1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.
2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
4 And they held their peace. And he took [him], and healed him, and let him go;
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 again to these things.
7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,
8 When thou art bidden of any [man] to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
12 Then said he also to him that bade 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 bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
13 But when thou makest a feast, 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 them that sat at meat 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 bade many:
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, 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 piece of ground, and I must needs 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 servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, 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 bidden shall taste of my supper.
25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26 If any [man] come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have [sufficient] to finish [it]?
29 Lest haply, after he hath 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, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
34 Salt [is] good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; [but] men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Overview of Luke Chapter 14
Luke 14 is a significant chapter in the Gospel of Luke that highlights Jesus’ teachings on humility, the nature of the Kingdom of God, and the cost of discipleship. The chapter is structured around three main sections: a healing on the Sabbath, parables about humility and the great banquet, and a call to discipleship.
Healing on the Sabbath (Luke 14:1-6)
In the opening verses, Jesus is invited to dine at the house of a prominent Pharisee on the Sabbath. During this meal, He encounters a man suffering from dropsy (edema).
- Challenge to the Pharisees: Jesus poses a question to the lawyers and Pharisees about whether it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath.
- Healing the Man: Despite their silence, Jesus heals the man and sends him away, demonstrating His authority and compassion.
- Critique of Legalism: Jesus emphasizes that caring for others takes precedence over rigid adherence to the law, challenging the Pharisees’ understanding of the Sabbath.
Parable of the Wedding Feast (Luke 14:7-14)
Following the healing, Jesus shares a parable about guests at a wedding feast, teaching lessons on humility and social status.
- Choosing the Lowest Place: Jesus advises guests to take the lowest seat at a banquet to avoid humiliation and to be honored by the host.
- Inviting the Poor: He instructs the host to invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind, rather than friends or wealthy neighbors, emphasizing the blessings of generosity.
- Reward in the Resurrection: Jesus assures that those who help the needy will be rewarded at the resurrection of the righteous.
Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24)
In this parable, Jesus illustrates the invitation to the Kingdom of God and the responses of those invited.
- The Invitation: A man prepares a great banquet and sends out invitations.
- Excuses for Rejection: Those invited make various excuses for not attending, citing fields, oxen, and marriage.
- Invitation to the Marginalized: The host, angered by the rejections, commands his servant to invite the poor, crippled, blind, and lame, symbolizing the inclusivity of God’s Kingdom.
- Finality of the Invitation: The parable concludes with the statement that none of those who were originally invited will taste the banquet, highlighting the consequences of rejecting God’s invitation.
The Cost of Discipleship (Luke 14:25-35)
In the final section of the chapter, Jesus addresses the crowds following Him, emphasizing the serious commitment required to be His disciple.
- Prioritizing Jesus: Jesus states that one must hate their own family and life to be His disciple, stressing the need for total devotion.
- Carrying the Cross: He calls for followers to carry their cross daily, symbolizing the sacrifices and challenges of discipleship.
- Counting the Cost: Jesus uses the examples of a builder and a king to illustrate the importance of assessing the cost before committing to discipleship.
- Salt and Its Worth: The chapter concludes with a metaphor about salt; if it loses its flavor, it is useless. This reinforces the idea that disciples must remain committed and impactful in their faith.
Theological Themes
Luke 14 presents several key theological themes:
- Compassion and Healing: Jesus demonstrates His authority and compassion through healing, challenging societal norms.
- Humility and Service: The teachings on humility and the importance of serving the marginalized reflect the values of the Kingdom of God.
- Inclusivity of the Gospel: The parables emphasize that God’s invitation is extended to all, especially those who are often overlooked.
- Cost of Discipleship: The call to follow Jesus requires serious commitment, sacrifice, and a willingness to prioritize Him above all else.
Conclusion
Luke 14 serves as a profound reminder of the nature of Jesus’ ministry and the radical call to discipleship. Through His teachings and parables, Jesus challenges societal norms, emphasizes humility, and calls for a deep commitment to following Him, inviting all to partake in the blessings of the Kingdom of God.
