Luke 14:3 kjv
And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
Luke 14:3 nkjv
And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"
Luke 14:3 niv
Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?"
Luke 14:3 esv
And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?"
Luke 14:3 nlt
Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in religious law, "Is it permitted in the law to heal people on the Sabbath day, or not?"
Luke 14 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 20:8-10 | "Remember the Sabbath day... six days you shall labor... seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord..." | The Fourth Commandment for Sabbath observance. |
| Lev 19:18 | "You shall not take vengeance... but you shall love your neighbor as yourself..." | Foundation of compassion and love for others. |
| Isa 58:13-14 | "If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath... call the Sabbath a delight..." | God's intention for Sabbath as a day of joy and blessing. |
| Hos 6:6 | "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." | Emphasizes God's preference for mercy over rigid ritual. |
| Mt 9:13 | "Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." | Jesus quotes Hosea, prioritizing mercy in His ministry. |
| Mt 12:1-8 | Disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath; Jesus declares He is Lord of the Sabbath. | Jesus' authority over Sabbath law interpretation. |
| Mt 12:9-14 | Healing of the man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, challenged by Pharisees. | Parallel account of Sabbath healing and controversy. |
| Mt 12:12 | "Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." | Justification for doing good on the Sabbath. |
| Mk 2:23-28 | Disciples pluck grain on Sabbath; Jesus asserts the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. | Jesus’ Lordship over the Sabbath and its purpose. |
| Mk 3:1-6 | Healing of man with withered hand on Sabbath, Pharisees conspire to destroy Him. | Intense opposition to Jesus’ Sabbath healings. |
| Lk 6:1-5 | Disciples pluck grain on Sabbath; Jesus references David eating the showbread. | Illustrates situational need over ritual law. |
| Lk 6:6-11 | Healing of the man with a withered hand on the Sabbath; Jesus asks the same question. | Another instance of Jesus directly challenging their legalism. |
| Lk 13:10-17 | Healing a crippled woman on the Sabbath; Jesus challenges synagogue leader's hypocrisy. | Jesus points out the inconsistency of their actions (untie ox, but not heal human). |
| Jn 5:1-18 | Healing of the paralytic at Bethesda on the Sabbath, leading to severe persecution. | Highlights intense Jewish opposition to Sabbath healing. |
| Jn 7:21-24 | Jesus explains why healing on the Sabbath is consistent with God’s law (circumcision on Sabbath). | Jesus provides logical arguments for His actions. |
| Gal 5:1 | "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." | Freedom from legalistic burdens, especially the Law. |
| Col 2:16-17 | "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath." | New Covenant perspective on Sabbath observance. |
| Rom 14:5 | "One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." | Emphasizes personal conviction regarding days, not rigid rules. |
| Heb 4:9-10 | "So then, there remains a Sabbath-rest for the people of God... ceased from his labors as God did from his." | Spiritual meaning of Sabbath as rest in Christ. |
| 1 Pet 4:8 | "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." | Love and compassion as supreme Christian virtues. |
| Jas 2:8 | "If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well." | Emphasizes love for neighbor as the fulfillment of law. |
Luke 14 verses
Luke 14 3 Meaning
Luke 14:3 presents a direct confrontation initiated by Jesus Christ, who proactively poses a question to the leading religious authorities present at a Sabbath meal: "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" This question challenges their rigid interpretation of the Mosaic Law, specifically concerning permissible actions on the Sabbath, and sets the stage for demonstrating the supremacy of mercy and compassion over burdensome legalism. It reveals Jesus' intent to expose their hypocrisy and re-establish the true spirit of God's commands.
Luke 14 3 Context
Luke chapter 14 begins with Jesus at the house of a prominent Pharisee on the Sabbath, having been invited to a meal. However, the narrative notes that His hosts were "watching Him closely" (Lk 14:1), indicating a climate of suspicion and potential entrapment. Present among the guests is a man suffering from dropsy (severe swelling due to fluid retention). Prior to Luke 14:3, no one has spoken, yet Jesus' proactive question ("Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?") reveals His full awareness of their silent observations, the man's presence, and their expectant scrutiny. Jesus seizes the initiative, directly addressing the underlying tension and their legalistic tendencies, preempting any accusation by confronting the issue head-on. The broader context of Luke's Gospel consistently portrays Jesus' conflicts with religious leaders over their traditional interpretations of the Law, often contrasting their self-righteousness with true compassion and God's heart for humanity.
Luke 14 3 Word analysis
- And Jesus, answering: (Greek: καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς - kai apokritheis ho Iēsous) "Answering" (ἀποκριθεὶς - apokritheis) signifies that Jesus' statement is a response. While no verbal question was directly posed to Him, Jesus is "answering" their unspoken thoughts, critical posture, or the silent challenge presented by the sick man's presence. He anticipates their judgment and responds to it prophetically and authoritatively. This proactive approach establishes His authority in interpreting the Law.
- spoke: (Greek: εἶπεν - eipaen) A straightforward declaration, conveying the content of His challenge.
- to the lawyers and Pharisees: (Greek: πρὸς τοὺς νομικοὺς καὶ Φαρισαίους - pros tous nomikous kai Pharisaious) The specific audience highlights the confrontational aspect. The "lawyers" (νομικοί - nomikoi) were experts in Mosaic Law, skilled in its intricacies and interpretation. The "Pharisees" (Φαρισαῖοι - Pharisaios) were a religious sect known for their strict adherence to both the written Law and oral tradition. Both groups emphasized external purity and rule-following, often elevating tradition above compassion, setting them in frequent opposition to Jesus.
- saying, "Is it lawful": (Greek: λέγων, Εἰ ἔξεστιν - legōn, Ei exestin) "Is it lawful" (ἔξεστιν - exestin) carries the sense of what is permissible or allowed by divine, legal, or customary authority. This is the crux of their dispute, rooted in their interpretation of Sabbath prohibitions. Jesus frames the issue in their own legalistic terms to demonstrate their faulty reasoning. It's a rhetorical question, designed to expose their failure to grasp God's original intent for the Sabbath.
- to heal: (Greek: θεραπεῦσαι - therapeusai) Refers to physical healing, restoring health. The Jewish interpretive traditions (halakha) strictly regulated actions on the Sabbath, deeming healing a form of "work" unless life was in immediate danger. This interpretation contrasted sharply with the act of divine mercy that healing represented.
- on the Sabbath?: (Greek: ἐν σαββάτῳ; - en sabbatō;) The day central to the dispute. The Sabbath, intended for rest and worship (Ex 20:8-11, Deut 5:12-15), had been burdened by countless man-made regulations that obscured its life-giving purpose. Jesus consistently challenged these traditions to uphold the true meaning of the Sabbath as a day when good is done, a day for the welfare of humanity.
Luke 14 3 Bonus section
The presence of the man with dropsy (Lk 14:2) is crucial. While not explicitly stated, it's highly probable he was either placed there by the Pharisees to test Jesus or his presence presented an undeniable dilemma that Jesus chose to address. Dropsy was a painful and progressive condition, not a matter of life and death, meaning their rigid interpretations would classify healing it as "work" and therefore forbidden on the Sabbath. Jesus’ choice to address this non-life-threatening condition on the Sabbath underscores His consistent message: mercy should never be deferred or deemed unlawful, even on the holiest day. The Sabbath was given as a gift, not a burden, and its purpose finds fulfillment in acts that reflect God's love and restoration.
Luke 14 3 Commentary
In Luke 14:3, Jesus deliberately provokes His observant, critical audience. He is not merely asking for information, but for a judgment. His question exposes the fundamental disconnect between their rigid, human-made laws and the compassionate heart of God. By challenging the "lawfulness" of healing on the Sabbath, Jesus targets their legalistic interpretations that valued adherence to the letter of the law over acts of mercy and the immediate needs of suffering humanity. He forces them to either acknowledge that healing (a divine, benevolent act) should not be unlawful on God's day, or reveal their unmerciful bias. This act foreshadows His immediate healing of the man with dropsy (Luke 14:4) as a living demonstration of what is truly lawful and pleasing to God on the Sabbath. Jesus consistently teaches that "it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath" (Mt 12:12), repositioning the Sabbath as a day designed for humanity's benefit, not a day for inhumane legalistic burdens.