Healing a man with dropsy

Healing a man with dropsy is one of the miracles of Jesus in the Gospels (Luke 14:1-6).[1][2]

Fresco by Balthasar Augustin Albrecht showing Jesus healing a man with dropsy., Herrenchiemsee Abbey, 1715

According to the Gospel, one Sabbath, Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, and he was being carefully watched. There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy, i.e. abnormal swelling of his body.

Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law:

"Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?"

But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way.

Then he asked them:

"If one of you has a child[3] or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?"

And they had nothing to say.

Commentary

Cornelius a Lapide comments on the mystical significance of the animals, writing, "that the ox and the donkey represent the wise and the foolish," which are "the Jew oppressed by the burden of the Law" (the ox) and "the Gentile not subject to reason." (the donkey/child) In both cases the Lord rescues them from the pit of concupiscence.

Commenting on the offended, speechless Pharisee, Theophylact of Ohrid writes, “Care nought, for the offence given to the Pharisees.” For when a great good is the result, we should not care if the foolish are offended.[4]

See also
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References
  1. Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Matthew-Luke by David C. Cook and Craig A. Evans (Feb 27, 2003) ISBN 0781438683 page 245
  2. Biblegateway Luke 14:1-6, biblegateway.com
  3. some manuscripts have donkey
  4. Lapide, Cornelius (1889). The great commentary of Cornelius à Lapide. Translated by Thomas Wimberly Mossman. London.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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