Luke 14:1-24 Lexham English Bible (LEB)
A Man Suffering from Edema Healed
14 And it happened that when he came to the house of a certain one of the leaders of the
Pharisees on a Sabbath to eat a meal, [a] they were watching him closely. 2 And behold, a
certain man was in front of him, suffering from edema. 3 And Jesus answered and [b] said to
the legal experts and Pharisees, saying, “Is it permitted to heal on the Sabbath, or not?”
4 But they remained silent. And he took hold of him [c] and [d] healed him, and sent him [e]
away. 5 And he said to them, “Who among you, if your [f] son or your ox falls into a well [g]
on the day of the Sabbath, will not immediately pull him out?” 6 And they were not able
to make a reply to these things.
The Parable of the Guests at the Wedding Feast
7 Now he told a parable to those who had been invited when he [h] noticed how they were choosing
for themselves the places of honor, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a
wedding feast, [i] do not recline at the table in the place of honor, lest someone more distinguished
than you has been invited by him, 9 and the one who invited you both [j] will come and [k] say to you,
‘Give the place to this person,’ and then with shame you will begin to take the last place. 10 But
when you are invited, go and [l] recline at the table in the last place, so that when the one who
invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then it will be an honor to you
in the presence of all those who are reclining at the table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts
himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The Parable of the Great Banquet
12 And he also said to the one who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not
invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or wealthy neighbors, lest they also invite
you in return, and repayment come to you. 13 But whenever you give a banquet, invite the poor,
the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they are not able to repay you.
For it will be paid back to you at the resurrection of the righteous.”
15 Now when [m] one of those reclining at the table with him heard these things, he said to him,
“Blessed is everyone who [n] will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A
certain man was giving a large banquet and invited many. 17 And he sent his slave at the hour of
the banquet to say to those who have been invited, ‘Come, because now it is ready!’ 18 And they
all alike [o] began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, ‘I have purchased a field, and I
must [p] go out to look at it. I ask you, consider me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have purchased
five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine them. I ask you, consider me excused.’ 20 And
another said, ‘I have married a wife, and for this reason I am not able to come.’ 21 And the slave
came and [q] reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry
and [r] said to his slave, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and bring in
here the poor and crippled and blind and lame!’ 22 And the slave said, ‘Sir, what you
ordered has been done, and there is still room.’ 23 And the master said to the slave, ‘Go
out into the highways and hedges and press them [s] to come in, so that my house will be
filled! 24 For I say to you that none of those persons who were invited will taste my
banquet!’”
What Does the Passage say?
Jesus challenged the Pharisees vain uncaring practices by healing and teaching in. The book of Luke chronicles a progression of bold confrontations between the Jewish leaders and Jesus after He descended the Mt of Transfiguration and proceeded to culminate his ministry in Jerusalem ( Luke 9:51). Jesus often used parables to answer the Pharisees and teachers when they attempted to trap him with questions about doctrine and the Law. Using a compelling story that gave flesh to Life circumstances such as the “Good Samaritan,” Jesus illustrated the intended compassionate meaning of the Law. Knowing his actions were being scrutinized, Jesus maintained His Authority to step outside the traditional boundaries of the Law even on the Sabbath in Luke 14. Psalm 103:6 states that “The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.” And 103:8 “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love.” We should keep in mind Jesus’ demonstrations of God’s loving invitation to celebrate the Kingdom’s arrival in this passage. Jesus heals on the Sabbath Perhaps it was one of their own who was healed this Sabbath day at a dinner with the Pharisees. A man with “dropsy” would have severe swelling of limbs and body. Today people with Heart Failure have this kind of fluid overload and struggle to breathe! When Jesus asked
– “well, should I keep the Law or save this man’s (your friend’s)life?” they wouldn’t answer.
They were unwilling to relinquish their traditions and justify Jesus’ new Way. Jesus Teaches about Humility It is human nature to exalt oneself. We make others look small so we will look big. Jesus used an example of seating at a gathering to illustrate how our attempts to “look important” can backfire and make us look foolish instead. He gives practical reasons for being humble. Jesus tells the parable of the Great Feast Weddings have always been about invitations, feasts, celebrations – sharing a joyous occasion at great cost to the host! Today couples send out “Save the Date” reminders to people they intend to invite to their wedding – just as this man in the Banquet parable sent out a preliminary invitation. It is considered rude to accept an invitation and not attend because food and festivities are often ordered and paid for according to the number of accepted
invitations. In this parable people made lame excuses for not attending. They didn’t realize theprivilege behind the invitation. The Life Application Bible states “ God’s first invitationcame from Moses and the prophets – the second came from God’s Son.” If this is so, Jesus is insinuating that the people’s rejection of the Son’s invitation to the Kingdom was disrespectful to God. He further implies that additional invitations will be issued to those who might seem unworthy, unclean, even unwelcome to a magnificent gathering of God’s people. Finally, Jesus says those who reject the invitation lose their chance to share in the joyful occasion. parables at a Sabbath meal.
What Does it Mean to Me/ Us?
We are inundated with “invitations” these days. We choose how we will spend our time and we also choose our attitude toward the invitations God has extended to us. Luke reminds us in today’s passage that God intends to invite people we wouldn’t consider mingling with to His Heavenly Banquet. Sometimes we entertain Pharisee thoughts “why do we have to include those people?” Everyday I give nursing care to people at their weakest moments. They often are demanding, ungrateful, needy, impatient, and selfish. I am reminded daily to be kind, patient, understanding, compassionate and joyful because I have accepted the Carilion Clinic invitation called The Pickle Challenge. It says “I will turn every complaint into a blessing or a constructive suggestion.” This is hard work! However, I know it should not be beyond my ability because Christ has called me and you to reflect this optimistic mind set no matter what our circumstances. Sunday’s Pickle Promise is
Faith: “My faith and my gratitude for all that I have been blessed with will shine through my attitudes and my actions.” I extend this invitation to you for today, may you be blessed to be a blessing.
Prayer
Gracious loving Father, thank YOU for inviting us to be ambassadors of Christ. Fill us with renewed joy, receiving anew the invitation to be Kingdom People –
overflowing with the promise of your joyful abundant Kingdom. In Christ name we pray, AMEN
*Contributed by Stephanie Dickenson
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