XIV.
(1) Into the house of one of the chief Pharisees. — Better, of the rulers of the Pharisees. The meaning of the phrase is probably more definite than that suggested by the English. The man was either a “ruler” in the same sense as Nicodemus (John 3:1), or the rich young man in Luke 18:18 - i.e., a member of the Sanhedrin (which seems most likely) — or else occupied a high position in the lay-hierarchy (if the phrase may be allowed) which had developed itself in the organisation of Pharisaism.
To eat bread on the Sabbath day. — Sabbath feasts were then, as at a later time, part of the social life of the Jews, and were often — subject, of course, to the condition that the food was cold — occasions of great luxury and display. Augustine speaks of them as including dancing and song, and the “Sabbath luxury” of the Jews became a proverb. On the motives of the Pharisee — probably half respect and half curiosity — see Notes on Luke 7:36.