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.
The fourteenth chapter of the Gospel according to Luke in the King James Version (KJV) Bible is a rich narrative that explores several themes, including the nature of God's kingdom, the cost of discipleship, and the importance of humility. This chapter showcases Jesus' teachings and parables, providing profound insights into the essence of Christian living.
The chapter begins with Jesus at the house of a leading Pharisee on the Sabbath, where he heals a man suffering from dropsy. The Pharisees and experts in the law remain silent when Jesus asks if it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath, reflecting their inability to comprehend the radical nature of God's love and compassion. This event illuminates Jesus' commitment to prioritizing the needs of the suffering over the strict observance of religious laws. The healing of the man with dropsy symbolizes the power of God's grace to restore and renew lives, even amidst criticism and opposition.
Jesus then tells the Parable of the Wedding Feast, where he advises the guests not to take the places of honor, lest they be humiliated when someone more distinguished arrives. Instead, they should take the lowest place, so that when the host comes, they may be invited higher. This teaching underscores the value of humility and the dangers of self-exaltation. The parable aligns with Jesus' consistent message throughout the Gospels: "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." (Luke 14:11). This underscores the transformative power of humility in the Christian faith.
Jesus presents another parable, the Parable of the Great Banquet, where a man prepares a large banquet but all his invited guests make excuses not to attend. The host then invites the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. When there is still room, he sends his servant to invite strangers from the highways and hedges. This parable highlights the inclusive nature of God's Kingdom, which welcomes everyone, particularly the marginalized and the outcast. It also underscores the necessity of accepting God's invitation to partake in His Kingdom, as represented by the banquet.
Jesus then speaks about the cost of being a disciple. He uses the metaphor of a man building a tower or a king going to war, both of whom must first sit down and calculate the cost to see if they have enough to complete their tasks. Jesus uses these metaphors to illustrate the necessity of total commitment in following Him. He warns that anyone who does not renounce all that they have cannot be His disciple. The message is clear: discipleship demands total commitment, even to the point of renouncing one's family and possessions. This is a call for Christians to prioritize their relationship with God above all else.
The chapter concludes with the Parable of the Salt without Taste. Jesus warns that if salt loses its taste, it is good for nothing and must be thrown away. This metaphor illustrates the importance of maintaining one's spiritual vitality and commitment to God's Kingdom. It serves as a warning to Christians about the danger of losing their spiritual "saltiness", their distinctive Christian character and influence.
In summary, Luke 14 is a profound exploration of the nature of God's Kingdom and the cost of discipleship. The chapter underscores the importance of humility, inclusivity, total commitment to God, and maintaining spiritual vitality. It portrays Jesus as a compassionate healer, a wise teacher, and a demanding master who invites everyone to partake in God's Kingdom but also demands total commitment from His followers. It serves as a crucial guide for Christians on their spiritual journey, urging them to embrace humility, to welcome all people, to commit wholeheartedly to God, and to maintain their distinctive Christian character.
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