Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 6:7
And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
7. the scribes and Pharisees watched him ] Luk 20:20. The followers of Shammai, at that epoch the most powerful of the Pharisaic Schools, were so strict about the Sabbath, that they held it a violation of the Law to tend the sick, or even to console them on that day. Hence what the Pharisees were waiting to see was whether He was going to side with them in their Sabbatic views, or with the more lax Sadducees, whom the people detested. If he did the latter, they thought that they could ruin the popularity of the Great Prophet. But in this, as in every other instance, (1) our Lord absolutely refuses to be guided by the popular orthodoxy of the hour, however tyrannous and ostensibly deduced from Scripture; and (2) ignores every consideration of party in order to appeal to principles.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Luk 6:7
And the scribes and Pharisees watched Him
The wily watchers of the good
I.
THEY ARE EVER ON THE OUTLOOK FOB AN APPARENT BREACH OF SOME CONVENTIONAL LAW.
1. These men are cunning.
2. They are diligent.
3. They are malicious.
II. THEIR GREAT DESIRE IS TO SLANDER THOSE WHOM THEY WATCH.
III. THEY ARE NOT TO BE ALLOWED TO INTERRUPT THE DUTY OF THE GOOD. Lessons:
1. Never be set by Satan to watch the conduct of the good to find defects.
2. Seek to find all the good in men you can.
3. Think of the heavenly watchers of the good. (J. S. Exell, M. A.)
Unsabbatical
The Pharisees are looking with keen hungry eyes upon One whom they have marked as their victim. To cherish these feelings, to be plotting murder, was not in their judgment at all unsabbatical. Their reverence for the law of God led them, so they believed, into this state of mind. (F. D. Maurice.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 7. Watched him] , They maliciously watched him. This is the import of the word, Lu 14:1; Lu 20:20, and in the parallel place, Mr 3:2. See Raphelius on the last-quoted text, who has proved, by several quotations, that this is the proper meaning of the term.
An accusation against him.] Instead of , his accusation, several eminent MSS. and versions add , against, which I find our translators have adopted.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
7. watched whether, &c.InMatthew (Mt 12:9) this is putas an ensnaring question of theirs to our Lord, who accordinglyspeaks to the state of their hearts (Lu6:9), just as if they had spoken it out.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the Scribes and Pharisees watched him,….
[See comments on Mr 3:2]
whether he would heal on the sabbath day: there being such an object before him:
that they might find an accusation against him; as they had before against his disciples.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The scribes and the Pharisees ( ). Only Luke here though Pharisees named in Mt 12:14 and Pharisees and Herodians in Mr 3:6.
Watched him ( ). Imperfect middle, were watching for themselves on the side (). Mr 3:2 has the imperfect active . Common verb, but the proposition gave an extra touch, watching either assiduously like the physician at the bedside or insidiously with evil intent as here.
Would heal (). But the present active indicative () may be the correct text here. So Westcott and Hort.
That they might find out how to accuse him ( ). Second aorist active subjunctive of and the infinitive with it means to find out how to do a thing. They were determined to make a case against Jesus. They felt sure that their presence would prevent any spurious work on the part of Jesus.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
They watched [] . Imperfect. They kept watching. See on Mr 3:2.
He would heal [] . So Rev. Some authorities, however, read qerapeuei, “whether he is healing.” This may mean either “whether it is his habit to heal,” which is far – fetched, or “whether he is actually healing.”
Find. Peculiar to Luke, and emphasizing the eagerness of the Pharisees to discover a ground of accusation.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him,” (pareterounto de auton hoi grammateis kai ho Pharisaioi) “Then the scribes and the Pharisees hawkishly watched him,” watched Jesus, kept eyeballing every move He made, with ulterior motives, that they might accuse Him, Mar 3:2. They watched Him, not to learn or imitate, but to accuse Him in a demeaning, condemning manner.
2) “Whether he would heal on the sabbath day;” (ei en to sabbato therapeuei) “Whether or not he heals people on the sabbath,” Mat 12:10. The Pharisees were very strict on the matter that one could not heal or attend to the sick on the sabbath; Though it was a controversy among the Jews, they were divided over the issue.
3) “That they might find an accusation against him,” (hina heurosin kategorein autou) “in order that they might find an occasion to accuse him,” as a breaker of the law of Moses, which they sought like fools to make Him to be, Luk 12:20; Mar 3:2.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(7) The scribes and Pharisees watched him.Better, were watching.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Luk 6:7 . , they kept watching, in a sly, furtive manner, ex obliquo et occulto , Bengel on Mk. , whether He is going to heal, if that is to be the way of it.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
watched = kept watching. Imperf. Tense. Compare Mar 3:2.
whether = if, &c. Assuming the possibility of the condition. App-118.
heal. See Luk 6:18.
that = in order that.
find. Peculiar to Luke.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
watched: Luk 13:14, Luk 14:1-6, Psa 37:32, Psa 37:33, Psa 38:12, Isa 29:21, Jer 20:10, Mar 3:2, Joh 5:10-16, Joh 9:16, Joh 9:26-29
that: Luk 11:53, Luk 11:54, Luk 20:20, Mat 26:59, Mat 26:60
Reciprocal: Isa 29:20 – and all Mat 12:10 – that Mat 23:24 – General Mat 27:6 – It is not Mar 10:2 – the Pharisees Luk 6:2 – Why
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7
The scribes and Pharisees pretended to be zealous for the sanctity of the sabbath. That was only a screen for their envy of Jesus because of his teaching against their hypocritical life.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Verse 7
Watched him. They were silenced before, but not convinced; and they watched an opportunity to renew the discussion.