*Luke 14:1-14
Jesus challenges traditions, heals on the Sabbath, and teaches about humility.
- Setting:
- Jesus is invited to dine at the house of a prominent Pharisee on the Sabbath.
- He is closely watched by those present, particularly other Pharisees and legal experts.
- Healing on the Sabbath:
- A man suffering from dropsy (edema) is also there.
- Jesus questions the Pharisees and experts, asking if it’s lawful to heal on the Sabbath.
- When they remain silent, he heals the man and challenges them, citing examples of pulling an animal out of a pit on the Sabbath.
- Lesson on Humility:
- Jesus notices how guests choose the best seats at the table.
- He advises them to avoid seeking places of honor to prevent embarrassment if they are asked to move.
- Instead, he encourages them to take the lowest seats, so the host may elevate them, fostering humility and teaching the principle, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Guidance on Whom to Invite:
- Jesus addresses the host directly, suggesting that when hosting a banquet, they should invite those who can’t repay: the poor, crippled, lame, and blind.
- Such acts of generosity will be rewarded at the resurrection of the righteous.
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.
14:2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
14:3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? 14:4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; 14:5 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? 14:6 And they could not answer him again to these things.
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,
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; 14:9 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.
14:10 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.
14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
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.
14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.