A Man Healed on the Sabbath
Luke 14, verse 1. Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. Luke 14, verse 2. And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. Luke 14, verse 3. And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” Luke 14, verse 4. But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. Luke 14, verse 5. Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” Luke 14, verse 6. And they could not answer Him regarding these things.
Be Lowly
Luke 14, verse 7. So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: Luke 14, verse 8. “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; Luke 14, verse 9. and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. Luke 14, verse 10. But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. Luke 14, verse 11. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Be Hospitable to the Lowly
Luke 14, verse 12. Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. Luke 14, verse 13. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. Luke 14, verse 14. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
Worldly Entanglements, Poor Excuses
Luke 14, verse 15. Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” Luke 14, verse 16. Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, Luke 14, verse 17. and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ Luke 14, verse 18. But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ Luke 14, verse 19. And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ Luke 14, verse 20. Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ Luke 14, verse 21. So that servant came and reported these things to his master. 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 here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ Luke 14, verse 22. And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ Luke 14, verse 23. Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. Luke 14, verse 24. For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”
The Cost of Discipleship
Luke 14, verse 25. Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, Luke 14, verse 26. “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. Luke 14, verse 27. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. Luke 14, verse 28. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — Luke 14, verse 29. lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, Luke 14, verse 30. saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Luke 14, verse 31. Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Luke 14, verse 32. Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. Luke 14, verse 33. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Luke 14, verse 34. “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? Luke 14, verse 35. It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”