Thursday, October 28, 2010

Day 297

Perean Ministry, cont.
2. From the Feast to his withdrawl, cont.
- Various parables and discourses, cont.
    *Healing man of dropsy (M-29) - Luke 14:1-14
    *Parables
        ~The wedding guest (P-14) - Luke 14:7-14
        ~The great supper (P-15) - Luke 14:15-24
        ~Counting the cost (P-16) - Luke 14:25-35
        ~The lost sheep (P-17) - Luke 15:1-7
        ~The lost coin (P-18) - Luke 15:8-10
        ~The lost son (P-19) - Luke 15:11-32
        ~The unjust steward (P-20) - Luke 16:1-18
    *The rich man and Lazarus - Luke 16:19-31
    *The unprofitable servant (P-21) - Luke 17:1-10

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My margin notes were to research what dropsy meant.  Digging into Father's word is always an adventure - and what glories HE gives and provides to those who seek HIM!  Oh, Lord, the magnitude and delight that Your Word brings to my soul as I trod this dry and dusty land.


I started by looking at the word in the Greek - not as much information as I liked - so perused Gill - interesting, then I checked Matthew Henry's commentary.  Ahh, what nuggets Father had in store for me there.


The first interesting tidbit - a review of why the Pharisee invited Jesus to dine - to pick a quarrel?  Henry's observation:  "It is, as Dr. Hammond observes, contrary to all laws of hospitality to seek advantage against one that you invited to be your guest, for such a one you have taken under your protection."


Luke 14:4 - '...And he took him, and healed him, and let him go.'


took - G1949 - Middle voice from G1909 and G2983; to seize (for help, injury, attainment or any other purpose; literally or figuratively).


healed - G2389 - Middle voice of apparently a primary verb; to cure (literally or figuratively).


let him go - G630 - From G575 and G3089; to free fully, that is, (literally) relieve, release, dismiss (reflexively depart), or (figuratively) let die, pardon, or (specifically) divorce.


Henry's commentary:  "Or, He took him, that is, he laid hands on him, to cure him; epilabomenos, complexus - he embraced him, took him in his arms, big and unwieldy as he was (for so dropsical people generally are), and reduced him to shape. The cure of a dropsy, as much as any disease, one would think, should be gradual; yet Christ cured even that disease, perfectly cured it, in a moment. He then let him go, lest the Pharisees should fall upon him for being healed, though he was purely passive; for what absurdities would not such men as they were be guilty of?"


 It just dawned on me, Luke is the physician - I haven't paid attention to how many miracles or healings are recorded specifically in Luke - another study for another day!


Another fact I find interesting - touching somebody who was 'unclean' was taboo - yet Jesus repeatedly touched those who were untouchable.  Only someone who has been an 'untouchable' can fully understand what it means to never feel the gentle touch, caress or simply a hug from another human.  Our Savior meets needs that go beyond spiritual (which is the first and most significant) - and while I understand the phrase 'Jesus in skin' is not in the Word, it is still applicable.


Have you ever gone a day, a week, a month, a year without the loving touch of even a friend?  Ever considered the needs of someone who might be considered 'untouchable?'

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