13 But G235 when G3752 thou makest G4160 a feast, G1403 call G2564 the poor, G4434 the maimed, G376 the lame, G5560 the blind: G5185
Then G1161 Jesus G2424 called G4341 his G846 disciples G3101 unto him, and said, G2036 I have compassion G4697 on G1909 the multitude, G3793 because G3754 they continue G4357 with me G3427 now G2235 three G5140 days, G2250 and G2532 have G2192 nothing G3756 G5101 to eat: G5315 and G2532 I will G2309 not G3756 send G630 them G846 away G630 fasting, G3523 lest G3379 they faint G1590 in G1722 the way. G3598 And G2532 his G846 disciples G3101 say G3004 unto him, G846 Whence G4159 should we G2254 have so much G5118 bread G740 in G1722 the wilderness, G2047 as G5620 to fill G5526 so great G5118 a multitude? G3793 And G2532 Jesus G2424 saith G3004 unto them, G846 How many G4214 loaves G740 have ye? G2192 And G1161 they said, G2036 Seven, G2033 and G2532 a few G3641 little fishes. G2485 And G2532 he commanded G2753 the multitude G3793 to sit down G377 on G1909 the ground. G1093 And G2532 he took G2983 the seven G2033 loaves G740 and G2532 the fishes, G2486 and gave thanks, G2168 and brake G2806 them, and G2532 gave G1325 to his G846 disciples, G3101 and G1161 the disciples G3101 to the multitude. G3793 And G2532 they did G5315 all G3956 eat, G5315 and G2532 were filled: G5526 and G2532 they took up G142 of the broken G2801 meat that was left G4052 seven G2033 baskets G4711 full. G4134 And G1161 they that did eat G2068 were G2258 four thousand G5070 men, G435 beside G5565 women G1135 and G2532 children. G3813 And G2532 he sent away G630 the multitude, G3793 and took G1684 ship, G1519 G4143 and G2532 came G2064 into G1519 the coasts G3725 of Magdala. G3093
Distributing G2841 to the necessity G5532 of saints; G40 given G1377 to hospitality. G5381 Bless G2127 them which persecute G1377 you: G5209 bless, G2127 and G2532 curse G2672 not. G3361 Rejoice G5463 with G3326 them that do rejoice, G5463 and G2532 weep G2799 with G3326 them that weep. G2799 Be of the same G846 mind G5426 one toward another. G1519 G240 Mind G5426 not G3361 high things, G5308 but G235 condescend G4879 to men of low estate. G5011 Be G1096 not G3361 wise G5429 in G3844 your own conceits. G1438
Neither G3761 G1063 was G5225 there any G5100 among G1722 them G846 that lacked: G1729 for G1063 as many as G3745 were G5225 possessors G2935 of lands G5564 or G2228 houses G3614 sold them, G4453 and brought G5342 the prices G5092 of the things that were sold, G4097 And G2532 laid them down G5087 at G3844 the apostles' G652 feet: G4228 and G1161 distribution was made G1239 unto every man G1538 according G2530 as G302 he had G2192 need. G5100 G5532
And G1161 all G3956 that believed G4100 were G2258 together, G1909 G846 and G2532 had G2192 all things G537 common; G2839 And G2532 sold G4097 their possessions G2933 and G2532 goods, G5223 and G2532 parted G1266 them G846 to all G3956 men, as G2530 every man G5100 had G302 G2192 need. G5532
And G2532 Jesus G2424 went forth, G1831 and saw G1492 a great G4183 multitude, G3793 and G2532 was moved with compassion G4697 toward G1909 them, G846 and G2532 he healed G2323 their G846 sick. G732 And G1161 when it was G1096 evening, G3798 his G846 disciples G3101 came G4334 to him, G846 saying, G3004 This is G2076 a desert G2048 place, G5117 and G2532 the time G5610 is now G2235 past; G3928 send G630 the multitude G3793 away, G630 that G2443 they may go G565 into G1519 the villages, G2968 and buy G59 themselves G1438 victuals. G1033 But G1161 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto them, G846 They need G5532 not G3756 depart; G565 G2192 give G1325 ye G5210 them G846 to eat G5315 . And G1161 they say G3004 unto him, G846 We have G2192 here G5602 but G3756 G1508 five G4002 loaves, G740 and G2532 two G1417 fishes. G2486 G1161 He said, G2036 Bring G5342 them G846 hither G5602 to me. G3427 And G2532 he commanded G2753 the multitude G3793 to sit down G347 on G1909 the grass, G5528 and G2532 took G2983 the five G4002 loaves, G740 and G2532 the two G1417 fishes, G2486 and looking up G308 to G1519 heaven, G3772 he blessed, G2127 and G2532 brake, G2806 and gave G1325 the loaves G740 to his disciples, G3101 and G1161 the disciples G3101 to the multitude. G3793 And G2532 they did G5315 all G3956 eat, G5315 and G2532 were filled: G5526 and G2532 they took up G142 of the fragments G2801 that remained G4052 twelve G1427 baskets G2894 full. G4134 And G1161 they that had eaten G2068 were G2258 about G5616 five thousand G4000 men, G435 beside G5565 women G1135 and G2532 children. G3813
Honour H3513 the LORD H3068 with thy substance, H1952 and with the firstfruits H7225 of all thine increase: H8393 So shall thy barns H618 be filled H4390 with plenty, H7647 and thy presses H3342 shall burst out H6555 with new wine. H8492
If I have withheld H4513 the poor H1800 from their desire, H2656 or have caused the eyes H5869 of the widow H490 to fail; H3615 Or have eaten H398 my morsel H6595 myself alone, and the fatherless H3490 hath not eaten H398 thereof; (For from my youth H5271 he was brought up H1431 with me, as with a father, H1 and I have guided H5148 her from my mother's H517 womb;) H990 If I have seen H7200 any perish H6 for want of clothing, H3830 or any poor H34 without covering; H3682 If his loins H2504 have not blessed H1288 me, and if he were not warmed H2552 with the fleece H1488 of my sheep; H3532
When thou hast made an end H3615 of tithing H6237 all the tithes H4643 of thine increase H8393 the third H7992 year, H8141 which is the year H8141 of tithing, H4643 and hast given H5414 it unto the Levite, H3881 the stranger, H1616 the fatherless, H3490 and the widow, H490 that they may eat H398 within thy gates, H8179 and be filled; H7646 Then thou shalt say H559 before H6440 the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 I have brought away H1197 the hallowed things H6944 out of mine house, H1004 and also have given H5414 them unto the Levite, H3881 and unto the stranger, H1616 to the fatherless, H3490 and to the widow, H490 according to all thy commandments H4687 which thou hast commanded H6680 me: I have not transgressed H5674 thy commandments, H4687 neither have I forgotten H7911 them:
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).