Church Fathers Commentary Luke 14:1-6

"And it came to pass, when he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a sabbath to eat bread, that they were watching him. And behold, there was before him a certain man that had the dropsy. And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath, or not? But they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go. And he said unto them, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a well, and will not straightway draw him up on a sabbath day? And they could not answer again unto these things." — Luke 14:1-6 (ASV)

St. Cyril of Alexandria: Although our Lord knew the malice of the Pharisees, He still became their guest so that He might benefit those who were present with His words and miracles. This is why the text says, And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. They watched to see whether He would disregard the observance of the law or do anything that was forbidden on the Sabbath day. So when the man with dropsy came among them, He rebuked the insolence of the Pharisees, who wanted to find fault with Him, by asking a question, as it is said: And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. And Jesus answering...

The Venerable Bede: When it says that Jesus answered, it refers to the preceding words, And they watched him. For the Lord knew the thoughts of men.

Theophylact of Ohrid: But with His question, He exposes their folly. For while God blessed the Sabbath, they forbade doing good on the Sabbath; but a day that does not permit good works is accursed.

The Venerable Bede: But those who were asked are rightly silent, for they perceived that whatever they said would be turned against them. For if it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath day, why did they watch the Savior to see if He would heal? If it is not lawful, why do they take care of their cattle on the Sabbath? This is why the text says, But they held their peace.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: Disregarding the snares of the Jews, He cures the man with dropsy. This man, out of fear of the Pharisees, did not ask to be healed because it was the Sabbath. Instead, he only stood up, so that when Jesus saw him, He might have compassion on him and heal him. And the Lord, knowing this, did not ask if he wished to be made well, but immediately healed him. This is why the text says: And he took him, and healed him, and let him go. In this, our Lord was not concerned about offending the Pharisees, but only about helping the one who needed healing. For it is right for us, when a great good can be achieved, not to worry if fools take offense.

But seeing the Pharisees awkwardly silent, Christ counters their stubborn impudence with some important considerations. As the text continues: And he answered and said to them, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

Theophylact of Ohrid: It is as if He said, "If the law forbids showing mercy on the Sabbath day, then you should have no concern for your son when he is in danger on the Sabbath day. But why do I speak of a son, when you do not even neglect an ox if you see it in danger?"

The Venerable Bede: With these words, He not only refutes His watchers, the Pharisees, but also condemns them for their covetousness, since in rescuing their animals, they are motivated by their own desire for wealth. How much more, then, should Christ deliver a man, who is so much better than cattle!

St. Augustine of Hippo: Now, He has aptly compared the man with dropsy to an animal that has fallen into a pit (for he is afflicted by water), just as He compared the woman whom He described as bound, and whom He Himself set free, to a beast that is untied to be led to water.

The Venerable Bede: By this suitable example, then, He settles the question, showing that those who violate the Sabbath through an act of covetousness are the very ones who contend that He violates it through an act of charity. This is why the text says, And they could not answer him again to these things. Mystically, the man with dropsy is compared to one who is weighed down by an overflowing stream of carnal pleasures. For the disease of dropsy gets its name from a watery fluid.

St. Augustine of Hippo: Alternatively, we can rightly compare the man with dropsy to a covetous rich man. For just as the first man's thirst increases the more he swells with unnatural fluid, so also the second man's desire for riches grows more ardent the more abundant they become, especially when he does not use them well.

St. Gregory the Great: Rightly, then, is the man with dropsy healed in the Pharisees' presence, for the bodily infirmity of the one expresses the spiritual disease of the others.

The Venerable Bede: In this example, He also aptly refers to the ox and the ass to represent either the wise and the foolish, or both nations: the Jew, oppressed by the burden of the Law, and the Gentile, not subject to reason. For the Lord rescues from the pit of sinful desire all who are sunk in it.