Luke 14:1-6 1And it happened when he went to the house of a certain ruler of the Pharisees on the Sabbath to each bread, they were watching him closely. 2 And behold, a certain man was before him who had edema. 3 And answering Jesus spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” 4 But they remained silent. And taking hold, he 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, will not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?” 6 And they were unable to answer back to these things.
The next story shows how the opposition to Jesus continued to grow. Many Pharisees were curious about Jesus. Some, like in this story, invited Jesus for meals. In most cultures, meals are times of fellowship, acquaintance, and dialogue. In this story, the ruler likely invited Jesus home for a meal after the synagogue service, much like people might invite a family over after Sunday morning church. The ruler in this situation was one of the leading Pharisees. This description hints at a person at the height of religious piety and observance of the law. The subject of the verb they were is unstated and is assumed to be other Pharisees who gathered to watch Jesus and see what he did. They were more than observing but watching to catch him saying or doing something that violated their interpretation of the Jewish religion.
Curiously, there was a man in this group with edema. Edema is severe swelling and water retention, especially in the extremities. It can be quite painful. There is no reason given for why the person was present, but he may have been one of the Pharisees. Jesus used this situation to teach the Pharisees an important lesson about the Sabbath day. He particularly spoke to the lawyers the ones who interpreted the law very specifically and minutely. They may have been the ones who appealed to the oral traditions handed down from previous rabbis and may have even added their own interpretations to the Law. Jesus tested their interpretation of the law related to the Sabbath day and what it meant to keep it holy, similar to the story in 6:9.
There is no reason given for why they remained silent in response to his question. As lawyers (nomikous), they could have given a legal argument about the law (nomos). Their silence could have indicated their reluctance to argue with Jesus knowing that they would lose. Jesus’ answer to his own question came in the form of action by touching the man and sending him away. The healing created a conundrum for the gathered Pharisees. If the healed man was one of their own, they were in an even more difficult situation.
Jesus’ rhetorical question and its assumed answer is the type of response a lawyer might argue about. Jesus could talk at a sophisticated, logical, or scholarly level to those who thought in that way. The scenario personalizes the situation and involves all those in the house in thinking deeply about the value of people versus keeping the Sabbath. Jesus was essentially giving them an invitation to change their thinking and begin to believe in him. The answer to the question is that, of course, anyone would rescue a son or ox that had fallen into a hole, no matter what on day it happens. When there is an emergency, we must act.
Sadly, the group did not answer, which implies that they understood but did not want to act on it. They were unwilling to change their worldviews. They had put their traditions and interpretations higher than the need of the man with edema. Their hearts were empty and calloused, blinded by their so-called piety. People can be more comfortable with their traditions, social norms, and prejudices and unwilling to step out of their comfort zones to help someone in need.
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