Luke 14

1 One Sabbath, Jesus went to eat in the home of a leading Pharisee, and those in attendance were watching Him closely.

2 Right there before Him was a man with dropsy.

3 So Jesus asked the experts in the law and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”

4 But they remained silent.

5 And He asked them, “Which of you whose son or ox falls into a pit on the Sabbath day will not immediately pull him out?”

6 And they were unable to answer these questions.

7 When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told them a parable:

8 “When you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not sit in the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited.

9 Then the host who invited both of you will come and tell you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ And in humiliation, you will have to take the last place.

10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in front of everyone at the table with you.

11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

12 Then Jesus said to the man who had invited Him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return, and you will be repaid.

13 But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind,

14 and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

15 When one of those reclining with Him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is everyone who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

16 But Jesus replied, “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests.

17 When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

18 But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’

19 Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out. Please excuse me.’

20 Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, so I cannot come.’

21 The servant returned and reported all this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’

22 ‘Sir,’ the servant replied, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’

23 So the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.

24 For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will taste my banquet.’”

25 Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and He turned and said to them,

26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.

27 And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.

28 Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it?

29 Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,

30 saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’

31 Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

32 And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.

33 In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.

34 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its savor, with what will it be seasoned?

35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile, and it is thrown out.

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.