Jesus was often invited to Pharisee’s houses on the Sabbath. (Luke 7:36, 11:37) This was considered an honor. However, the religious leaders did not honor Jesus in their hearts. They watched him closely hoping to find some reason to discredit him. (Matthew 12:10; Mark 3:2; Luke 6:7, 20:20) Luke’s record of this healing reveals today was no different.
Dropsy is an old name for a disease in which the body becomes swollen because it retains an unusual amount of fluid. Luke hints that the Pharisees arranged this intentionally noting that the infected man was placed in front of Jesus. The intent was to discredit Jesus. They believed that their words held large sway amongst the public. Intimidation and humiliation were their source of power and influence.
Jesus used their trap as a teaching tool. “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” Jesus exposed the hypocrisy and malicious intent. He gave them a chance to repent. But they remained silent. Their duplicity was caught. They remained stubborn fools.
Motivation is key. Why do I do what I do? An ill heart can not be overlooked, yet the self often excuses it. 1 John 2:4-6 says, “The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”
