LUKE 14

 Jesus was eating at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees on the Sabbath. There was a man there with dropsy, and Jesus asked if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath, but the Pharisees would not reply. Then, Jesus healed the man. 

Jesus asked the Pharisees that if they owned an animal and it needed to be rescued, would they not rescue it on the Sabbath? But they could not answer Him.

Next, Jesus spoke to them in a parable about being a guest at a wedding and choosing the best seats to sit, and how embarrassing it would be if they were asked to move down so someone else more important could have their seat. Jesus advised: don't presume you should have the best seat; sit in the lowest place, so that if the one who invited you escorts you to a higher place, you will be honored. "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

He also told the one who invited him to dinner not to only invite friends to dinner, because they of course will have to invite you in return; but invite the poor, maimed, lame, and blind because you cannot expect them to reciprocate. "And you will be blessed...for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."

And Jesus spoke another parable about the man who gave a supper and invited many, and sent a servant to gather those invited to come; but they made excuses: one bought property, one bought livestock, another wanted to marry. They all asked to be excused to care for these concerns. Therefore, the man had his servant go out into the streets and bring the poor, maimed, lame, and blind; since there was more room, the man had his servant go all over to bring back as many as would fill his house. He said those who were originally invited shall never taste his supper. 

Later, when Jesus was with the multitude, He taught the people about discipleship. He said one must hate his mother, father, sister, brother or he could not be a disciple. He must bear his cross and follow Him. Everyone must count the cost of being a disciple of Jesus, and he must forsake everything in his life.

Salt is good; but if he sale has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 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!

COMMENTARY

 McGee suggested in his commentary that the man with dropsy was probably a plant, set to entrap Jesus at the home of the Pharisee. Jesus already knew their intentions and their hearts, that they were watching to see what He would do. And they knew He would heal the man. 

Regarding the parable about the supper: the religious leaders only are about being pious. They are the ones in the parable who had been invited to the great supper, but they have rejected the invitation and make all kinds of excuses of caring for possessions and keeping business or personal desires. The point is, if they reject the invitation by God, God will reject them. 

And Jesus explained how important it was to make a decision to follow Christ. It will cost you something, but many are unwilling to give any of it up. They may believe, but they are not disciples of Christ. They are useless Christians. 

Meal in the House of the pharisee - Tissot, 1894