The Gospels · Chapter 14 of 24

Luke 14

At a Pharisee's table Jesus heals a man on the sabbath, then teaches humility by urging guests to take the lowest seat and hosts to invite those who cannot repay. He tells of a great supper whose invited guests make excuses and are replaced by the poor from the streets, and warns the crowds to count the cost of following him with undivided commitment.

What happens in Luke 14

Dining at a Pharisee's house on the sabbath while being watched, Jesus heals a man with dropsy and silences his critics by asking who would not rescue an ox from a pit. Noticing guests choosing places of honor, he counsels the lowest seat, since whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself exalted. He tells his host to invite not friends who can repay but the poor, maimed, lame, and blind, with reward promised at the resurrection.

When a guest mentions eating bread in the kingdom, Jesus tells of a great supper whose guests all make excuses over land, oxen, and marriage, so the host fills his house with the poor and outcast from the streets. Turning to the crowds, he warns that a disciple must love him above family and life, bear the cross, count the cost like a builder or a king at war, and forsake all, or be like salt that has lost its savor.

Luke 14 in context

This chapter unfolds around meals, a favorite Lukan setting, where Jesus overturns social expectations about honor and hospitality. The sabbath healing again pits his mercy against the leaders' scrutiny. The parable of the great supper pictures God's invitation spurned by the respected and embraced by the marginalized, echoing Luke's theme of grace reaching the outsiders.

The closing words on cost balance the free invitation with the total claim Christ makes on every disciple's life.

Main themes of Luke 14

Luke 14 (KJV)

1And 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. 7And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, 8When 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; 9And 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. 10But 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. 11For 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. 13But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: 14And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. 15And 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: 17And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18And 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. 19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21So 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. 22And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23And 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. 24For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. 25And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26If 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. 27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31Or 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? 32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 34Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35It 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.

Verses to carry from Luke 14

“For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”Luke 14:11

“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.”Luke 14:23

“And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”Luke 14:27

Reflection

It is tempting to want Jesus as an addition to a comfortable life, one more good thing among many. But he asks to be first, above even our dearest loves. That sounds heavy until you remember who is asking: the host of a feast who welcomed you when you could never repay. Count the cost honestly, then come; he is worth it.

A prayer from Luke 14