"Ox in the Ditch"

N.T.#588 "Ox in the Ditch"

July 11, 2025 

Luke 13-Part 7 

LET IT GLOW 

Here we read of Jesus going again to a Pharisee's house for lunch on the Sabbath. It sounds like the religious leaders had a scheme to trap Jesus into saying or doing something that was unlawful. Their purpose was to trick the Messiah into breaking their religious laws as a Jew. However, the Son of God was not afraid to meet them on their turf and challenge their laws, as before. 

What happened was a man suffering from dropsy was there. We would call this edema. It is an abnormal accumulation of fluid that causes swelling in tissues, joints, and body cavities. The feet, ankles, and legs appear puffy and larger than normal. It can affect major organs and be a painful and potentially deadly disease. (verse 2)

Before Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath, He asked the lawyers and Pharisees if it was lawful to do so. (Apparently, it was a set up trap for Jesus.) The guys didn't answer the Messiah, though. If they answered yes, then they couldn't condemn Jesus; if they answered no, then they condemned themselves of not being compassionate of suffering. Their silence was Jesus' justification. The Jewish leaders had gone too far with their laws. It was a no-win scenario. The guy with edema was somebody's son who needed healing on the Sabbath day. Bu because he wasn't the son of a leader, the rule didn't seem to apply.

Doing good or helping a person should be acceptable no matter what day it is. Kindness should outweigh tradition.

LET IT GROW

Jesus asked the group another question concerning a donkey or ox that fell into a ditch, would they pull it out on the Sabbath day? I think this is known as the ox-in-the-ditch scenario. If this had happened to those rascals they would have rescued the animal so it didn't die. They had twisted God's law to suit themselves. 

Again, the religious leaders could not answer Jesus. Do you hear Jesus turning the tables on them? He wasn't afraid to face the Pharisees and lawyers. Can you feel the tension at the table?

LET IT GO

Love God and love your neighbor-the most important rules to follow.