John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. And they could not answer him again to these things , etc.] The justice, equity, mercy, and humanity that appeared in our Lord's reasonings, and the cases he instanced in, being agreeable to their own tenets and practices, their mouths were shut up, and they could not return an answer to them, without being exposed, Ver. 7. And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden , etc.] To the dinner at the Pharisee's house, particularly the lawyers, or Scribes and Pharisees: when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms ; the uppermost places at the table, which these men loved, coveted, and sought after; (see Gill on Matthew 23:6) saying unto them ; as follows.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - This Pharisee, as well as others, seems to have had an ill design i entertaining Jesus at his house. But our Lord would not be hindere from healing a man, though he knew a clamour would be raised at his doing it on the sabbath. It requires care to understand the prope connexion between piety and charity in observing the sabbath, and the distinction between works of real necessity and habits of self-indulgence. Wisdom from above, teaches patient perseverance in well-doing.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ ουκ 3756 PRT-N ισχυσαν 2480 5656 V-AAI-3P ανταποκριθηναι 470 5677 V-AON αυτω 846 P-DSM προς 4314 PREP ταυτα 5023 D-APN
Robertson's NT Word Studies
14:6 {Could not answer again} (ouk iscusan antapokriqenai). Did not have strength to answer back or in turn (anti-) as in #Ro 9:20. They could not take up the argument and were helpless. They hated to admit that they cared more for an ox or ass or even a son than for this poor dropsical man.
