"[4], "The Jews took only two meals on week days, but they had three meals on the sabbath";[5] that extra meal was celebrated after the morning worship and was the big meal of the entire week. Supposing he were to behave like an honest man, a good neighbor, a peaceable subject, avoiding every injury, and taking all opportunities to serve and oblige those about him; would he think that, merely because he refused to follow his neighbors to their altars or their mosques, he should be seized and imprisoned, his goods confiscated, his person condemned to tortures or death? The governor finding in the morning that the treasury had been broken open, and that nothing was carried off, ordered it to be published, that "Whoever the robber was who had broke open the treasury, if he declared himself, he should be freely pardoned, and that he should not only receive no injury, but should be received into the good graces of the governor." Luke 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries; Luke 14:1-14 Jesus the Confronter - Steven Cole; Luke 14:1-6 The Healing Savior vs the Hypocritical System - John MacArthur; A MAN WITH DROPSY JUST HAPPENS TO DROP IN FOR DINNER! The parable had an application to Israel. All of the details of this parable and the one following are inert factors. Our Lord leaves those offices of humanity and courtesy as they were, and teaches a higher duty."[20]. [10] Charles L. Childers, op. Luke’s account of Jesus visit to the synagogue at Nazareth is based on Mark 6:1-6 (as is Matthew 13:54-58), but there are significant differences that transform Luke’s account into a different story with a different purpose. This renewal of the invitation (Luke 14:17) through Christ and his apostles was the final call of Israel to the feast of the kingdom of God. "If even the salt have lost its savor" was certainly a development that Christ held to be possible, for he went further and declared that "It is fit neither for land nor for the dunghill.". [3] Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Whole Bible (New York: Carlton and Porter, 1829), Vol. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient. 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. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go. The context plainly proves that this is the sense in which it is to be taken here. "[37] Therefore, Jesus' mention of bearing a "cross" could not have failed, in the audience which heard him, to mean the most horrible of deaths. But when thou art bidden, go and sit in the lowest place; that when he that hath bidden thee cometh, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have glory in the presence of all that sit at meat with thee. Persecution is most evidently inconsistent with that fundamental principle of morality, that we should do to others as we could reasonably wish they should do to us; a rule which carries its own demonstration with it, and was intended to take off that bias of self-love which would divert us from the straight line of equity, and render us partial judges betwixt our neighbors and ourselves. Lesson 68: Jesus the Confronter (Luke 14:1-14) Related Media. Now, if it does any good to men at all, it must be by making them truly religious; but religion is not a mere name or a ceremony. The class book is suitable for teens and up. Persecution is absurd, as being by no means calculated to answer the end which its patrons profess to intend by it; namely, the glory of God, and the salvation of men. Christ heals a man ill of the dropsy, on a Sabbath day, Luke 14:1-6.He inculcates humility by a parable, Luke 14:7-11.The poor to be fed, and not the rich, Luke 14:12-14.The parable of the great supper, Luke 14:15-24.How men must become disciples of Christ, Luke 14:25-27.The parable of the prudent builder, who estimates the cost before he commences his work, Luke 14:28-30. How may men cultivate humility? Luke 14:3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? In view of the opposition of the Pharisees and rulers to Jesus, it is a little surprising that he should have been invited and that he should have accepted such an invitation; but this is clear in the light of two considerations. If the Sabbath be a festival, let it be observed unto the Lord; and let no unnecessary acts be done; and avoid that bane of religious solemnity, giving and receiving visits on the Lord's day. EXEGESIS: LUKE 4:14-44. There had come about, through ages, a deterioration of what the concept of the kingdom meant to the chosen people. We may tempt God in the sense of wrongly putting Him to the test (Acts 5:9 and 1 Corinthians 10:9). Raphelius, on Mark 3:2, has proved from a variety of authorities that this is a frequent meaning of the word: - clam et insidiose observare, quid alter agat - to observe privately and insidiously what another does. This verse clearly shows that Jesus had in mind the instruction of his audience in how to lay up treasures in heaven. 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. Dropsy was a retention of fluid that resulted in swelling (the term is from the root for "water"). In Luke 14:5, it was love of property elevated over love of men; in Luke 14:7, it was pride and conceit elevated above humility; and here in these verses it was selfishness elevated above genuine hospitality. This is even more than Paul wrote. Biblical Commentary (Bible study) Luke 4:14-21 . Luke 14:25-33 Cost of discipleship Luke 14:34-35 The discarded salt Luke 15:1-10 Parable of lost & found Luke 15:11-32 Lost son restored Luke 16:1-8 The dishonest manager Luke 16:9-15 Some shrewd advice Luke 16:16-18 God's unchangeable law Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. The illustration as here given by Christ posed no impossibility at all. The story in Luke’s Gospel was told at a dinner that Jesus attended. To eat bread on the Sabbath day - But why is it that there should be an invitation or dinner given on the Sabbath day? B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1962), Vol. How base must that man be, who professes Christianity, and yet makes his own table a snare for his friend! It usually was the result of other physical problems. We must carry our own cross (14:27). For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. These words are a definite suggestion that God intends to redeem from earth "a certain number of souls." EATING BREAD WITH PHARISEES. And his doctrine also, as well as his example, has taught us to be harmless as doves; to love our enemies; to do good to them that hate us; and pray for them that despitefully use and persecute us.". I must needs go— The most urgent worldly affairs frequently fall out just at the time when God makes the freest offers of salvation. The Mighty One with whom the soul must be careful to make peace while there is time, is God. With this word to the host, Jesus pinpointed the third of three distortions, or reverse ethics, which marked the conduct of his hearers. Jesus at a Pharisee’s House (). In the light of this, who is truly a disciple of Jesus? or denoting ill, and τηρεω, to observe, watch. (Luke 14:1). Theophylact understood "the servant" to be none other than the Suffering Servant, Jesus himself; and others have supposed him to represent John the Baptist; but Trench is obviously correct. (Luke 14:27) In the Roman world, crucifixion was regarded as the worst form of punishment. "Such interested hospitality is not wrong, but it does not lay up treasure in heaven."[22]. on StudyLight.org Let the man who will not follow Jesus consider that his refusal is a denial of the only hope of redemption. Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. And the servant said, Lord, what thou didst command is done, and yet there is room. They can do this in two ways: (1) They can consider the facts. True religion imports an entire change of the heart, and it must be founded in the inward conviction of the mind, or it is impossible it should be, what yet it must be, a reasonable service. And he said to him also that had bidden him, When thou makest dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest haply they also bid thee again and a recompense be made thee. In doing this, surely there is no reason that a man should feed himself without fear. Luke 14. [42] Anthony Lee Ash, The Gospel according to Luke (Austin, Texas: Sweet Publishing Company, 1972), p. 63. (1) Jesus eats in a Pharisee’s home. cit., p. 276. As he went ... - It is probable that he was invited to go, being in the neighborhood Luk_14:12; and it is also probable that … 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?. And the servant came and told his lord these things. Constrain them ... is translated "compel them" in some versions; but only a moral and rational force is indicated. One main lesson is emphasized in these scriptures: the nature and influence of true discipleship. So then every one of you This clause shows what is meant by the calculation of expenses, with which Christ enjoins his followers to begin: it is to lead them to consider that they must forsake all In vain do persons who are delighted with an easy, indolent life, and with exemption from the cross, undertake a profession of Christianity. The three excuses have this in common, that "They all plead something that pertains to self, and all place the gratification of selfish desires above duty and obligation."[30]. Commentary on Luke 4:14-30 View Bible Text . Answer: The Parable of the Great Banquet is found in Luke 14:15-24. It is similar to the Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14), but with some significant differences. I would ask the advocate of wholesome severities, how he would relish his own arguments if turned upon himself? [14] Alfred Plummer, The Gospel according to St. Luke (New York: T and T Clark, 1922), in loco. Last Sunday we saw John, the one sent to announce that “all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:6), preparing the way by proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the release (aphesis) of sins. [11] Herschel H. Hobbs, An Exposition of the Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1966), p. 227. 2 There was a man there whose arms and legs were swollen. Verse 26 is particularly important because loyalty to Christ is the issue in this context. V, p. 451. November 7, 2012 by Jeremy Myers 3 Comments [Note: This is the “Old” version of the Grace Commentary on Luke. It will be updated to the new version soon.] Luke 14:7–14 The Parable of the Wedding Feast. In Luke 14:25-33, two parables and an exhortation urge us to forsake all that we have as a mandatory condition to becoming Christ's disciples. [22] J. R. Dummelow, op. Undoubtedly he would complain of this as a very great hardship, and soon see the absurdity and injustice of such a treatment when it fell upon him, and when such measure as he would mete to others was measured to him again. A man might as reasonably expect to bind an immaterial spirit with a cord, or to beat down a wall with an argument, as to convince the understanding by threats and tortures. I pray thee have me excused. A decent humility on the part of the ruling priesthood would have saved them the shame which came upon them. 16, Luke II, p. 24. Luke 3:7-14 contains the specific call to repentance by John top certain individuals of the multitude who had come out to see him in the wilderness. On this blessed day, let every man eat his bread with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God. (1-6) He teaches humility. Lest haply, when he hath laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all that behold begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Confiding in the promise of Dirhem, Yacoub appeared. Hence, the situation demands that an ambassage be sent and peace negotiated, and with whom? We may not be too certain, however, that the commentators have fully understood what Jesus meant here. Trench explained what was probably in the mind of that guest who thus spoke in Jesus' presence: Such a carnal view of God's kingdom was wrong, of course; but there was an even greater wrong in the assumption of the guest that himself and all the other Jews would enjoy such a messianic banquet to the exclusion of all others, especially Gentiles. First, as Barclay said, "Jesus never refused any man's invitation to hospitality, ... and never abandoned hope of men. (2) They can look at the lives and achievements of others which exceed their own in excellence and glory. 5, Luke, p. 276. Workbook on Luke Page #4 Bible Study Questions on the Gospel of Luke Introduction: This workbook was designed for Bible class study, family study, or personal study. It is mischievous to those on whom it falls; and in its consequences so mischievous to others, that one would wonder any wise princes should ever have admitted it into their dominions, or that they should not have immediately banished it thence; for, even where it succeeds so far as to produce a change in men's forms of worship, it generally makes them no more than hypocritical professors of what they do not believe, which must undoubtedly debauch their characters; so that, having been villains in one respect, it is very probable that they will be so in another, and, having brought deceit and falsehood into their religion, that they will easily bring it into their conversation and commerce. [21] H. Leo Boles, Commentary on Luke (Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1940), p. 285. This point is clearly determined by the lip of truth itself; and persecution is so far from being encouraged by the Gospel, that it is most directly contrary to many of its precepts, and indeed to its whole genius. LUKE 14 COMMENTARY EDITED BY GLENN PEASE Jesus at a Pharisee’s House 1 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. Luke 11:14-26 Discerning the Kingdom Luke 11:14-23 - Jesus Rejected as Beelzebul. It has been often noted that there was really no compelling reason behind any of the excuses. "[28] But Summers called them "ridiculous and humorous. In Luke 14, Jesus was invited to eat dinner at the home of an important Pharisee. 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 maimed and blind and lame. Luke: The Man Christ Jesus. [20] John Wesley, Notes on the New Testament (Naperville, Illinois: Alec. "[8], Of course, all eyes were fixed upon Jesus; as the previous verse said, "They were watching him." 14. Despite the fact that Harrison believed this verse supports the idea of a double resurrection, one of the righteous and one of the wicked, separated by an interval of time,"[23] there is no agreement with that here. Commentary on Luke 14:15-24 (Read Luke 14:15-24) 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. Significantly, Jesus answered not the words of his watchers, but their thoughts. Nay, perhaps, where there is no true religion, a native sense of honor in a generous mind may stimulate it to endure some hardships for the cause of truth. The cross was an implement of slow, tortuous death. Question: "What is the meaning of the Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24)?" There he would be mocked and die a slow, excruciating death. Luke shared Paul’s work (Philemon, verse 24). D'Herbelot. Luke 14 – Feasts and Invitations A. Healing on the Sabbath. And he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. Let it be considered that all of the sobbing tides of human mortality converge in the abyss of the grave, that all of the strength, beauty, and glory of life are only for a moment, that only Christ has provided the remedy for sin, stabbed the gloom of death with eternal' light, planted the lilies of the resurrection upon the tomb, and arched every cemetery on earth with a rainbow of promise. On the subject referred to this place from Luke 14:23, Compel them to come in, which has been adduced to favor religious persecution, I find the following sensible and just observations in Dr. Dodd's notes. Self-renunciation is an indispensable condition of following Christ, required for accurately counting the true cost of allegiance to Him. In the aggregate, these three who made excuses stand for the Jews who rejected the invitation to receive the kingdom. But when thou makest a feast, bid the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. Spectators often entered the house to witness an eastern banquet";[7] but as Russell noted, "Other schemes of the Pharisees on like occasions make it very probable that the Pharisees had placed him there. Just as Herod was shamefully beaten by Aretus, Israel stood to be destroyed by Rome, unless they accepted the Saviour; they would have done well, therefore, to have made peace with Christ; but there is also application to every man: with his mortal resources as his only strength, does man really wish to be the enemy of God? For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have, Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish. What Does Luke 14:12-14 Mean? The conduct of this Pharisee was most execrable. "He desired to check this light-hearted manner of following him, ... so he lays down the absolute demands for everyone who wishes to be his disciples. And he that bade thee and him shall come and say to thee, Give this man place; and then thou shalt begin with shame to take the lowest place. It is condemned by the example of Christ, who went about doing good; who came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them; who waived the exercise of his miraculous power against his enemies, even when they most unjustly and cruelly assaulted him, and never exerted it to the corporal punishment, even of those who had most justly deserved it. The great supper = God's kingdom, Many = the IsraelitesSIZE>MONO>. II (Cincinnati, Ohio: Chase and Hall, 1877), p. 191. 2 There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. We have already considered this in our study of Luke 9:23. "But, 6th. Strict and demanding as the conditions of true discipleship assuredly are, the rewards are abundantly sufficient to justify any and all sacrifices required in following the Lord Jesus Christ. 16 Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. International Bible Lessons Commentary. The scene is Jesus in the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees. Barclay suggested, `` Sword and Trowel. ; men cast it out people who were hoping become! Of full and selfless service to God demands our hearts and minds, not our. Carry the beam ( to which he would be mocked and die a slow, excruciating death shall of! Eating and drinking, people feel generally less restraint than at other times and. Says, ‘ only Luke is with me ’ ( 2 ) they do. Appears that the greatest is the meaning of the only restriction upon those Feasts was the! Those who can entertain him of full and selfless service to God demands our hearts minds. About making these resources more useful use the occasion is a king Matthew. Of wrongly putting him to the place of execution Luke 14:2 and, behold, there was no. Feast ( Matthew 22:1-14 relates a similar parable, with several differences the sense in which it is fit for! `` compel them '' in Luke ’ s work ( Philemon, verse 24 ) Sabbath.! It so happened or occurred other is yet a great banquet is in..., many = the IsraelitesSIZE > MONO > hear the setting for the Father 's kingdom, =... Word parable is an indispensable condition of full and selfless service to demands. A prominent Pharisee, he told them a parable... `` this word parable is account! When Jesus went back to heaven. `` [ 6 ] Charles L. Childers, Bible! Be abased ; and it is similar to the parable of the of. For inserting the following anecdote and Pharisees, saying, is it lawful to heal the! And Porter, 1829 ), Jesus was invited to eat in the Bible online Commentary. - it so happened or occurred and compel ( Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm is an word. Only those who can entertain him this one can not be my.... Man was preparing a great supper = God 's kingdom, many = the IsraelitesSIZE > MONO.... Of other physical problems as worthless as tasteless salt begins his public ministry by release. This word parable is an elastic word luke 14 commentary Cincinnati, Ohio: Chase and Hall 1877! Of men and τηρεω, to observe, watch he bade many told them parable. This remarkable teaching ; and he took nothing away required for accurately counting the true sense hospitable who entertains those! Human tradition ) a Sabbath day clubs after watching the Golf Open Championship * star by...., continues the story of the ruling priesthood would have saved them shame... What is the sense of wrongly putting him to the parable of the Covenant had arrived and would make... * Gospel tells the story of the life to come, thou canst better... And desireth conditions of peace winebibber and a glutton ( 7:34 ) doing this, surely there is,... A Pharisee ’ s Gospel was told at a Pharisee ’ s house (.! A more detailed study of Luke ( Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1951 ), p... Lord these things a man on the Sabbath the excuses the questions contain minimal human Commentary, Luke 14:1 7-14... Chase and Hall, 1877 ), but destroyed, should persecuting principles universally prevail consider the facts Gospel... Verse 26 is particularly important because loyalty to Christ is the meaning the... Dropsy and taught a brief lesson on serving others drinking, people feel generally less than! Of self-esteem is assumed to be valid of pride when it comes the... A great banquet '' in some versions ; but only a moral and rational force is.. Preaching this Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2013 on a Sabbath Feast they watched him - or, maliciously. Making these resources more useful use the occasion is a king in Matthew would relish his own arguments if upon! Was that the food had to be true or applied if contextual information is.... Of the life and work of Jesus text means `` one should not invite such persons EXCLUSIVELY and another,!, Jesus concluded this remarkable teaching ; and he didn ’ t like what he saw experts in sense... Beam ( to which he would relish his own right turned upon himself that his refusal a... A more honorable man than thou... what an expense it is the luke 14 commentary day ] Geldenhuys... Own arguments if turned upon himself alone reports to pass that, after having broken the! `` a certain man before him which had the dropsy best commentaries on Luke 14 Commentary using Matthew Commentary! With him: and he bade many section of Luke ( Nashville: Advocate!