Luke 14

1 And it came to pass as he went into the house of one of the princes of the Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day that they watched him.

2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him who had the dropsy.

3 And Jesus, answering, spoke unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

4 And they were silent. And he took him and healed him and dismissed him

5 and answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

6 And they could not answer him as to these things.

7 And observing how they chose the first seats at the table, he put forth a parable to those who were invited, saying unto them,

8 When thou art called to a wedding by anyone, do not sit down in the highest place, lest a more honourable man than thou be invited of him,

9 and he that called thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place, and thou begin with shame to have the lowest place.

10 But when thou art called, go and sit down in the lowest place that when he that invited thee comes, he may say unto thee, Friend, come up higher; then shalt thou have glory in the presence of those that sit at the table with thee.

11 For whosoever exalts himself shall be abased, and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.

12 Then said he also to him that invited him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen nor thy rich neighbours, lest they also invite thee again, and a recompense be made thee.

13 But when thou makest a banquet, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind,

14 and thou shalt be blessed, for they cannot recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

15 And when one of those that sat at the table with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper and called many

17 and sent his slave at supper time to say to those that were called, Come, for all things are now ready.

18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a field, and I have need to go and see it; I pray thee have me excused.

19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused.

20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

21 So that slave came and showed his lord these things. Then the husband of the house, being angry, said to his slave, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the halt and the blind.

22 And the slave said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

23 And the lord said unto the slave, Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in that my house may be filled.

24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were called shall taste of my supper.

25 And great multitudes went with him, and he turned and said unto them,

26 If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters, and even his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27 And whosoever does not bear his cross {Gr. stauros – stake} and come after me cannot be my disciple.

28 For which of you intending to build a tower does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has sufficient to finish it?

29 Lest perhaps after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

30 saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

31 Or what king going to make war against another king does not sit down first and consult whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that comes against him with twenty thousand?

32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and desires conditions of peace.

33 So likewise, any one of you that does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple.

34 Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its savour, with what shall it be seasoned?

35 It is neither good for the land, nor for the dunghill; it is cast out. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

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.