others, seems to have had an ill design in entertaining Jesus at his house. But our Lord would not be hindered from healing a man, though he knew a clamour would be raised at his doing it on the sabbath. It requires care to understand the proper connexion 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.