15 And G1161 when one G5100 of them that sat at meat with him G4873 heard G191 these things, G5023 he said G2036 unto him, G846 Blessed G3107 is he G3739 that shall eat G5315 bread G740 in G1722 the kingdom G932 of God. G2316
Labour G2038 not G3361 for the meat G1035 which G3588 perisheth, G622 but G235 for that meat G1035 which G3588 endureth G3306 unto G1519 everlasting G166 life, G2222 which G3739 the Son G5207 of man G444 shall give G1325 unto you: G5213 for G1063 him G5126 hath G4972 God G2316 the Father G3962 sealed. G4972 Then G3767 said they G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 What G5101 shall we do, G4160 G4160 that G2443 we might work G2038 the works G2041 of God? G2316 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and G2532 said G2036 unto them, G846 This G5124 is G2076 the work G2041 of God, G2316 that G2443 ye believe G4100 on G1519 him G3739 whom G1565 he hath sent. G649 They said G2036 therefore G3767 unto him, G846 What G5101 sign G4592 shewest G4160 thou G4771 then, G3767 that G2443 we may see, G1492 and G2532 believe G4100 thee? G4671 what G5101 dost thou work? G2038 Our G2257 fathers G3962 did eat G5315 manna G3131 in G1722 the desert; G2048 as G2531 it is G2076 written, G1125 He gave G1325 them G846 bread G740 from G1537 heaven G3772 to eat. G5315 Then G3767 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto them, G846 Verily, G281 verily, G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 Moses G3475 gave G1325 you G5213 not G3756 that bread G740 from G1537 heaven; G3772 but G235 my G3450 Father G3962 giveth G1325 you G5213 the true G228 bread G740 from G1537 heaven. G3772 For G1063 the bread G740 of God G2316 is he G2076 which G3588 cometh down G2597 from G1537 heaven, G3772 and G2532 giveth G1325 life G2222 unto the world. G2889 Then G3767 said they G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 Lord, G2962 evermore G3842 give G1325 us G2254 this G5126 bread. G740 And G1161 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto them, G846 I G1473 am G1510 the bread G740 of life: G2222 he that cometh G2064 to G4314 me G3165 shall never G3364 hunger; G3983 and G2532 he that believeth G4100 on G1519 me G1691 shall G1372 never G3364 G4455 thirst. G1372 But G235 I said G2036 unto you, G5213 That G3754 ye G3708 also G2532 have seen G3708 me, G3165 and G2532 believe G4100 not. G3756 All G3956 that G3739 the Father G3962 giveth G1325 me G3427 shall come G2240 to G4314 me; G1691 and G2532 him that cometh G2064 to G4314 me G3165 I will G1544 in no wise G3364 cast G1544 out. G1854 For G3754 I came down G2597 from G1537 heaven, G3772 not G3756 to G2443 do G4160 mine own G1699 will, G2307 but G235 the will G2307 of him that sent G3992 me. G3165 And G1161 this G5124 is G2076 the Father's G3962 will G2307 which G3588 hath sent G3992 me, G3165 that G2443 of all G3956 which G3739 he hath given G1325 me G3427 I should lose G622 nothing, G3361 G1537 G846 but G235 should raise G450 it G846 up again G450 at G1722 the last G2078 day. G2250 And G1161 this G5124 is G2076 the will G2307 of him that sent G3992 me, G3165 that G2443 every one G3956 which G3588 seeth G2334 the Son, G5207 and G2532 believeth G4100 on G1519 him, G846 may have G2192 everlasting G166 life: G2222 and G2532 I G1473 will raise G450 him G846 up G450 at the last G2078 day. G2250 The Jews G2453 then G3767 murmured G1111 at G4012 him, G846 because G3754 he said, G2036 I G1473 am G1510 the bread G740 which G3588 came down G2597 from G1537 heaven. G3772 And G2532 they said, G3004 Is G2076 not G3756 this G3778 Jesus, G2424 the son G5207 of Joseph, G2501 whose G3739 father G3962 and G2532 mother G3384 we G2249 know? G1492 how is it G4459 then G3767 that he G3778 saith, G3004 G3754 I came down G2597 from G1537 heaven? G3772 Jesus G2424 therefore G3767 answered G611 and G2532 said G2036 unto them, G846 Murmur G1111 not G3361 among G3326 yourselves. G240 No man G3762 can G1410 come G2064 to G4314 me, G3165 except G3362 the Father G3962 which G3588 hath sent G3992 me G3165 draw G1670 him: G846 and G2532 I G1473 will raise G450 him G846 up G450 at the last G2078 day. G2250 It is G2076 written G1125 in G1722 the prophets, G4396 And G2532 they shall be G2071 all G3956 taught G1318 of God. G2316 Every man G3956 therefore G3767 that hath heard, G191 and G2532 hath learned G3129 of G3844 the Father, G3962 cometh G2064 unto G4314 me. G3165 Not G3756 that G3754 any man G5100 hath seen G3708 the Father, G3962 save G1508 he which G3588 is G3844 G5607 of God, G2316 he G3778 hath seen G3708 the Father. G3962 Verily, G281 verily, G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 He that believeth G4100 on G1519 me G1691 hath G2192 everlasting G166 life. G2222 I G1473 am G1510 that bread G740 of life. G2222 Your G5216 fathers G3962 did eat G5315 manna G3131 in G1722 the wilderness, G2048 and G2532 are dead. G599 This G3778 is G2076 the bread G740 which G3588 cometh down G2597 from G1537 heaven, G3772 that G3363 a man G5100 may eat G5315 thereof, G1537 G846 and G2532 not G3363 die. G599 I G1473 am G1510 the living G2198 bread G740 which G3588 came down G2597 from G1537 heaven: G3772 if G1437 any man G5100 eat G5315 of G1537 this G5127 bread, G740 he shall live G2198 for G1519 ever: G165 and G1161 G2532 the bread G740 that G3739 I G1473 will give G1325 is G2076 my G3450 flesh, G4561 which G3739 I G1473 will give G1325 for G5228 the life G2222 of the world. G2889 The Jews G2453 therefore G3767 strove G3164 among G4314 themselves, G240 saying, G3004 How G4459 can G1410 this man G3778 give G1325 us G2254 his flesh G4561 to eat? G5315 Then G3767 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto them, G846 Verily, G281 verily, G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 Except G3362 ye eat G5315 the flesh G4561 of the Son G5207 of man, G444 and G2532 drink G4095 his G846 blood, G129 ye have G2192 no G3756 life G2222 in G1722 you. G1438 Whoso eateth G5176 my G3450 flesh, G4561 and G2532 drinketh G4095 my G3450 blood, G129 hath G2192 eternal G166 life; G2222 and G2532 I G1473 will raise G450 him G846 up G450 at the last G2078 day. G2250 For G1063 my G3450 flesh G4561 is G2076 meat G1035 indeed, G230 and G2532 my G3450 blood G129 is G2076 drink G4213 indeed. G230 He that eateth G5176 my G3450 flesh, G4561 and G2532 drinketh G4095 my G3450 blood, G129 dwelleth G3306 in G1722 me, G1698 and I G2504 in G1722 him. G846 As G2531 the living G2198 Father G3962 hath sent G649 me, G3165 and I G2504 live G2198 by G1223 the Father: G3962 so G2532 he that eateth G5176 me, G3165 even he G2548 shall live G2198 by G1223 me. G1691 This G3778 is G2076 that bread G740 which G3588 came down G2597 from G1537 heaven: G3772 not G3756 as G2531 your G5216 fathers G3962 did eat G5315 manna, G3131 and G2532 are dead: G599 he that eateth G5176 of this G5126 bread G740 shall live G2198 for G1519 ever. G165 These things G5023 said he G2036 in G1722 the synagogue, G4864 as he taught G1321 in G1722 Capernaum. G2584
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Luke 14
Commentary on Luke 14 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 14
Lu 14:1-24. Healing of a Dropsical Man, and Manifold Teachings at a Sabbath Feast.
2. man before him—not one of the company, since this was apparently before the guests sat down, and probably the man came in hope of a cure, though not expressly soliciting it [De Wette].
3-6. (See on Mt 12:11, 12).
7-11. a parable—showing that His design was not so much to inculcate mere politeness or good manners, as underneath this to teach something deeper (Lu 14:11).
chief rooms—principal seats, in the middle part of the couch on which they reclined at meals, esteemed the most honorable.
8. wedding—and seating thyself at the wedding feast. Our Lord avoids the appearance of personality by this delicate allusion to a different kind of entertainment than this of his host [Bengel].
9. the lowest—not a lower merely [Bengel].
with shame—"To be lowest is only ignominious to him who affects the highest" [Bengel].
10. Friend—said to the modest guest only, not the proud one (Lu 14:9) [Bengel].
worship—honor. The whole of this is but a reproduction of Pr 25:6, 7. But it was reserved for the matchless Teacher to utter articulately, and apply to the regulation of the minutest features of social life, such great laws of the Kingdom of God, as that of Lu 14:11.
11. whosoever, &c.—couching them in a chaste simplicity and proverbial terseness of style which makes them "apples of gold in a setting of silver." (See on Lu 18:14).
12-14. call not thy friends—Jesus certainly did not mean us to dispense with the duties of ordinary fellowship, but, remitting these to their proper place, inculcates what is better [Bengel].
lest … a recompense be given thee—a fear the world is not afflicted with [Bengel]. The meaning, however, is that no exercise of principle is involved in it, as selfishness itself will suffice to prompt to it (Mt 5:46, 47).
13. call the poor—"Such God Himself calls" (Lu 14:21) [Bengel].
14. blessed—acting from disinterested, god-like compassion for the wretched.
15-24. when one … heard … he said, Blessed, &c.—As our Lord's words seemed to hold forth the future "recompense" under the idea of a great Feast, the thought passes through this man's mind, how blessed they would be who should be honored to sit down to it. Our Lord's reply is in substance this: "The great Feast is prepared already; the invitations are issued, but declined; the feast, notwithstanding, shall not want abundance of guests; but not one of its present contemners—who shall yet come to sue for admission—shall be allowed to taste of it." This shows what was lacking in the seemingly pious exclamation of this man. It was Balaam's, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his" (Nu 23:10), without any anxiety about living his life; fondly wishing that all were right with him at last, while all heedless of the precious present.
16. a great supper—(Compare Isa 25:6).
bade many—historically, the Jews (see on Mt 22:3); generally, those within the pale of professed discipleship.
17. supper-time … all now ready—pointing undoubtedly to the now ripening preparations for the great Gospel call. (See on Mt 22:4.)
18. all began to make excuse—(Compare Mt 22:5). Three excuses, given as specimens of the rest, answer to "the care of this world" (Lu 14:18), "the deceitfulness of riches" (Lu 14:19), and "the pleasures of this life" (Lu 14:20), which "choke the word" (Mt 13:22 and Lu 8:14). Each differs from the other, and each has its own plausibility, but all come to the same result: "We have other things to attend to, more pressing just now." Nobody is represented as saying, I will not come; nay, all the answers imply that but for certain things they would come, and when these are out of the way they will come. So it certainly is in the case intended, for the last words clearly imply that the refusers will one day become petitioners.
21. came, and showed, &c.—saying as in Isa 53:1. "It is the part of ministers to report to the Lord in their prayers the compliance or refusal of their hearers" [Bengel].
angry—in one sense a gracious word, showing how sincere he was in issuing his invitations (Eze 33:11). But it is the slight put upon him, the sense of which is intended to be marked by this word.
streets and lanes—historically, those within the same pale of "the city" of God as the former class, but the despised and outcasts of the nation, the "publicans and sinners" [Trench]; generally, all similar classes, usually overlooked in the first provision for supplying the means of grace to a community, half heathen in the midst of revealed light, and in every sense miserable.
22. yet there is room—implying that these classes had embraced the invitation (Mt 21:32; Mr 12:37, last clause; Joh 7:48, 49); and beautifully expressing the longing that should fill the hearts of ministers to see their Master's table filled.
23. highways and hedges—outside the city altogether; historically, the heathen, sunk in the lowest depths of spiritual wretchedness, as being beyond the pale of all that is revealed and saving, "without Christ, strangers from the covenant of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world" (Eph 2:12); generally, all such still. Thus, this parable prophetically contemplates the extension of the kingdom of God to the whole world; and spiritually, directs the Gospel invitations to be carried to the lowest strata, and be brought in contact with the outermost circles, of human society.
compel them to come in—not as if they would make the "excuses" of the first class, but because it would be hard to get them over two difficulties: (1) "We are not fit company for such a feast." (2) "We have no proper dress, and are ill in order for such a presence." How fitly does this represent the difficulties and fears of the sincere! How is this met? "Take no excuse—make them come as they are—bring them along with you." What a directory for ministers of Christ!
that my house may be filled—"Grace no more than nature will endure a vacuum" [Bengel].
24. I say unto you, That none—Our Lord here appears to throw off the veil of the parable, and proclaim the Supper His own, intimating that when transferred and transformed into its final glorious form, and the refusers themselves would give all for another opportunity, He will not allow one of them to taste it. (Note. This parable must not be confounded with that of Pr 1:24-33; The Marriage Supper, Mt 22:2-14).
Lu 14:25-35. Address to Great Multitudes Travelling with Him.
25. great multitudes with him—on His final journey to Jerusalem. The "great multitudes" were doubtless people going to the passover, who moved along in clusters (Lu 2:44), and who on this occasion falling in with our Lord had formed themselves into one mass about Him.
26, 27. If any man, &c.—(See on Mt 10:34-36, and Mr 8:34, 35).
28-33. which of you, &c.—Common sense teaches men not to begin any costly work without first seeing that they have wherewithal to finish. And he who does otherwise exposes himself to general ridicule. Nor will any wise potentate enter on a war with any hostile power without first seeing to it that, despite formidable odds (two to one), he be able to stand his ground; and if he has no hope of this, he will feel that nothing remains for him but to make the best terms he can. Even so, says our Lord, "in the warfare you will each have to wage as My disciples, despise not your enemy's strength, for the odds are all against you; and you had better see to it that, despite every disadvantage, you still have wherewithal to hold out and win the day, or else not begin at all, and make the best you can in such awful circumstances." In this simple sense of the parable (Stier, Alford, &c., go wide of the mark here in making the enemy to be God, because of the "conditions of peace," Lu 14:32), two things are taught: (1) Better not begin (Re 3:15), than begin and not finish. (2) Though the contest for salvation be on our part an awfully unequal one, the human will, in the exercise of that "faith which overcometh the world" (1Jo 5:4), and nerved by power from above, which "out of weakness makes it strong" (Heb 11:34; 1Pe 1:5), becomes heroical and will come off "more than conqueror." But without absolute surrender of self the contest is hopeless (Lu 14:33).
34, 35. Salt, &c.—(See on Mt 5:13-16; and Mr 9:50).