Luke 14:1-6 KJV
1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.
2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?
6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

A problem of to much salt intake, causing fluid built up is the definition of dropsy, common in Palestine and Israel. Might cause heart failure, kidney failure and so forth. Yep these disease were know in Biblical world and is even known today, yet the word dropsy is probably only known to the scientific world and maybe Biblical scholars that look it up. Ask me in a month I might be able to tell you without looking it up what dropsy is. Why is this important these disease were things that may of been treatable in Bible days like it is today, but it is not really anymore curable today, beyond new medication and understanding of the disease that causes fluid retention. Why is this information important, this man was healed from the disease by Jesus. He question the Pharisees if they had a problem with it because it was the Sabbath Day and after the correction Jesus gave in the last chapter the Pharisees kept their mouth shut.

God can shut the mouths of men and women alike, because it done with the word and a rebuttal that is beyond the wisdom of men often times. It is the wisdom of God here, dealing directly with the religious leaders. Now today most people would know how to rebuke this way, but at the same time, this is hierachy Jesus is dealing with in the religious realm and despite religious leaders not really liking Jesus because of being rebuked, they had respect for him with his answers. I do not doubt they sat and talked about some of the answer Jesus gave them. Even weighing the words at times. Do not people weigh the words of others, to see if it carries any weight of truth. It is when a lie makes more since then the truth that scary, but it does not mean the lie should be accepted or received as truth.

Jesus said more then the issue of watering the oxen this time and went on and ask if the ass(mule)or ox fell into a pit, would they pull him out on the sabbath or leave him. And they would not answer. Most farmers in America I do not think have to deal with pits or holes in the ground that not visible, but we got to remember swampy soil, holes that open up and ditches from years of service on a well worn path. Things happen here that it take a few good men to get a ox or a mule out of the hole they fell into. The Pharisees had no response.

Is Jesus saying the life of the animal is greater then the law? Or is Jesus saying priorities in our world sometimes different then God's priority in our world. God not being second place here. if we love God, we will love others and care about the things of the world he created. If we care we can praise God while helping another in need, we can still pray for the need while help someone in need. If we value our animals, why do we not value a living soul. It interesting many people have pets and I have meet a few that care more for their animals then a living soul. It is a scary thought. Why can people not love people and animals? The world will never know why some people can talk to the animals and not others like themselves. I have a cat that perfers the dogs over any attention I would give it. Yet he makes sure he spends at least a few second daily with me. What does it say I not a good animal person, no it means that cat likes to spend time with other creatures his same size.

God is not jealous of our time with others, He only jealous when we refuse to spend a few minutes with him in worship, praise and prayer. It is a fact the man that was healed how many times had he come to the Pharisees for help and Jesus healed him. Did they pray for him, did they anoint him, did they perform the sacrifice for sin? Or was he consider unclean to where they did nothing for him, but shunned him. Jesus is still questioning why they did not seek God on these diseases, yet they help an ox or their donkey if it got stuck in a hole.

Dear Heavenly Father help the believer to be people that are concern about others and their welfare an not people that care nothing abouth others. Help us to pray and spend time with others. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: 1 John 3:16-17 KJV
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Romans 12:10 KJV
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;