Luke 14:4 kjv
And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
Luke 14:4 nkjv
But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go.
Luke 14:4 niv
But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way.
Luke 14:4 esv
But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away.
Luke 14:4 nlt
When they refused to answer, Jesus touched the sick man and healed him and sent him away.
Luke 14 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 13:10-17 | "Healings on the Sabbath... 'Hypocrite, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey... and lead it away to water?'" | Jesus defends Sabbath healing with an animal analogy. |
| Lk 6:6-11 | "On another Sabbath, He entered the synagogue and taught... and His hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched Him... saying, 'Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?'" | Another instance of Jesus healing on the Sabbath, directly challenged by legalists. |
| Mk 3:1-6 | "Again He entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. And they watched Him, to see whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to them, 'Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?' But they remained silent." | Parallel account of Sabbath healing, with their silence noted. |
| Mt 12:9-14 | "And He said to them, 'What man of you, having one sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?'" | Jesus argues for compassion on Sabbath, more value in human life. |
| Jn 5:1-18 | "After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool... And at once the man was healed... This was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath." | Jesus healing an invalid on the Sabbath, causing controversy. |
| Jn 9:1-16 | "As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth... He spat on the ground and made mud... and He told him, 'Go, wash in the pool of Siloam'... This was on a Sabbath." | Jesus heals a blind man on Sabbath, again challenged by Pharisees. |
| Mt 22:46 | "And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask Him any more questions." | Opponents silenced by Jesus' unanswerable questions. |
| Lk 20:26 | "And they were unable to catch Him in what He said before the people, and they marveled at His answer and were silent." | Pharisees silenced by Jesus' wisdom, like in this verse. |
| Acts 4:14 | "But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition." | The visible proof of a miracle silenced accusers of the apostles. |
| Hos 6:6 | "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." | Prophetic statement, often quoted by Jesus (Mt 9:13, 12:7), favoring mercy over strict ritual. |
| Mt 9:13 | "But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." | Jesus explains the priority of mercy. |
| Mt 12:7 | "If you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent." | Jesus applies Hosea to justify plucking grain on the Sabbath. |
| Jam 2:13 | "For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment." | The principle that mercy overrides rigid legalism in the kingdom. |
| Mk 2:27 | "And He said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.'" | Defines the true purpose of the Sabbath—for human benefit, not burden. |
| Deut 5:12-15 | "Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy... You shall not do any work... so that your male and female servant may rest as well as you. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day." | Sabbath given for rest and release, recalling God's merciful liberation, not harsh regulation. |
| Lk 14:5 | "And He said to them, 'Which of you, having a son or an ox fallen into a well on the Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?'" | Jesus continues His argument, anticipating the obvious humane response. |
| Acts 10:38 | "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." | Summary of Jesus' ministry focusing on acts of healing and good. |
| Mt 4:23-24 | "And Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people." | Description of Jesus' pervasive healing ministry. |
| Mt 23:23 | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness." | Jesus condemns the legalistic focus on minor rules over significant ethical commands. |
| Lk 11:46 | "Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers." | Jesus critiques lawyers for imposing heavy, impractical rules. |
Luke 14 verses
Luke 14 4 Meaning
In Luke chapter 14, verse 4, Jesus is confronted by religious leaders on the Sabbath regarding a man suffering from dropsy. This verse describes the immediate outcome of Jesus' challenging question posed in the previous verse: "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?" Faced with His question, the lawyers and Pharisees are rendered speechless, unable to provide a justifiable answer that aligns with their rigid interpretations of the Sabbath law while also appearing merciful. In their silence, Jesus acts with compassion, taking hold of the man, healing him of his affliction, and then sending him away, demonstrating divine authority and prioritizing human well-being over man-made legalistic tradition. This act is a direct confrontation of their spiritual blindness and hypocrisy.
Luke 14 4 Context
This verse is part of an incident occurring at a Sabbath meal in the house of a prominent Pharisee, following an invitation to Jesus (Lk 14:1). Jesus enters a highly scrutinizing environment. The religious leaders present are "watching Him closely," seeking grounds to accuse Him. The immediate context is set by Jesus observing a man suffering from dropsy (v. 2). He then directly challenges the lawyers and Pharisees with a question about the lawfulness of healing on the Sabbath (v. 3). Their response of silence, followed by Jesus' compassionate act of healing, sets the stage for His subsequent parables and teachings in the chapter concerning humility, proper guests at a feast, and the cost of discipleship. The overall historical context involves ongoing tension between Jesus' teaching on the true spirit of the law, especially regarding the Sabbath, and the Pharisaic interpretations which often emphasized meticulous external observance over intrinsic human need and divine mercy. Jesus consistently reframed the Sabbath from a day of burdensome prohibitions to a day for doing good and showing compassion.
Luke 14 4 Word analysis
And they kept silent.
- Greek: kai hoi de esiopesan (καὶ οἱ δὲ ἐσιώπησαν)
- kai: "and," a conjunction, linking this outcome directly to Jesus' question in the previous verse.
- hoi de: "but they" or "and they." The article hoi (the) emphasizes they, referring back to the lawyers and Pharisees of verse 3.
- esiopesan: Aorist active indicative of siopao (σιωπάω), meaning "to be silent," "to hold one's peace." It signifies a sudden or decisive silence.
- Significance: Their silence indicates their inability to answer Jesus' question without either condemning themselves (by admitting healing was lawful) or openly denying compassion (which would be indefensible to the people). It exposed their legalistic impasse. This public silence by authoritative figures served as a powerful validation of Jesus' implied stance. It was an acknowledgment, however unwilling, that their legal interpretation was ethically indefensible.
So He took him
- Greek: epilabomenos autou (ἐπιλαβόμενος αὐτοῦ)
- epilabomenos: Aorist participle, middle voice of epilambanomai (ἐπιλαμβάνομαι), meaning "to take hold of," "to seize," "to lay hold upon." The middle voice emphasizes Jesus' own initiative and active involvement. It can suggest a gentle, firm grasp, signifying care and immediate, personal engagement with the man.
- autou: "him," referring to the man with dropsy.
- Significance: This action is direct, personal, and empathetic. It contrasts with the detached observation of the Pharisees. Jesus' physical contact breaks ceremonial cleanliness rules according to some strict interpretations, further underscoring His challenge to their traditions. It is a tangible demonstration of His intent to heal.
and healed him,
- Greek: kai iasato auton (καὶ ἰάσατο αὐτὸν)
- kai: "and," connecting this action.
- iasato: Aorist active indicative of iaomai (ἰάομαι), meaning "to heal," "to cure." This term refers specifically to physical healing.
- auton: "him."
- Significance: This is the miraculous intervention, demonstrating Jesus' divine power and authority over sickness. It directly performs the action the religious leaders debated, asserting the priority of divine mercy. It is the immediate fulfillment of the compassion implied by His prior question.
and sent him away.
- Greek: kai apelysen (καὶ ἀπέλυσεν)
- kai: "and."
- apelysen: Aorist active indicative of apolyō (ἀπολύω), meaning "to release," "to dismiss," "to send away."
- Significance: This act completes the compassionate interaction. By sending the man away, Jesus removes him from further scrutiny or potential legal harassment by the Pharisees, allowing him to experience his new-found health in peace. It also prepares the scene for Jesus' subsequent teaching, shifting the focus back to His confrontation with the leaders and His exposition of the true meaning of the Sabbath.
Words-Group by Words-Group analysis:
"And they kept silent. So He took him": The conjunction "So" (implicit in the direct flow from their silence) highlights cause and effect. Their silence created a vacuum where Jesus' authority could powerfully manifest. He did not wait for their permission or judgment; He acted immediately in the face of their self-imposed inability to respond. This juxtaposes their spiritual paralysis with His dynamic, compassionate power.
"He took him and healed him, and sent him away.": This sequence emphasizes Jesus' complete and authoritative handling of the situation. It highlights a progression from personal contact (took him) to divine intervention (healed him) to final dismissal (sent him away). The brevity of the actions underlines their power and decisiveness, demonstrating His control and His ability to resolve suffering instantly and effectively. This entire phrase encapsulates Jesus' core ministry of showing compassion and exercising power over physical affliction, often in defiance of legalistic obstacles.
Luke 14 4 Bonus section
This specific interaction regarding healing on the Sabbath, without explicit divine command, provides insight into Jesus' direct challenge to the oral law (tradition of the elders) that had grown up around the written Torah. The Jewish legal tradition had extensively detailed what constituted "work" (melachah) on the Sabbath. Healing, especially for non-life-threatening conditions like dropsy (edema), was generally considered not permissible if it could wait until the next day. By healing this man instantly, Jesus not only performed a miracle but also performed an act explicitly restricted by their interpretations, thus confronting the very foundation of their man-made rules. His actions served as a polemic against their system, highlighting that their traditions burdened people and obscured God's true merciful intent for the Sabbath as a day of blessing and rest from affliction. This emphasis aligns with Jesus' role as the "Lord of the Sabbath" (Lk 6:5), who possesses ultimate authority to interpret and fulfill its true purpose.
Luke 14 4 Commentary
Luke 14:4 is a pivotal moment in Jesus' ongoing confrontation with the religious authorities regarding the Sabbath. Their strategic silence, a tactic of avoiding public contradiction or endorsement of Jesus, inadvertently serves to validate His forthcoming action. Since they cannot articulate a reason why it is unlawful to heal on the Sabbath, Jesus proceeds with the very act they are implicitly prohibiting. His action of "taking" the man speaks of personal involvement and tenderness, moving beyond mere command. The immediate healing testifies to His divine power and compassion, demonstrating that true Sabbath observance aligns with deeds of mercy and restoration, not rigid abstention from good. By healing the man and then "sending him away," Jesus both definitively ends the man's suffering and prevents further scrutiny upon the now-healed individual by the hostile onlookers, while setting the stage for His further teaching that critiques their hypocrisy. This concise verse powerfully illustrates Jesus' authority, His consistent prioritization of human well-being over religious ritualism, and the transformative impact of His ministry on those in need. It underscores the profound theological truth that God desires mercy above sacrifice, and that true reverence for God is expressed through love for humanity.