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, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
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?
And they could not answer him again to these things.
And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,
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;
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.
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.
For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
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.
But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
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.
Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
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.
And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
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.
And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
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.
For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
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.
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
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?
Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
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.
Luke 14 presents a powerful and challenging message about what it truly means to be a follower of Jesus and a participant in the kingdom of God. Situated within Jesus' journey to Jerusalem and the cross, this chapter, along with Luke 15, forms a crucial section focused on the kingdom of God and salvation. It calls us to examine our motives, priorities, and willingness to sacrifice for the sake of Christ. Luke 12:1—19:27 can be broken into six sections: instructions on living in God's kingdom (Luke 12:1—13:9), a Sabbath healing and instructions on the kingdom and salvation (Luke 13:10—13:35), a Sabbath healing and instructions on the kingdom and salvation (Luke 14:1—15:32), warnings against rejecting God's kingdom (Luke 16:1—17:10), a healing and instructions on the kingdom and salvation (Luke 17:11—18:34), a healing and instructions on the kingdom and salvation (Luke 18:35—19:27).
A Sabbath Healing and Hypocrisy Exposed (Luke 14:1-6)
Jesus is invited to dine at the home of a leading Pharisee on the Sabbath (Luke 14:1). Present is a man suffering from dropsy, a condition causing his body to swell with fluid (Luke 14:2). Knowing the Pharisees are watching, Jesus poses a question that cuts to the heart of their legalistic hypocrisy: "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" (Luke 14:3).
Their silence speaks volumes. They are unwilling to defy their rigid interpretation of the Sabbath law, even if it means denying compassion and healing to a suffering man. Jesus, therefore, heals the man (Luke 14:4) and then challenges them further: "Which of you, if your son or your ox falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?" (Luke 14:5).
Their inability to answer underscores their hypocrisy. They readily apply common sense and compassion to their own possessions and family, but they deny it to someone in need when it conflicts with their self-serving interpretation of religious law. They twist God's law to suit themselves. This healing highlights a central theme: God's compassion and the needs of people take precedence over rigid adherence to rules.
Lessons in Humility (Luke 14:7-11)
Observing the guests vying for positions of honor at the banquet, Jesus imparts a lesson on humility (Luke 14:7). He advises them to take the lowest seat, so that the host might invite them to move up to a higher place (Luke 14:8-10). This avoids the potential humiliation of being asked to move to a lower position if someone more important arrives.
The principle extends beyond social etiquette. "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:11). The Pharisees exalted themselves, assuming they held important positions in the kingdom. But Jesus sought to teach them the relationship between humility and exaltation. True honor comes not from self-promotion but from humble service and dependence on God. We are to live with an eternal perspective in mind—not with a desire for notoriety. Followers of Christ are not to exalt themselves by presumptuously seeking positions of greatness; rather, they are to assume lower positions of service and allow God to exalt them. Humility is the true path to glory.
True Hospitality (Luke 14:12-14)
Turning to the host, Jesus challenges the conventional understanding of hospitality (Luke 14:12). Instead of inviting friends, relatives, and wealthy neighbors who can reciprocate, he urges him to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind—those who cannot repay him (Luke 14:13).
The reward for such selfless generosity is not earthly but heavenly. "You will be blessed," Jesus says, "since they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just" (Luke 14:14). This highlights the importance of acting with an eternal perspective, motivated by love and compassion rather than the expectation of earthly reward. Inviting the outcasts of society would indicate that he had an eternal perspective, since repayment for such would come at the resurrection (Luke 14:14).
The Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24)
A guest's comment about the blessedness of those who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God (Luke 14:15) prompts Jesus to tell the parable of the great banquet. A man prepares a great feast and sends out invitations, but one by one, the invited guests offer excuses for their inability to attend (Luke 14:16-20).
Angered by their rejection, the master instructs his servant to bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame from the streets of the town (Luke 14:21). Even then, there is still room, so he sends the servant out further to compel people to come in, "so that my house may be filled" (Luke 14:23). Finally, the master declares that none of those who were originally invited will taste his banquet (Luke 14:24).
This parable illustrates the rejection of God's invitation by those who felt entitled to it and the inclusion of those considered unworthy. Since most of the Jews rejected Jesus, his kingdom message would be declared and received by others—by the Gentiles. There’s no excuse for rejecting Jesus. The King and his kingdom must have priority. This emphasizes that salvation is offered to all, but it requires a willingness to abandon worldly priorities and accept God's invitation. The parable serves as a powerful reminder that the kingdom of God is not a matter of privilege or entitlement but of responding to God's grace with humility and obedience.
The Cost of Discipleship (Luke 14:25-35)
Tremendous crowds were following Jesus (Luke 14:25). But he knew that many of them were merely following him for the show he was providing: the miracles, the healings, the exorcisms, the teachings. Jesus addresses the crowds following him, emphasizing the cost of discipleship. He states that unless one "hates" his own family, he cannot be his disciple (Luke 14:26). This is not a call to literal hatred but a call to prioritize Christ above all other relationships. The point is that Jesus deserves priority over every other relationship. If you must choose between Jesus and a family member, then, Jesus wins. Our love for him must be so strong that unbelieving family members think our love for them might as well be hate, because we chose to obey Jesus rather than do what they want. This is the call to and cost of discipleship.
He further states that whoever does not carry his own cross and follow him cannot be his disciple (Luke 14:27). This refers to the suffering and self-denial that are inherent in following Christ. Crucifixion was the Roman execution of choice for heinous criminals. And a condemned person had to carry his cross to his crucifixion site. So Jesus’s listeners knew what he was talking about. Many had seen it happen. Jesus was telling them that becoming his disciple would involve some form of suffering. Not every Christian disciple’s suffering is the same, but every Christian disciple will suffer. This is because to bear your cross and follow Jesus means to identify with him. And as Jesus told his disciples, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20).
To illustrate the need for careful consideration, Jesus presents two analogies: a builder who calculates the cost before starting construction (Luke 14:28-30) and a king who assesses his strength before going to war (Luke 14:31-32). These examples emphasize the importance of "counting the cost" and being willing to renounce everything for the sake of Christ (Luke 14:33). That means recognizing that you are a steward of all you have; you are not an owner. God has given you possessions to manage. You are to thank him for them, use them for his glory, and bless others with them. What you must not do is claim ownership.
Finally, Jesus uses the analogy of salt that has lost its saltiness to illustrate the uselessness of a disciple who is unwilling to embrace the cost of following him (Luke 14:34-35). The saltiness of salt is what makes it salt! Without that, it isn’t fit for . . . the manure pile. Likewise, unless a Christian is willing to endure the costly nature of being a disciple, he is useless to the kingdom of God. Let anyone who has ears to hear listen (Luke 14:35) is Jesus’s way of saying, “Though everyone has ears, not everyone listens. You’d better pay close attention.”
Luke 14 challenges us to examine our understanding of discipleship and the kingdom of God. It calls us to embrace humility, prioritize God above all else, and be willing to sacrifice for the sake of Christ. It is a reminder that true discipleship is not a casual commitment but a radical transformation of our lives.
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, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
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?
And they could not answer him again to these things.
And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,
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;
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.
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.
For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
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.
But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
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.
Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
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.
And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
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.
And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
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.
For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
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.
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
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?
Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
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.
Luke 14 presents a powerful and challenging message about what it truly means to be a follower of Jesus and a participant in the kingdom of God. Situated within Jesus' journey to Jerusalem and the cross, this chapter, along with Luke 15, forms a crucial section focused on the kingdom of God and salvation. It calls us to examine our motives, priorities, and willingness to sacrifice for the sake of Christ. Luke 12:1—19:27 can be broken into six sections: instructions on living in God's kingdom (Luke 12:1—13:9), a Sabbath healing and instructions on the kingdom and salvation (Luke 13:10—13:35), a Sabbath healing and instructions on the kingdom and salvation (Luke 14:1—15:32), warnings against rejecting God's kingdom (Luke 16:1—17:10), a healing and instructions on the kingdom and salvation (Luke 17:11—18:34), a healing and instructions on the kingdom and salvation (Luke 18:35—19:27).
A Sabbath Healing and Hypocrisy Exposed (Luke 14:1-6)
Jesus is invited to dine at the home of a leading Pharisee on the Sabbath (Luke 14:1). Present is a man suffering from dropsy, a condition causing his body to swell with fluid (Luke 14:2). Knowing the Pharisees are watching, Jesus poses a question that cuts to the heart of their legalistic hypocrisy: "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" (Luke 14:3).
Their silence speaks volumes. They are unwilling to defy their rigid interpretation of the Sabbath law, even if it means denying compassion and healing to a suffering man. Jesus, therefore, heals the man (Luke 14:4) and then challenges them further: "Which of you, if your son or your ox falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?" (Luke 14:5).
Their inability to answer underscores their hypocrisy. They readily apply common sense and compassion to their own possessions and family, but they deny it to someone in need when it conflicts with their self-serving interpretation of religious law. They twist God's law to suit themselves. This healing highlights a central theme: God's compassion and the needs of people take precedence over rigid adherence to rules.
Lessons in Humility (Luke 14:7-11)
Observing the guests vying for positions of honor at the banquet, Jesus imparts a lesson on humility (Luke 14:7). He advises them to take the lowest seat, so that the host might invite them to move up to a higher place (Luke 14:8-10). This avoids the potential humiliation of being asked to move to a lower position if someone more important arrives.
The principle extends beyond social etiquette. "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:11). The Pharisees exalted themselves, assuming they held important positions in the kingdom. But Jesus sought to teach them the relationship between humility and exaltation. True honor comes not from self-promotion but from humble service and dependence on God. We are to live with an eternal perspective in mind—not with a desire for notoriety. Followers of Christ are not to exalt themselves by presumptuously seeking positions of greatness; rather, they are to assume lower positions of service and allow God to exalt them. Humility is the true path to glory.
True Hospitality (Luke 14:12-14)
Turning to the host, Jesus challenges the conventional understanding of hospitality (Luke 14:12). Instead of inviting friends, relatives, and wealthy neighbors who can reciprocate, he urges him to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind—those who cannot repay him (Luke 14:13).
The reward for such selfless generosity is not earthly but heavenly. "You will be blessed," Jesus says, "since they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just" (Luke 14:14). This highlights the importance of acting with an eternal perspective, motivated by love and compassion rather than the expectation of earthly reward. Inviting the outcasts of society would indicate that he had an eternal perspective, since repayment for such would come at the resurrection (Luke 14:14).
The Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24)
A guest's comment about the blessedness of those who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God (Luke 14:15) prompts Jesus to tell the parable of the great banquet. A man prepares a great feast and sends out invitations, but one by one, the invited guests offer excuses for their inability to attend (Luke 14:16-20).
Angered by their rejection, the master instructs his servant to bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame from the streets of the town (Luke 14:21). Even then, there is still room, so he sends the servant out further to compel people to come in, "so that my house may be filled" (Luke 14:23). Finally, the master declares that none of those who were originally invited will taste his banquet (Luke 14:24).
This parable illustrates the rejection of God's invitation by those who felt entitled to it and the inclusion of those considered unworthy. Since most of the Jews rejected Jesus, his kingdom message would be declared and received by others—by the Gentiles. There’s no excuse for rejecting Jesus. The King and his kingdom must have priority. This emphasizes that salvation is offered to all, but it requires a willingness to abandon worldly priorities and accept God's invitation. The parable serves as a powerful reminder that the kingdom of God is not a matter of privilege or entitlement but of responding to God's grace with humility and obedience.
The Cost of Discipleship (Luke 14:25-35)
Tremendous crowds were following Jesus (Luke 14:25). But he knew that many of them were merely following him for the show he was providing: the miracles, the healings, the exorcisms, the teachings. Jesus addresses the crowds following him, emphasizing the cost of discipleship. He states that unless one "hates" his own family, he cannot be his disciple (Luke 14:26). This is not a call to literal hatred but a call to prioritize Christ above all other relationships. The point is that Jesus deserves priority over every other relationship. If you must choose between Jesus and a family member, then, Jesus wins. Our love for him must be so strong that unbelieving family members think our love for them might as well be hate, because we chose to obey Jesus rather than do what they want. This is the call to and cost of discipleship.
He further states that whoever does not carry his own cross and follow him cannot be his disciple (Luke 14:27). This refers to the suffering and self-denial that are inherent in following Christ. Crucifixion was the Roman execution of choice for heinous criminals. And a condemned person had to carry his cross to his crucifixion site. So Jesus’s listeners knew what he was talking about. Many had seen it happen. Jesus was telling them that becoming his disciple would involve some form of suffering. Not every Christian disciple’s suffering is the same, but every Christian disciple will suffer. This is because to bear your cross and follow Jesus means to identify with him. And as Jesus told his disciples, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20).
To illustrate the need for careful consideration, Jesus presents two analogies: a builder who calculates the cost before starting construction (Luke 14:28-30) and a king who assesses his strength before going to war (Luke 14:31-32). These examples emphasize the importance of "counting the cost" and being willing to renounce everything for the sake of Christ (Luke 14:33). That means recognizing that you are a steward of all you have; you are not an owner. God has given you possessions to manage. You are to thank him for them, use them for his glory, and bless others with them. What you must not do is claim ownership.
Finally, Jesus uses the analogy of salt that has lost its saltiness to illustrate the uselessness of a disciple who is unwilling to embrace the cost of following him (Luke 14:34-35). The saltiness of salt is what makes it salt! Without that, it isn’t fit for . . . the manure pile. Likewise, unless a Christian is willing to endure the costly nature of being a disciple, he is useless to the kingdom of God. Let anyone who has ears to hear listen (Luke 14:35) is Jesus’s way of saying, “Though everyone has ears, not everyone listens. You’d better pay close attention.”
Luke 14 challenges us to examine our understanding of discipleship and the kingdom of God. It calls us to embrace humility, prioritize God above all else, and be willing to sacrifice for the sake of Christ. It is a reminder that true discipleship is not a casual commitment but a radical transformation of our lives.