Week #47 – Is It Lawful to Heal on the Sabbath?

Luke 14:1-6 – One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away. Then he asked them, “If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?” And they had nothing to say.

Jesus was invited to a PROMINENT Pharisee’s house to eat on the Sabbath.  Our Lord freely ate with anyone who would invite Him, even the notable party leaders of those who opposed Him!  Not many of us would be eager or free to intentionally put ourselves in an environment where our every word and action was going to be carefully scrutinized in the hopes of finding a fault, but Jesus did just that.  He did not fear the critical spirits of those who watched Him like a hawk.  The hen walked freely and knowingly into the fox’s den.  While they are looking to find fault, Jesus was looking for an opportunity to do good!  It just so happened that there was a man present in the house who was suffering from dropsy.  We’re not sure why he was there, if this was part of the setup or perhaps he was just a relative of the host Pharisee.  At any rate, this sick man provided Jesus with a perfect opportunity to address two needs present in this house: 1) There was a need for physical healing and compassion. 2) The need for deliverance from legalism and a critical spirit that hindered believing in Jesus.  So, Jesus begins to address both of these needs by asking the Pharisees and experts in the law a question, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”  There are many questions some people are just not willing to answer.  They weren’t there to INFORM Christ, they were there to inform AGAINST Him!  The answer to this question is so simple and self-evident, but they could not bring themselves to answer it.  They remained silent!

The Pharisees had not brought this man to be Jesus’s patient, nor did he come by himself seeking the touch of Christ. Rather, Jesus took hold of him!  Perhaps you too can testify of a day when you were seized by a great and holy affection that loved you in the ugly condition you found yourself!  We should notice that the compassion of Christ partnered with His power!  He healed the man!  He didn’t just embrace him and feel badly for him, He provided transformational power that healed him of his disease!  Other people and solutions to our sinful diseases may just have compassion that feels sorry for us, judges us for our condition, provides some comfort that enables us to cope, or just accepts that we will always be this way.  Christ Jesus loves us and has the power to make us what we ought to be!  This is the Gospel!  Do you believe it?  Jesus made this man whole and sent him on his way!  He did so right in front of those who were watching for a reason to condemn Him.  In the face of evil motives and poor hospitality, Jesus did what was good anyway!  Then He asked one more question, “If one of you has a son (or an ox) that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?”

Once again His question is met with silence!  Why?  How do you deal with a person that you want to hate and condemn, but He only does what is good and right?  How do you deal with a person you want to get rid of but He asks you questions you don’t want to answer because, if you answer honestly, you will end up convicting yourself?  These Pharisees had been persuaded that Jesus was not a good thing for their culture.  They were right about that in one sense.  To believe Jesus would mean to view life and religion in an entirely different light than they had practiced.  That would change their culture.  But they were also wrong in another sense, because that change in culture would be a GOOD THING!  Tell me, is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?  If your son falls into the well on the Sabbath, will you pull him out or wait until your world view and belief system allows you to do it?

Thursday: Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.

Friday: Pray for the families of the week: Steve & Allison Worrall (Annabel, Matthew, Reuben), Alberto & Kasandra Aneses, Al Aneses Jr., Joe Beyma.

Saturday: Can you answer Christ’s questions?  Will you believe in Him and welcome the healing that He brings?

Sunday: Attend the House of Worship, ready to HEAR God’s Word and put it into practice.

Monday: Invite Christ to your house, not to watch Him like a hawk, but to have true and intimate fellowship with Him!

Tuesday: When you are faced with those who oppose you and your faith in Christ, do good anyway!

Wed.: Don’t let religion get in the way of doing the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, for the right reason!

Prayer Challenge –His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. – 2 Peter 1:1-8