In Luke chapter 14 we see that Jesus had
been going through a long discourse giving numerous examples of the wickedness
of the human heart and the heart specifically of the pharisees. As we read, I
want you to ask yourself the “why” questions.Questions like, what is Jesus' aim? What is
his point? Why is he asking that? Why did he say that? Hopefully Christ will
take this time open our hearts to Him as we grow in His Word.
Luke 14:1 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.
Verse 14 starts with Jesus at the house of one of the chief
pharisees for dinner and it then says that they were watching him intently. Why so intently? I believe they were trying to find
something to use against him. Jesus had healed on the Sabbath before and they knew it. Yet here they were, watching his every move. They listened to him. And Jesus knowing what was in their hearts did what they were hoping for. Only their hope was misplaced. They were hoping for a reason to criticize him, to accuse him. They didn't care that a man that had dealt with such a serious sickness was healed. After all, he was a sinner. In fact, according to their Pharisaical customs, he shouldn't even have been invited. He was unclean and there was a chance of his uncleanness rubbing off on them making the pharisees unclean too. Yet here he was, with his dropsy or edema on full display (it was a condition that caused swelling in parts of the body). This was a very visible illness. Often times, the Hebrews believed that it was divine punishment for sin- even sexual sin. So they knew for sure that he was a base creature, that he was unclean. But they invited him anyhow- even if it was just for bait to catch Jesus with.
Yet Christ wasn't fooled. He had healed the man- on the Sabbath no less. The very same day they were so adamant about protecting. Yet no sooner than he had healed the man, he addressed the Pharisees in their own sinfulness. Jesus began to question them. But the Pharisees remained quiet. They knew that either answer that they could give would make them look like fools. Fools for not wanting their kinsman to be healed or fools for blatantly ignoring the facts facing them, i.e. that they were guilty before God. This is especially true as the questions he asked them seared their hearts. Which of you who have a son, cow or donkey fall, sits back as they fall into a ditch? What did you do when something that belonged to you, something that was dear and precious to you, had fallen into the earth? Furthermore, what did you do when it happened on the Sabbath? Did you leave them there and wait till the following day? Or did you stage a rescue? Did you work on the Sabbath to get back the very thing that you lost? Jesus candidly pointed out the wickedness in their hearts.
In this story, Jesus also points out the wickedness in our own hearts. In our own hearts where our wicked desires live, we create our own hypocrisies. We often set rules for others that we easily break because we have our own "reasons." We often do so void of instruction from the Lord. Like the folk in Mark 10:48, And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me... We try to act like holy club bouncers, refusing to let people in because they don't "look the part." We create bars and tell people that they have to live to this standard or that standard and condemn them when they fall short. We do this at the same time as we plead to God for mercy. Often we easily portray ourselves as the pharisee looking down on the sinner. Both prayed to God, but only one left justified (and it wasn't the pharisee).
Yet Christ wasn't fooled. He had healed the man- on the Sabbath no less. The very same day they were so adamant about protecting. Yet no sooner than he had healed the man, he addressed the Pharisees in their own sinfulness. Jesus began to question them. But the Pharisees remained quiet. They knew that either answer that they could give would make them look like fools. Fools for not wanting their kinsman to be healed or fools for blatantly ignoring the facts facing them, i.e. that they were guilty before God. This is especially true as the questions he asked them seared their hearts. Which of you who have a son, cow or donkey fall, sits back as they fall into a ditch? What did you do when something that belonged to you, something that was dear and precious to you, had fallen into the earth? Furthermore, what did you do when it happened on the Sabbath? Did you leave them there and wait till the following day? Or did you stage a rescue? Did you work on the Sabbath to get back the very thing that you lost? Jesus candidly pointed out the wickedness in their hearts.
In this story, Jesus also points out the wickedness in our own hearts. In our own hearts where our wicked desires live, we create our own hypocrisies. We often set rules for others that we easily break because we have our own "reasons." We often do so void of instruction from the Lord. Like the folk in Mark 10:48, And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me... We try to act like holy club bouncers, refusing to let people in because they don't "look the part." We create bars and tell people that they have to live to this standard or that standard and condemn them when they fall short. We do this at the same time as we plead to God for mercy. Often we easily portray ourselves as the pharisee looking down on the sinner. Both prayed to God, but only one left justified (and it wasn't the pharisee).
The point is this, we are called to have mercy, even as we beg for mercy. It is hypocrisy to do otherwise. It is a slap in the face to our consciences and we grieve the Holy Spirit in our actions. That's why Jesus told his followers to hear the pharisees, but to not do, act or behave like them or else they (and you) would be found wanting.
Mercy is a gift. One that is easily bestowed on others, yet so easily withheld. But as Christians we are called to mercy. Even when dealing with egregious sins. This does not mean that sin does not have consequences. But it does mean that our outward dealings with others must be done under the banner of Christ and in the mind of the Spirit. If we belong to him, then we must recognize that a weak brother or sister is our own family and we are called to pull them out of the ditch as if it were ourselves.
Mercy is a gift. One that is easily bestowed on others, yet so easily withheld. But as Christians we are called to mercy. Even when dealing with egregious sins. This does not mean that sin does not have consequences. But it does mean that our outward dealings with others must be done under the banner of Christ and in the mind of the Spirit. If we belong to him, then we must recognize that a weak brother or sister is our own family and we are called to pull them out of the ditch as if it were ourselves.
