This section, peculiar to Luke, has been aptly styled ‘the Son of man eating and drinking.' All the incidents occurred at a feast Luke 14:1; Luke 14:7). The parable of the Great Supper Luke 14:16-24) must be carefully distinguished from the similar one in Matthew 22:2-14 (that of the marriage feast... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:1. ONE OF THE RULERS OF THE PHARISEES. Possibly a member of the Sanhedrin, but certainly one of the influential, leading men of the party. ON THE SABBATH. The Jews gave feasts on the Sabbath, the food being prepared the day previous. The custom gave rise to great abuses, though doubtless t... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS division of the Gospel of Luke, embracing nearly one third of the whole, contains for the most part matter peculiar to this Evangelist. A number of the incidents probably belong to an earlier period of the history. A few of these are mentioned by Matthew and Mark, though the greater number even... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:2. A CERTAIN MAN WHO HAD THE DROPSY Evidently this incident took place before the meal (Luke 14:7). The man was not a guest (Luke 14:4), and was possibly placed there by the Pharisees, with a view to entangle our Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:3. ANSWERING, _i.e._, the thoughts of the Pharisees. IS IT LAWFUL, etc.? This unexpected question evidently embarrassed them. If they answered yes, the occasion of finding fault was taken away; if no, they could be charged with want of compassion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:4. BUT THEY HELD THEIR PEACE. They could attend feasts on the Sabbath, but could not say that it was right to heal the sick. Formalism is always thus inconsistent. Their silence was a confession of defeat, however. Then came the healing. SENT HIM AWAY. He was not a guest. The rebuke was no... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:5. IF A SON OR AN OX. The weight of authority is for the reading ‘a son.' The thought then is: If on the Sabbath you help what is your own, then help others (love thy neighbor as thyself). The common reading; ‘an ass or an ox,' suggests the same argument as in chap. Luke 13:15-16; if you wou... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:6. AND THEY COULD NOT. The argument was conclusive. Thus thwarted and overcome, they doubtless hated Him the more.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:7. A PARABLE, in the widest sense, since the language is to be taken literally, though made the basis of a general moral lesson (Luke 14:11). THEM THAT WERE HIDDEN. The invited guests, evidently numerous, were now arriving. THE CHIEF PLACES. We supply ‘at table' to avoid ambiguity. The c... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:8. TO A MARRIAGE FEAST. The greatest festivity, where questions of place were (and are still) considered of most importance. The figure suggests a reference to the feast of the kingdom of God, but this is not the primary thought. Our Lord immediately after represents the class whom He is now... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:9. HE THAT BADE THEE. The proper person to decide both in the primary and deeper applications of the parable. AND THEN THOU SHALT BEGIN WITH SHAME. ‘Begin' hints at the lingering in the coveted place, and the shame rises as the crestfallen one goes lower and lower. THE LOWEST PLACE. Fart... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:10. The opposite course and its results are described. THAT. Our Lord does not bid them take a low place, for _the purpose_ of being put higher. That would be false humility. This result is the purpose of God, who commands this conduct. HAVE HONOR, lit., ‘glory,' in contrast with ‘shame'... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:11. HUMBLED. The same word in both clauses. The principle here set forth was repeated by our Lord on a number of occasions (Matthew 23:12; Luke 18:14), and formed one of the main truths of His teaching. We are to apply it in the widest sense, but especially with reference to the kingdom of G... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:12. TO HIM ALSO THAT HAD BIDDEN HIM. These remarks imply that the host on this occasion had invited the chief persons of the place, and that he expected to receive some return from them. It was probably in a town in Perea, neither a large city nor a rural district, but just of that intermedi... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:13. BID. NOT THE WORD used in Luke 14:12; the quiet invitation is meant. Sounding a trumpet before such a feast is forbidden in Matthew 6:1-2. THE POOR, etc. This is to be taken as including all modes of providing for the wants of the classes referred to. There is little danger that it wil... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:14. AND THEN SHALT BE BLESSED, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT WHEREWITH TO RECOMPENSE THEE. This implies that the benevolence has been done without hope of return, excluding the recompense from ‘the praise of men.' The proof that the blessing will come is added: FOR THOU SHALT BE RECOMPENSED, etc. Ea... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:15. ONE OF THEM, etc. The company this ‘one' was in and the parable which his remark called forth, oppose the view that he sympathized with our Lord. Some think it was merely an attempt at a diversion; since our Lord's remarks were unpleasantly telling. It is more probable that the man, hear... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:16. A CERTAIN MAN. Here representing God, since the parable conveys a lesson about eating bread ‘in the kingdom of God' (Luke 14:15). A GREAT SUPPER. The figure suggested by the last remark is taken up. God prepares ‘a feast of fat things' (Isaiah 25:6), which is to culminate in the marria... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:16-24. THE PARABLE OF THE GREAT SUPPER. The force of the parable, as an answer to the guest is this: ‘What advantage can it be that you, with all your seeming enthusiasm, praise the happiness of those who eat bread in the kingdom of God, if you and those like you, although you are invited, r... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:17. SENT HIS SERVANT. This was usual in the East (comp. Matthew 22:3). As but one servant is spoken of, and but one such invitation, we must understand this as representing Christ Himself, who came to those invited, saying: COME, FOR THINGS ARE NOW READY, _i.e.,_ ‘the kingdom of heaven is at... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:18. AND THEY ALL. The exceptions among the rulers and Pharisees were so few, that this feature of the parable might well be thus stated. WITH ONE CONSENT, or ‘accord.' All in the same spirit, although the excuses are different as well as the manner in which they were made. All were prompte... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:19. I HAVE BOUGHT FIVE YOKE OF OXEN. This one too is hindered by his possessions, but he does not plead necessity; he was GOING TO PROVE THEM, had started as it were, and preferred not to alter his plan. The first represents one so _pressed_ with business, that he thinks he cannot find time... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:20. I HAVE MARRIED A WIFE. According to the Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 24:5), a newly married man was free from military duty for a year. Hence the abrupt tone: AND THEREFORE I CANNOT COME. Home engagements are often the most pressing, as they are also when sanctified the most pious, but the ex... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:21. BEING ANGRY. God has ‘wrath' in such circumstances. GO OUT QUICKLY. This substitution of guests took place at once, both in the parable and in fact INTO THE BROAD WAYS AND STREETS OF THE CITY. Still in the city, _i.e.,_ among the Jews. THE POOR, etc. The very same classes as in Luke... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:22. WHAT THOU DIDST COMMAND IS DONE. Indicating the rapid success among this class. Strictly speaking the servant implies that he had already done this after the first had excused themselves, and before he returned to the Lord. And so it was : Before our Saviour went back from earth, He had... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:23. GO OUT INTO THE HIGHWAYS AND HEDGES. This refers to the spread of the gospel among the Gentiles. ‘Quickly' is not added, for this was a work of time. This succeeds the return of the servant, as the calling of the Gentiles did the Ascension of Christ. This going out was done through other... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:24. FOR I SAY TO YOU. It is a question whether this is the language of the giver of the feast or of Christ in His own person. Our Lord is represented as ‘servant' throughout the parable, and ‘my supper' seems more appropriate in the mouth of the lord of the servant; but ‘you' is plural, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:25. THERE WENT, etc. A continued journeying with Him is meant. The MULTITUDES were probably from different places: Those who originally followed Him from Galilee, others from Perea, and various companies on the way to the approaching Passover feast.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE discourse was delivered, on the way to Jerusalem, probably very shortly after the meal in the Pharisee's house (Luke 14:1-24). The _place_ was therefore Perea, and the _time_ one of the three days referred to in chap. Luke 13:32-33. He was followed by multitudes and yet was on the direct road to... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:26. See on Matthew 10:37. Which was addressed to the Twelve. HATE NOT. The demand is for supreme love to Christ: FATHER, and MOTHER, etc., are placed here as objects which may and often do interfere with this supreme love. In so far as they do this, they are to be hated, not actively and pe... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:27. See on Matthew 10:38; Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23. While our Lord had foretold His death, He had not announced that He would be crucified ; so that this saying must have sounded strangely to the multitude. Notice that both verses speak of _being_ a disciple, not simply _becoming_... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:28. FOR WHICH OF YOU. By two illustrations our Lord enforces the requirements just stated. TO BUILD A TOWER, a structure of some importance, and involving considerable expense. The prudent way is described: first the plan; second, the careful consideration of what is required to carry it o... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:29-30. LEST HAPLY, etc. The probable consequence of any other way of proceeding is described: first, failure to finish; second, the mockery of others at the failure. The leading thought here enforced is : entire self-renunciation is necessary to _be_ a disciple of Christ. The building the to... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:31. OR WHAT KING. The former illustration gives prominence to the _folly,_ this to the _danger,_ of following Christ, without due consideration of the requirements of discipleship (self-renunciation). Going to battle against overwhelming odds is dangerous folly. The king WITH TEN THOUSAND re... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:32. ASKETH CONDITIONS OF PEACE. This represents our throwing ourselves upon God's mercy in view of our own insufficiency. ‘A Christian's weakness is his strength.' Thus the previous illustration is supplemented. This making of peace opposes the view that the conflict is with Satan or with si... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:33. SO THEN, etc. The illustrations are applied to the principle laid down in Luke 14:26-27. Unless one is prepared to do this, after due consideration and with a full view of his own insufficiency, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:34. SALT THEREFORE IS GOOD. ‘Therefore' connects this favorite aphorism with what precedes. It is good then to be my disciple, in the way of self-renunciation, and thus to be the means of conserving spiritual life among men, just as salt does in the natural world ; BUT IF EVEN THE SALT, whic... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 14:35. NEITHER FOR THE LAND, NOR FOR THE DUNGHILL. Fuller than Matthew 5:13: ‘good for nothing.' It is not useful directly or indirectly. MEN EAST IT OUT (emphatically), because it is thus useless. HE THAT HATH EARS TO HEAR, etc. This common formula calls attention to the importance of what... [ Continue Reading ]