Luke 14:35

35 It is neither profitable for the land nor for the dunghill: but shall be cast out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 14:35 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 14:35

It is neither fit for the land
For the manuring of it, when it has lost its savour and spirit; otherwise it makes land fruitful, if too much is not used, and especially fixed salts have this use; though Pliny says ^F15,

``every place in which salt is found, it is barren and brings forth nothing.''

Nor yet for the dunghill;
to mix with dung, and help it, that it may be the more serviceable for the earth; and just such useless things, are a mere external profession of religion, and professors of it, and ministers of the word, without the grace of God; they are of no use, but hurtful to the church, and to the world; these phrases are left out in the Persic and Ethiopic versions:

but men cast it out;
into the streets, as entirely useless: and so such graceless professors and ministers, are to be cast out of the churches of Christ now, and will be excluded the kingdom of heaven hereafter:

he that hath ears to hear, let him hear;
this being a point of great importance and consequence; (See Gill on Matthew 11:15).

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 Nat. Hist. l. 31. c. 7.

Luke 14:35 In-Context

33 So likewise every one of you that doth not renounce all that he possesseth cannot be my disciple.

34 Salt is good. But if the salt shall lose its savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

35 It is neither profitable for the land nor for the dunghill: but shall be cast out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.