The Living Word

KING JAMES VERSION

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

— Isaiah 40:8

Luke 14

Listen to the Word

Initializing audio...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

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.

WhatsApp Copy

2

And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

WhatsApp Copy

3

And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

WhatsApp Copy

4

And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

WhatsApp Copy

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?

WhatsApp Copy

6

And they could not answer him again to these things.

WhatsApp Copy

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.

WhatsApp Copy

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;

WhatsApp Copy

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.

WhatsApp Copy

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.

WhatsApp Copy

11

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

WhatsApp Copy

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.

WhatsApp Copy

13

But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

WhatsApp Copy

14

And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

WhatsApp Copy

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.

WhatsApp Copy

16

Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

WhatsApp Copy

17

And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

WhatsApp Copy

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.

WhatsApp Copy

19

And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

WhatsApp Copy

20

And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

WhatsApp Copy

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.

WhatsApp Copy

22

And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

WhatsApp Copy

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.

WhatsApp Copy

24

For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

WhatsApp Copy

25

And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

WhatsApp Copy

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.

WhatsApp Copy

27

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

WhatsApp Copy

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?

WhatsApp Copy

29

Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

WhatsApp Copy

30

Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

WhatsApp Copy

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?

WhatsApp Copy

32

Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

WhatsApp Copy

33

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

WhatsApp Copy

34

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

WhatsApp Copy

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.

WhatsApp Copy

Previous Next

Chapter Study & Analysis

Overview

Luke 14 focuses on humility, the cost of discipleship, and the Parable of the Great Supper. Jesus challenges those who seek the best seats and warns that following Him requires prioritizing Him above all earthly ties.

CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS

1. The Way of Humility: He that humbleth himself shall be exalted (v. 11). In our social and religious circles, we should seek to serve rather than to be noticed or honored.
2. Excuses and the Banquet: Many were invited but made excuses (v. 18). We must be careful that the "good" things of life—work, family, possessions—do not become excuses for neglecting God’s call.
3. Counting the Cost: No one builds a tower without first sitting down to count the cost (v. 28). Discipleship is not a casual interest; it is a total commitment of everything we are and have.

Practical Lessons

FORMAL PRAYER

Lord of the Feast, who hast prepared a great supper for all who will come: deliver us from the pride that seeks the highest room. Grant us the courage to count the cost and the grace to follow Thee without excuse, laying aside every weight that hinders our service. Amen.

Copied to clipboard!