Luke14
New International Version
1One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.
2There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body.
3Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”
4But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way.
5Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?”
6And they had nothing to say.
7When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable:
8“When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.
9If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.
10But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.
11For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
12Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.
13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
15When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”
16Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.
17At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
18“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
19“Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
20“Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
21“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
22“‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
23“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.
24I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:
26“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.
27And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?
29For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you,
30saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
31“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.
33In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
34“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?
35It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “Whoever has ears to hear, let them 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