Luke 14:3

"Behold, a certain man who had dropsy was in front of him."

Key Reflection

In Luke 14:3, Jesus encounters a man with dropsy (a severe swelling due to fluid accumulation) standing before Him. This scene, set during a banquet or gathering, highlights the social and ethical complexities of first-century Jewish society. The presence of someone so visibly ill in such a setting would have been jarring for the attendees, who likely expected to see only those deemed worthy or healthy. This encounter serves as a backdrop for Jesus' subsequent teaching on service and humility, illustrating how societal norms can be overturned by God's grace and mercy.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 3. Jesus, answering. To answer, in the Scriptures, does not always imply, as among us, that anything had been said before. It means often merely to begin or to take up a subject, or, as here, to remark on the case that was present. Is it lawful, &c. He knew that they were watching him. If he healed the man at once, they would accuse him. He therefore proposed the question to them, and when it was asked, they could not say that it was not lawful. {b} "Is it lawful" Lu 13:14 __________________________________________________________________

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