On Sabbath Day

Luk 14:1 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.
Luk 14:2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
Luk 14:3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
Luk 14:4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
Luk 14:5 And answered them, saying, 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?
Luk 14:6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

Jesus the Son of God, the supreme Spiritual authority was invited to the house of one of the chief Pharisees. The word Pharisee, meant a separated one, they were the ones who kept the laws, and added laws to the laws; the traditions of man. They were especially critical concerning keeping the Sabbath. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath and the Pharisees saw him as someone who was a threat to them. They wanted to kill him. So, we know that they had not the Spirit of God. The law people without the Spirit of God seek to accuse and to destroy by their version of the law. It was the Sabbath day and Jesus asked them is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? They did not answer him. He proceeded to heal a man of the dropsy. Modern day term for dropsy is edema, a condition where the lower legs and feet swell with water retention. He gave them other examples of doing good on the Sabbath. The Pharisees thought that they had more authority than Jesus, but they were going to be given lessons from him.

Luk 14:7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,
Luk 14:8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
Luk 14:9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
Luk 14:10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
Luk 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Jesus turns things around. Those who exalt themselves shall be humbled; and he that is humble, shall be exalted. The problem again was pride. The Pharisees had authority, but not of God's Spirit. They were proud, exalting themselves. Jesus shows them God's view of the humble being exalted. Worldly honor and authority may be of satan and not of God.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Joh 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

 

Luk 14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
Luk 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
Luk 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Speaking again to the Chief Pharisee who invited him, probably to examine and to accuse him. Jesus spoke of his motives in inviting powerful and influential men to his dinner. It was about receiving honor and being invited to their dinners. They lived a sort of a double standard like our politicians who make and impose laws that they are not required to keep. Being called public servants when in reality they force others into poor health care, higher taxes, meager incomes, while they receive the very best. Jesus reverses this again. Invite those who are poor, maimed, lame and blind. Our reward will be from God who sees all. It is God who we serve, not the Pharisees and the critics. Be humble, do good as God leads you by his Spirit. You will receive his reward.