Luke 14:3

3 And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, "Is it lawful to cure people on the sabbath, or not?"

Luke 14:3 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 14:3

And Jesus answering, spake unto the lawyers and
Pharisees
All the Oriental versions, for "lawyers", read "Scribes": these, with the Pharisees, were got together in a body, in their brother Pharisee's house, to watch the motions of Christ; who knew their designs upon him, and the thoughts of their hearts, and made answer to them, by putting the following question;

saying, is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
The occasion of the question was the object before him, whom Christ had a compassionate regard to, and determined to cure; but knowing that these men were catching at every thing, to traduce him, was desirous of having their sentiments first; not but that he knew full well, what was agreeable to the law of God, and what was not; and what also were the traditions of their elders, which they held, and which allowed of healing on the sabbath day, where life was in danger.

Luke 14:3 In-Context

1 On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.
2 Just then, in front of him, there was a man who had dropsy.
3 And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, "Is it lawful to cure people on the sabbath, or not?"
4 But they were silent. So Jesus took him and healed him, and sent him away.
5 Then he said to them, "If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on a sabbath day?"
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.