KJV
Luke 14
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.
2And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
3And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, ‹Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?›
4And they held their peace. And he took [him], and healed him, and let him go;
5And 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?›
6And 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.›
12Then 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.
16Then 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.›
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Absentee Fathers Luke 14:26
“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.
Affections: Christ Claims the First Place In Luke 14:26
“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.
Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Manuring Luke 14:34, 35
Salt is good, but if the salt loses its savor, with what will it be seasoned? / It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile, and it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
All Christians should be As Missionaries in Following Christ Luke 14:27
And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.
All Christians should be As Missionaries in Hating Life for Christ Luke 14:26
“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.
All Christians should be As Missionaries in Preferring Christ Above all Relations Luke 14:26
“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.
Ambassadors: Other References To Luke 14:32
And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.
Being a Disciple Luke 14:26
“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.
Being in Debt Luke 14:28
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?
Being Organized Luke 14:28–30
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? / Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, / saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’
Budgeting Luke 14:28–30
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? / Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, / saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’
Buying and Selling Luke 14:18
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.’
Care: Worldly Luke 14:18–20
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.’ / Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out. Please excuse me.’ / Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, so I cannot come.’
Carrying the Cross Luke 14:27
And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.
Church Finances Luke 14:28
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?
Cities: Arranged in Streets and Lanes Luke 14:21
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.’
Covetousness: General Scriptures Concerning Luke 14:16–24
But Jesus replied, “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. / When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ / 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.’
Credit Luke 14:28
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?
Credit Cards Luke 14:28
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?
Cross: Figurative Luke 14:27
And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.
Debtors Luke 14:28
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?
Devotedness to God: should be Unreserved Luke 14:33
In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.
Disabilities Luke 14:13, 14
But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, / and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Disabled People Luke 14:12–14
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. / But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, / and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
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Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.
Luke 14:1-6 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.
Luke 14:7-14 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.
Luke 14:15-24 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.
Luke 14:25-35 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.