Christ’s Words at the House of the Pharisee by Ellen G. White (1896)

Christ was invited to be a guest at the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath day. Some of the chief men of the Jewish nation were present on this occasion, and Jesus had accepted the invitation, in order that he might improve the opportunity of speaking words of truth, that like precious seed would drop into the hearts of those who were prepared to receive it. But the “Pharisees watched him,” for there was a certain man before him who had the dropsy, and they were looking for some occasion that would afford them an excuse for accusing him. Jesus knew their thoughts, and “answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? And they held their peace.” They had counseled among themselves concerning this occasion, and had said that no doubt Jesus would do as he had done in times past,—would have compassion on this afflicted man, and heal him on the Sabbath day. If he did this, they would condemn him for violating the Sabbath law. Jesus knew their reasoning, but “he took him, and healed him, and let him go” He could read the intents of their hearts, and he answered their unspoken thoughts, 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? And they could not answer him again to these things.”The manner in which Christ anticipated their question was inexplainable, and they were so perplexed by his manner of dealing with them that they could not carry out their plans of accusing him, taking him before the council, and pronouncing him worthy of death. With these words he passed by their accusations, and put forth a parable to those that were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms. He said to them: “When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him; and he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher; then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”Some who heard this important lesson felt the force of Christ’s words, and put into practise the principles which he announced. The wise man had spoken these same words hundreds of years before: “A man’s pride shall bring him low; but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.” Jesus had said to his disciples: “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”In inviting Christ to this feast on the Sabbath day, the lawyers and Pharisees had thought to awe him with their greatness and dignity. They represented the religious instructors of the day, and were among the chief men of Jerusalem. But Christ had just pronounced a woe upon Jerusalem, pointing out the manner in which they had used the servants of God, and would treat the Lord they professed to serve. He had said: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate; and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” He had also spoken in reproof to those who had made the feast, saying: “When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind; and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.”These words came altogether too close to suit the self-righteous, ostentatious dignitaries who were at the feast; and one of the self-conceited Pharisees, endeavoring to close the channel of such remarks, exclaimed, “Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.” These words seemed to be in line with the remarks of Christ, but they were spoken with the purpose of breaking up his conversation. Under the guise of piety, this man thought to turn the conversation away from the close personal application which the Saviour gave it, to vague generalities which would affect no one for good. But the Lord read the heart of this pretender as an open book, and fastening his eyes upon him, he continued his remarks as though he had not recognized the design of this man to stop his conversation: “Then said he unto him, A certain man ...