Luke 14

1 And it chaunsed that he went into the housse of one of ye chefe pharises to eate breed on a saboth daye: and they watched him.

2 And beholde ther was a man before him which had the dropsye.

3 And Iesus answered and spake vnto the lawears and pharises sayinge: is it laufull to heale on the saboth daye?

4 And they helde their peace. And he toke him and healed him and let him goo:

5 and answered the sayinge whiche of you shall have an asse or an oxe fallen into a pitt and will not strayght waye pull him out on the Saboth daye?

6 And they coulde not answer him agayne to that.

7 He put forthe a similitude to ye gestes whe he marked how they preased to the hyest roumes and sayd vnto the:

8 When thou arte bidde to a weddynge of eny man syt not doune in ye hyest roume lest a more honorable man then thou be bidden of him

9 and he that bade bothe him and the come and saye to the: geve this man roume and thou then beginne with shame to take the lowest roume.

10 But rather when thou arte bidden goo and syt in the lowest roume that when he that bade the cometh he maye saye vnto the: frende syt vp hyer. Then shalt thou have worshippe in the presence of them that syt at meate with the.

11 For whosoever exalteth him sylfe shalbe brought lowe. And he yt hubleth him sylfe shalbe exalted

12 Then sayde he also to him that had desyred him to diner: When thou makest a diner or a supper: call not thy frendes nor thy brethre nether thy kinsmen nor yet ryche neghbours: lest they bidde the agayne and a recompence be made the.

13 But when thou makest afeast call the poore the maymed the lame and the blynde

14 and thou shalt be happy for they cannot recompence the. But thou shalt be recompensed at the resurreccion of the iuste men.

15 When one of them that sate at meate also hearde that he sayde vnto him: happy is he that eateth breed in the kyngdome of God.

16 Then sayd he to him. A certayne man ordened a greate supper and bade many

17 and sent his servaunt at supper tyme to saye to them that wer bidden come: for all thinges are now redy.

18 And they all atonce begane to make excuse. The fyrst sayd vnto him: I have bought a ferme and I must nedes goo and se it I praye the have me excused.

19 And another sayd: I hove bought fyve yooke of oxen and I goo to prove them I praye the have me excused.

20 The thyrde sayd: I have maried a wyfe and therfore I cannot come.

21 And the servaunt went and brought his master worde therof. Then was the good man of the housse displeased and sayd to his servaut: Goo out quickly into ye stretes and quarters of the cite and bringe in hidder the poore and the maymed and the halt and the blynde.

22 And the servaut sayd: lorde it is done as thou comaundedst and yet ther is roume.

23 And the lorde sayd to the servaunt: Go out into ye hye wayes and hedges and compell the to come in that my housse maye be filled.

24 For I saye vnto you that none of those men which were bidde shall tast of my supper.

25 Ther went agreate copany with him and he turned and sayde vnto them:

26 If a man come to me and hate not his father and mother and wyfe and chyldren and brethren and sisters more over and his awne lyfe he cannot be my disciple.

27 And whosoever beare not his crosse and come after me cannot be my disciple.

28 Which of you disposed to bilde a toure sytteth not doune before and counteth ye cost whether he have sufficient to performe it?

29 lest after he hath layde ye foundacion and is not able to performe it all yt beholde it beginne to mocke him

30 sayinge: this man beganne to bilde and was not able to make an ende.

31 Or what kynge goeth to make batayle agaynst another kinge and sitteth not doune fyrst and casteth in his mynde whether he be able wt ten thousande to mete him that cometh agaynst him wt .xx thousand.

32 Or els whyll ye other is yet a greate waye of he will sende embasseatours and desyre peace.

33 So lykewyse none of you yt forsaketh not all yt he hath can be my disciple.

34 Salt is good but yf salt have loste hyr saltnes what shall be seasoned ther with?

35 It is nether good for ye londe nor yet for ye donge hill but men cast it out at ye dores. He yt hath eares to heare let him heare.

Luke 14 Commentary

Chapter 14

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)

Verses 1-6 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.

Verses 7-14 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.

Verses 15-24 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.

Verses 25-35 Though the disciples of Christ are not all crucified, yet they all bear their cross, and must bear it in the way of duty. Jesus bids them count upon it, and then consider of it. Our Saviour explains this by two similitudes; the former showing that we must consider the expenses of our religion; the latter, that we must consider the perils of it. Sit down and count the cost; consider it will cost the mortifying of sin, even the most beloved lusts. The proudest and most daring sinner cannot stand against God, for who knows the power of his anger? It is our interest to seek peace with him, and we need not send to ask conditions of peace, they are offered to us, and are highly to our advantage. In some way a disciple of Christ will be put to the trial. May we seek to be disciples indeed, and be careful not to grow slack in our profession, or afraid of the cross; that we may be the good salt of the earth, to season those around us with the savour of Christ.