Luke14
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And it came to pass, when he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a sabbath to eat bread, that they were watching him.
2And behold, there was before him a certain man that had the dropsy.
3And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath, or not?
4But they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go.
5And he said unto them, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a well, and will not straightway draw him up on a sabbath day?
6And they could not answer again unto these things.
7And he spake a parable unto those that were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief seats; saying unto them,
8When thou art bidden of any man to a marriage feast, sit not down in the chief seat; lest haply a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him,
9and he that bade thee and him shall come and say to thee, Give this man place; and then thou shalt begin with shame to take the lowest place.
10But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that hath bidden thee cometh, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have glory in the presence of all that sit at meat with thee.
11For every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
12And he said to him also that had bidden him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest haply they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee.
13But when thou makest a feast, bid the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
14and thou shalt be blessed; because they have not wherewith to recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed in the resurrection of the just.
15And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
16But he said unto him, A certain man made a great supper; and he bade many:
17and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it; I pray thee have me excused.
19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused.
20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21And the servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and lame.
22And the servant said, Lord, what thou didst command is done, and yet there is room.
23And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24For I say unto you, that none of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper.
25Now there went with him great multitudes: and he turned, and said unto them,
26If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have wherewith to complete it?
29Lest haply, when he hath laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all that behold begin to mock him,
30saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31Or what king, as he goeth to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and asketh conditions of peace.
33So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
34Salt therefore is good: but if even the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
35It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill: men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Luke 14.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Christ heals a man on the sabbath. (1–6). He teaches humility. (7–14). Parable of the great supper. (15–24). The necessity of consideration and self-denial. (25–35).
vv1-6
This Pharisee, as well as others, seems to have had an ill design in entertaining Jesus at his house. But our Lord would not be hindered 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 proper 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.
vv7-14
Even in the common actions of life, Christ marks what we do, not only in our religious assemblies, but at our tables. We see in many cases, that a man's pride will bring him low, and before honour is humility. Our Saviour here teaches, that works of charity are better than works of show. But our Lord did not mean that a proud and unbelieving liberality should be rewarded, but that his precept of doing good to the poor and afflicted should be observed from love to him.
vv15-24
In this parable observe the free grace and mercy of God shining in the gospel of Christ, which will be food and a feast for the soul of a man that knows its own wants and miseries. All found some pretence to put off their attendance. This reproves the Jewish nation for their neglect of the offers of Christ's grace. It shows also the backwardness there is to close with the gospel call. The want of gratitude in those who slight gospel offers, and the contempt put upon the God of heaven thereby, justly provoke him. The apostles were to turn to the Gentiles, when the Jews refused the offer; and with them the church was filled. The provision made for precious souls in the gospel of Christ, has not been made in vain; for if some reject, others will thankfully accept the offer. The very poor and low in the world, shall be as welcome to Christ as the rich and great; and many times the gospel has the greatest success among those that labour under worldly disadvantages and bodily infirmities. Christ's house shall at last be filled; it will be so when the number of the elect is completed.
Key Words
σάββατον (sábbaton): the Sabbath (i.e. Shabbath), or day of weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observance or institution itself); by extension, a se'nnight, i.e. the interval between two Sabbaths; likewise the plural in all the above applications
ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
αὐτός (autós): the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἔρχομαι (érchomai): to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
εἰς (eis): to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
οἶκος (oîkos): a dwelling (more or less extensive, literal or figurative); by implication, a family (more or less related, literally or figuratively)
τὶς (tìs): some or any person or object
ἄρχων (árchōn): a first (in rank or power)
Φαρισαῖος (Pharisaîos): a separatist, i.e. exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary
ἦν (ēn): I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were)
Cross References
Luke 14Jesus reproduces and applies these Solomonic proverbs on humility and seat selection at feasts.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel criteria of discipleship: loving family less than Christ, and carrying one's cross.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
The Old Testament prophetic background of the Lord's great messianic feast of fat things.
Supported by JFB
Highly parallel parable of the wedding feast and rejected invitations, culminating in wider outreach.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallel teaching on the danger of disciples becoming like tasteless, useless salt.
Supported by John Calvin
Identical Sabbath defense using the immediate rescue of domestic animals (ox or ass).
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identical proverbial maxim on self-exaltation leading to abasement, and humility to exaltation.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Levi's devotion is praised for disregarding parents and children in obedience to God's covenant.
Supported by John Calvin
Another instance where Pharisees watch Jesus and question whether healing on the Sabbath is lawful.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The exact same classes (poor, maimed, halt, blind) are invited to the great banquet.
Supported by JFB
Wisdom builds her house, prepares her feast, and sends out maidens to invite guests.
Supported by Matthew Henry
A historic fulfillment: Jewish rejection of the Gospel leads apostles to turn to the Gentiles.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Demonstrates the Semitic idiom where 'hated' denotes loving someone less than another (Leah vs. Rachel).
Supported by John Calvin
Paul warns that earthly relationships (like marrying a wife) must not hinder devotion to God.
Supported by JFB