21 So G2532 that G1565 servant G1401 came, G3854 and shewed G518 his G846 lord G2962 these things. G5023 Then G5119 the master of the house G3617 being angry G3710 said G2036 to his G846 servant, G1401 Go out G1831 quickly G5030 into G1519 the streets G4113 and G2532 lanes G4505 of the city, G4172 and G2532 bring in G1521 hither G5602 the poor, G4434 and G2532 the maimed, G376 and G2532 the halt, G5560 and G2532 the blind. G5185
But G1161 when the king G935 heard G191 thereof, he was wroth: G3710 and G2532 he sent forth G3992 his G846 armies, G4753 and destroyed G622 those G1565 murderers, G5406 and G2532 burned up G1714 their G846 city. G4172 Then G5119 saith he G3004 to his G846 servants, G1401 G3303 The wedding G1062 is G2076 ready, G2092 but G1161 they which were bidden G2564 were G2258 not G3756 worthy. G514
But G1161 what G5101 think G1380 ye? G5213 A certain man G444 had G2192 two G1417 sons; G5043 and G2532 he came G4334 to the first, G4413 and said, G2036 Son, G5043 go G5217 work G2038 to day G4594 in G1722 my G3450 vineyard. G290 He answered G1161 G611 and said, G2036 I will G2309 not: G3756 but G1161 afterward G5305 he repented, G3338 and went. G565 And G2532 he came G4334 to the second, G1208 and said G2036 likewise. G5615 And G1161 he answered G611 and said, G2036 I G1473 go, sir: G2962 and G2532 went G565 not. G3756 Whether G5101 of G1537 them twain G1417 did G4160 the will G2307 of his father? G3962 They say G3004 unto him, G846 The first. G4413 Jesus G2424 saith G3004 unto them, G846 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 the publicans G5057 and G2532 the harlots G4204 go G4254 into G1519 the kingdom G932 of God G2316 before G4254 you. G5209
Then G2532 Jesus G2424 answering G611 said G2036 unto them, G846 Go your way, G4198 and tell G518 John G2491 what things G3739 ye have seen G1492 and G2532 heard; G191 how G3754 that the blind G5185 see, G308 the lame G5560 walk, G4043 the lepers G3015 are cleansed, G2511 the deaf G2974 hear, G191 the dead G3498 are raised, G1453 to the poor G4434 the gospel is preached. G2097 And G2532 blessed G3107 is G2076 he, whosoever G3739 shall G4624 not G3362 be offended G4624 in G1722 me. G1698
And G1161 many G4183 of the Samaritans G4541 of G1537 that G1565 city G4172 believed G4100 on G1519 him G846 for G1223 the saying G3056 of the woman, G1135 which testified, G3140 G3754 He told G2036 me G3427 all G3956 that ever G3745 I did. G4160 So G3767 when G5613 the Samaritans G4541 were come G2064 unto G4314 him, G846 they besought G2065 him G846 that he would tarry G3306 with G3844 them: G846 and G2532 he abode G3306 there G1563 two G1417 days. G2250 And G2532 many G4183 more G4119 believed G4100 because G1223 of his own G846 word; G3056 And G5037 said G3004 unto the woman, G1135 G3754 Now G3765 we believe, G4100 not G3754 because G1223 of thy G4674 saying: G2981 for G1063 we have heard G191 him ourselves, G846 and G2532 know G1492 that G3754 this G3778 is G2076 indeed G230 the Christ, G5547 the Saviour G4990 of the world. G2889
Then G3767 answered G611 them G846 the Pharisees, G5330 Are G4105 ye G5210 also G2532 deceived? G4105 G3361 Have any G3387 of G1537 the rulers G758 or G2228 of G1537 the Pharisees G5330 believed G4100 on G1519 him? G846 But G235 this G3778 people G3793 who G3588 knoweth G1097 not G3361 the law G3551 are G1526 cursed. G1944
Therefore G3767 G3303 they that were scattered abroad G1289 went every where G1330 preaching G2097 the word. G3056 Then G1161 Philip G5376 went down G2718 to G1519 the city G4172 of Samaria, G4540 and preached G2784 Christ G5547 unto them. G846 And G5037 the people G3793 with one accord G3661 gave heed G4337 unto those things which Philip G5376 spake, G3004 G5259 hearing G1722 G191 G846 and G2532 seeing G991 the miracles G4592 which G3739 he did. G4160 For G1063 unclean G169 spirits, G4151 crying G994 with loud G3173 voice, G5456 came out G1831 of many G4183 that were possessed G2192 with them: and G1161 many G4183 taken with palsies, G3886 and G2532 that were lame, G5560 were healed. G2323
See G991 that ye refuse G3868 not G3361 him that speaketh. G2980 For G1063 if G1487 they G1565 escaped G5343 not G3756 who refused him G3868 that spake G5537 on G1909 earth, G1093 much G4183 more G3123 shall not we G2249 escape, if we turn away from him G654 that speaketh from G575 heaven: G3772 Whose G3739 voice G5456 then G5119 shook G4531 the earth: G1093 but G1161 now G3568 he hath promised, G1861 saying, G3004 Yet G2089 once more G530 I G1473 shake G4579 not G3756 the earth G1093 only, G3440 but G235 also G2532 heaven. G3772
And G2532 I saw G1492 another G243 sign G4592 in G1722 heaven, G3772 great G3173 and G2532 marvellous, G2298 seven G2033 angels G32 having G2192 the seven G2033 last G2078 plagues; G4127 for G3754 in G1722 them G846 is filled up G5055 the wrath G2372 of God. G2316 And G2532 I saw G1492 as it were G5613 a sea G2281 of glass G5193 mingled G3396 with fire: G4442 and G2532 them that had gotten the victory G3528 over G1537 the beast, G2342 and G2532 over G1537 his G846 image, G1504 and G2532 over G1537 his G846 mark, G5480 and over G1537 the number G706 of his G846 name, G3686 stand G2476 on G1909 the sea G2281 of glass, G5193 having G2192 the harps G2788 of God. G2316 And G2532 they sing G103 the song G5603 of Moses G3475 the servant G1401 of God, G2316 and G2532 the song G5603 of the Lamb, G721 saying, G3004 Great G3173 and G2532 marvellous G2298 are thy G4675 works, G2041 Lord G2962 God G2316 Almighty; G3841 just G1342 and G2532 true G228 are thy G4675 ways, G3598 thou King G935 of saints. G40 Who G5101 shall G5399 not G3364 fear G5399 thee, G4571 O Lord, G2962 and G2532 glorify G1392 thy G4675 name? G3686 for G3754 thou only G3441 art holy: G3741 for G3754 all G3956 nations G1484 shall come G2240 and G2532 worship G4352 before G1799 thee; G4675 for G3754 thy G4675 judgments G1345 are made manifest. G5319 And G2532 after G3326 that G5023 I looked, G1492 and, G2532 behold, G2400 the temple G3485 of the tabernacle G4633 of the testimony G3142 in G1722 heaven G3772 was opened: G455 And G2532 the seven G2033 angels G32 came G1831 out of G1537 the temple, G3485 having G2192 the seven G2033 plagues, G4127 clothed G1746 in pure G2513 and G2532 white G2986 linen, G3043 and G2532 having their breasts G4738 girded G4024 with G4012 golden G5552 girdles. G2223 And G2532 one G1520 of G1537 the four G5064 beasts G2226 gave G1325 unto the seven G2033 angels G32 seven G2033 golden G5552 vials G5357 full G1073 of the wrath G2372 of God, G2316 who G3588 liveth G2198 for G1519 ever G165 and ever. G165 And G2532 the temple G3485 was filled G1072 with smoke G2586 from G1537 the glory G1391 of God, G2316 and G2532 from G1537 his G846 power; G1411 and G2532 no man G3762 was able G1410 to enter G1525 into G1519 the temple, G3485 till G891 the seven G2033 plagues G4127 of the seven G2033 angels G32 were fulfilled. G5055
Wisdom H2454 crieth H7442 without; H2351 she uttereth H5414 her voice H6963 in the streets: H7339 She crieth H7121 in the chief place H7218 of concourse, H1993 in the openings H6607 of the gates: H8179 in the city H5892 she uttereth H559 her words, H561 saying, How long, ye simple ones, H6612 will ye love H157 simplicity? H6612 and the scorners H3887 delight H2530 in their scorning, H3944 and fools H3684 hate H8130 knowledge? H1847 Turn H7725 you at my reproof: H8433 behold, I will pour out H5042 my spirit H7307 unto you, I will make known H3045 my words H1697 unto you. Because I have called, H7121 and ye refused; H3985 I have stretched out H5186 my hand, H3027 and no man regarded; H7181 But ye have set at nought H6544 all my counsel, H6098 and would H14 none of my reproof: H8433
She standeth H5324 in the top H7218 of high places, H4791 by the way H1870 in the places H1004 of the paths. H5410 She crieth H7442 at H3027 the gates, H8179 at the entry H6310 of the city, H7176 at the coming H3996 in at the doors. H6607 Unto you, O men, H376 I call; H7121 and my voice H6963 is to the sons H1121 of man. H120
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).