Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 14:4
And they held their peace. And he took [him,] and healed him, and let him go;
4. they held their peace ] It was the silence of a splenetic pride and obstinacy which while secretly convinced determined to remain unconvinced. But such silence was His complete public justification. If the contemplated miracle was unlawful why did not they the great religious authorities of Judaism forbid it?
he took him ] Rather, taking hold of him, i.e. laying his hand upon him.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
They held their peace – They were silent. They could not say it was not lawful, for the law did not forbid it. If it had they would have said it. Here was the time for them to make objections if they had any, and not after the man was healed; and as they made no objection then, they could not with consistency afterward. They were, therefore, effectually silenced and confounded by the Saviour.
He took him – Took hold of the man, or perhaps took him apart into another room. By taking hold of him, or touching him, he showed that the power of healing went forth from himself.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. They held their peace.] They could not answer the question but in the affirmative; and as they were determined to accuse him if he did heal the man, they could not give an answer but such as would condemn themselves, and therefore they were silent.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And they held their peace,…. Or were silent, choosing to say nothing, which might countenance such an action; and yet knew not how to condemn it:
and he took [him], and healed him, and let him go; he took him by the hand, or laid his hands on him; he touched him, and, it may be, stroked the part affected, and in an instant the prodigious swelling of his body came down: for he who at his rebuke could dry up the sea, could by a touch dry up such a quantity of water, as was in this man’s body; and then he dismissed him from the table and company, and he went home perfectly cured.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Took him (). Second aorist middle participle of , an old verb, only in the middle in the N.T. It is not redundant use, “took and healed,” but “took hold of him and healed him.” Only instance in the N.T. of its use in a case of healing.
Let him go (). Probably, dismissed from the company to get him away from these critics.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Took. Took hold of him. Luk 20:20; 1Ti 6:12.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And they held their peace.” (hoi de hesuchasain) “And they were silent,” close-lipped, speechless, simply kept watching, but would not answer, as self-condemned hypocrites, as described Mar 7:6-9; Mar 7:13; Psa 37:32; Isa 29:20-21.
2) “And he took him, and healed him,” (kai epilabomenos iasato auton) “And he took him, took hold of or laid hands on him (the dropsied man) and healed him,” with the lawyers “goggling” at Him. In tenderness, with care, mercy and compassion He healed him, that they might recognize Him as the Son of God, Joh 2:11; Mar 2:5-12; Joh 20:30-31.
3) “And let him go,” (kai apelusen) “And he dismissed him,” released, or let him go, free from, and visibly healed of the swollen dropsical condition. For whom Jesus declares to be free, lets go of sin or affliction, is “free indeed,” Joh 8:32; Joh 8:36.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(4) And he took him.Better, he laid hold on him. The healing was, in this instance, effected by actual contact.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Held their peace Unable to condemn what their law permitted; unwilling to concede a point on which so much cavil had been founded. Jesus proposes the old question, as if the advantage had fairly turned on his side.
Took healed let go Displaying his own mastery before their watching eyes with a sort of calm, majestic omnipotence.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘But they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go.’
So they said nothing. They no doubt reclined there tight-lipped and observant, waiting to see what He would do. Perhaps He would think better of it. But Jesus was a faithful servant, and when they said nothing Jesus took the man, and healed him, and let him go. And who could criticise Him when they had refused to forbid it? It is reasonable to assume that the man was there because he had chosen to come, because he wanted to be healed. He had come in faith. And once again Jesus had revealed that He could make men right.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Luk 14:4. And he took him, The original , signifies either his taking hold of him, or laying his hand upon him. Doubtless our Lord could have accomplished this cure as well by a secret volition, and so might have cut off all manner of cavilling; but he chose rather to produce it by an action in which there was the very least degree of bodily labour that could be, because thus he had an opportunity of reproving the reigning superstition of the times.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
4 And they held their peace. And he took him , and healed him, and let him go;
Ver. 4. And he took him ] Good must be done, however it be taken.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
took = took bold of. Compare Luk 20:20. 1Ti 6:12.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Luk 14:4. , He healed him) His adversaries were using the dropsical man as the cloke for assailing the Lord: but yet Jesus conferred the benefit on him.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Mat 21:25-27, Mat 22:46
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4. The Pharisees were too wise to say that it would ever be wrong to heal an afflicted person, and they were too prejudiced to say yes to the question of Jesus. He then pro-ceded to heal the man and release him cured.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luk 14:4. But they held their peace. They could attend feasts on the Sabbath, but could not say that it was right to heal the sick. Formalism is always thus inconsistent. Their silence was a confession of defeat, however. Then came the healing.
Sent him away. He was not a guest. The rebuke was not given until after the man had been sent away.