Sure enough, the dinner is something of a
set-up. A man with dropsy – painful edema – is there, apparently solely for the
purpose of testing Jesus. Like the man with the withered hand in Luke 6, he is
at the center of the question: does the Law allow healing on the Sabbath?
Jesus knows that the question is not a simplistic one, so He decides to up the ante and make things more interesting – more
personal. He asks the Pharisees: if your child fell in a well, would you tell
him to wait until sundown? Or would you pull him out right away?
The Pharisees do not answer because they
cannot. Each of them is left with a conundrum: how does one deal with a serious
family emergency on the Sabbath? At what point does sincere, respectful
observance of the Sabbath turn into a 24-hour stint in a Panic Room? Is it
necessary to barricade one’s self inside one’s home to legislate proper Sabbath
observance? Is it really this hard? Because these men have no mercy, they
cannot find a solution for themselves.
How do we know they have no mercy? Because
the man with dropsy leaves without eating. He wasn’t a real guest nor was his
healing the stated goal of this event. He was simply bait in yet another of the
Pharisees’ legalistic traps designed to produce both evidence and accusation.
Jesus must not feel threatened because He
continues to teach – although, admittedly, He is being somewhat confrontational
in his choice of subject matter. This time, he quotes from Proverbs 25:6-7
(which the Pharisees know by heart) and applies it to their present
circumstances. The guests are circulating around the table, trying to find the
best possible seats. It sounds like a big banquet, but it’s most likely fewer
than 20 guests. The Roman triclinium is very much in vogue at the moment, and
those wishing to appear cultured, civilized and rich (i.e., the Pharisees)
have adopted the practice.
Jesus gives the Pharisees a little zinger
here by quoting a Jewish proverb as they scramble in a Roman setting. Without
rubbing their noses in it, Jesus reminds them that they are in the presence of
their King and gently suggests they rethink their approach to avoid
humiliation. Here, finally, is a literal illustration of “the first shall be
last.”
Jesus doesn’t have a problem being Jewish
in a Roman society. His kind of righteousness transcends every setting and
allows Him to be what He really is – Himself. The Pharisees, however, keep
finding themselves choosing between what they think is right and what they find
to be popular.
Jesus, just for fun, raises the stakes yet
again as He turns to the host and encourages him to “invite the poor, crippled,
lame and blind” to his next banquet.
The host is completely stumped. How in the
world will he figure out the seating arrangements if all of the guests deserve
to be in the lowest place?
How, Jesus counters, are you figuring it
out now?
