In today’s study our titles are; Verses 1-6 Jesus heals a man with dropsy. Verse 7-14 Jesus teaches humility. Verses 15-24 The parable of the great supper. Verse 25-35 Counting the cost. Luke 14 and verse 1 reads.
Luke 14:1] And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.
Here we go again, on the sabbath. Notice that they are watching him, to see if they can find some sort of fault with him.
Luke 14:2] And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
[3] And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
In Matthew 12:12 Jesus says; Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. It isn’t about legalities, but of doing good works.
Luke 14:4] And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
[5] And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?
Let’s go to Exodus 23 and verse 4 reads.
Exo.23:4] If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
[5] If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
Whether they are your enemies or hate you, take care of the animal. And in Deuteronomy 22 verse 4 reads.
Deu.22:4] Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.
This is said for your brother, a fellow Israelite. Back to Luke 14 and verse 6 reads.
Luke 14:6] And they could not answer him again to these things.
Couldn’t even answer a simple question about the law. These are supposed to be lawyers and chief priests. But that they watched him shows that they are not about law, but entrapping him.
Luke 14:7] And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,
Talking to them that had invited him to dinner, Bidden. He noted, marked, that they always chose the chief rooms. Making themselves some big people among others.
Luke 14:8] When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
[9] And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
[10] But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
Let’s go to Proverbs 25 and verse 6 reads.
Prov.25:6] Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
[7] For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
Back to Luke 14 and verse 11 reads.
Luke 14:11] For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Exaltation is a form of pride, and we know it was pride that was Satan’s downfall. Don’t let it be yours. Let’s go to Psalms 18 and verse 27 reads.
Psa.18:27] For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
And James 4 and verse 6 reads.
James 4:6] But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Now let’s go to 1Peter 5 and verse 5 reads.
1Pet.5:5] Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
[6] Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Come to the Lord humbled and he will exalt you above the proud. Back to Luke 14 and verse 12 reads.
Luke 14:12] Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
Still talking to those lawyers and chief Pharisees that bade him to their supper. He says, they will make recompence to you. Meaning, you invite them to be invited by them in return. Jesus will give them examples of what makes a righteous man righteous.
Luke 14:13] But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
We find in Nehemiah our answer to the question of the sabbath day. Nehemiah 8 and verse 10 reads.
Neh.8:10] Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
It gives great joy to the LORD that we ask the poor and those who have nothing to our table. Notice this was on the sabbath which is the holy day to the LORD. Back to Luke 14 and verse 14 reads.
Luke 14:14] And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
They can’t repay you for inviting them to your feast, but the LORD rewards all good works himself in heaven.
Luke 14:15] And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
This verse confuses some, Jesus spoke this to the man who heard these things. Let’s go to Revelation 19 and verse 7 reads.
Rev.19:7] Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
[8] And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
[9] And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Back to Luke 14, Jesus will give us the parable to the marriage supper of the Lamb, and verse 16 reads.
Luke 14:16] Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
[17] And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
Wisdom speaks in Proverbs 9 and verse 1 reads.
Prov.9:1] Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
These seven pillars are God’s Elect, specifically in these end times.
Prov.9:2] She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
This is the marriage supper.
Prov.9:3] She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
[4] Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
[5] Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
[6] Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Eat the Daily Bread, Jesus Christ who is the Word of God. Our promise here is understanding to those who seek his Word. Back to Luke 14 and verse 18 reads.
Luke 14:18] And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
[19] And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
[20] And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
Excuses are no reason to deny the Lord Jesus Christ. These people that come up with an excuse are simply Christians today who do not study the Word of God. They will be easy prey for the antichrist at the sixth trump.
Luke 14:21] So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. 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 hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
[22] And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
Bring to me those that love me, and I will open their eyes to the truth. Notice there is still much room. Let’s go to 2Peter 3 and verse 9 reads.
2Pet.3:9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
[10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
The word elements are the evil rudiments in the world today. Heb.12:29 For our God is a consuming fire. The Lord is calling a supper for his children and it is the marriage to the Lamb. Only those who overcome enter into the kingdom of God. To be bidden is for those who know the Word of God and Do the Word of God. Back to Luke 14 and verse 23 reads.
Luke 14:23] And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
[24] For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
The door is closed to the Christians that refuse the Word of God, as it should be. Because they will be deceived when the antichrist comes, and will worship him thinking he is Jesus. Jesus will say; I never knew you. Don’t be these people, study the Word of God is all Jesus asks for, he then will open your eyes to the truth. As Christians we are to spread the Word to all, let’s go to Acts 13 and verse 46 reads.
Acts 13:46] Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
[47] For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Back to Luke 14 and verse 25 reads.
Luke 14:25] And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
[26] If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
This word Hate is G3404 and means; Love less. Jesus is saying you must love less your mother and father and even yourselves to be his disciple. Disciple means; discipline. We discipline ourselves to love the Father with all our hearts, minds and souls. Jesus taught this as the greatest commandment of all.
Luke 14:27] And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Let’s go to 2Timothy 3 and verse 12 reads.
2Tim.3:12] Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Jesus also taught us in Matthew 5 and verse 10 reads.
Mat.5:10] Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
And in John 15 and verse 18 reads.
John 15:18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
[19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
[20] Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
[21] But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
For his name’s sake, called Christians. This is why we pick up our cross, it will come to pass that they will hate you and persecute you also. Know this, it is the LORD God Almighty who will avenge you. Back to Luke 14 and verse 28 reads.
Luke 14:28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
[29] Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
[30] Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Who begins to build a house and has no money to complete it. Think of this as your faith. Let’s go to Hebrews 6 and verse 10 reads.
Heb.6:10] For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
[11] And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
[12] That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
We do this in faith of Jesus Christ that we will inherit the kingdom of God. Back to Luke 14 and verse 31 reads.
Luke 14:31] Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
[32] Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
[33] So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
God has given to his Elect all that they have, and if all they have be from God, it is his to take. Let no man take your crown, but let them have your life. For if any man loses his life for God’s sake, he shall save it.
Luke 14:34] Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
[35] It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
It is good to be salty, it adds flavor. This means to teach others the word of God boldly and without apology. Notice ears to hear, this is meant for his Elect to know and understand. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible