Thematic Bible




Luke 14:1 (show verse)

On one occasion, as Jesus was going, on a Sabbath into the house of one of the leading Pharisees to dine, they were watching him closely.

Luke 14:2 (show verse)

There he saw before him a man who was suffering from dropsy.

Luke 14:3 (show verse)

"Is it allowable," said Jesus, addressing the Students of the Law and the Pharisees, "to work a cure on the Sabbath, or is it not?"

Luke 14:4 (show verse)

They remained silent. Jesus took hold of the man and cured him, and sent him away.

Luke 14:5 (show verse)

And he said to them: "Which of you, finding that his son or his ox has fallen into a well, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath Day?"

Luke 14:6 (show verse)

And they could not make any answer to that.

Luke 14:7 (show verse)

Observing that the guests were choosing the best places for themselves, Jesus told them this parable--

Luke 14:8 (show verse)

"When you are invited by any one to a wedding banquet, do not seat yourself in the best place, for fear that some one of higher rank should have been invited by your host;

Luke 14:9 (show verse)

And he who invited you both will come and say to you 'Make room for this man,' and then you will begin in confusion to take the lowest place.

Luke 14:10 (show verse)

No, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place, so that, when he who has invited you comes, he may say to you 'Friend, come higher up'; and then you will be honored in the eyes of all your fellow-guests.

Luke 14:11 (show verse)

For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Luke 14:12 (show verse)

Then Jesus went on to say to the man who had invited him: "When you give a breakfast or a dinner, do not ask your friends, or your brothers, or your relations, or rich neighbors, for fear that they should invite you in return, and so you should be repaid.

Luke 14:13 (show verse)

No, when you entertain, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;

Luke 14:14 (show verse)

And then you will be happy indeed, since they cannot recompense you; for you shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the good."

Luke 14:15 (show verse)

One of the guests heard what he said and exclaimed: "Happy will he be who shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God!"

Luke 14:16 (show verse)

But Jesus said to him: "A man was once giving a great dinner. He invited many people,

Luke 14:17 (show verse)

And sent his servant, when it was time for the dinner, to say to those who had been invited 'Come, for everything is now ready.'

Luke 14:18 (show verse)

They all with one accord began to ask to be excused. The first man said to the servant 'I have bought a field and am obliged to go and look at it. I must ask you to consider me excused.'

Luke 14:19 (show verse)

The next said 'I have bought five pairs of bullocks, and I am on my way to try them. I must ask you to consider me excused';

Luke 14:20 (show verse)

While the next said 'I am just married, and for that reason I am unable to come.'

Luke 14:21 (show verse)

On his return the servant told his master all these answers. Then in anger the owner of the house said to his servant 'Go out at once into the streets and alleys of the town, and bring in here the poor, and the crippled, and the blind, and the lame.'

Luke 14:22 (show verse)

Presently the servant said 'Sir, your order has been carried out, and still there is room.'

Luke 14:23 (show verse)

'Go out,' the master said, 'into the roads and hedgerows, and make people come in, so that my house may be filled;

Luke 14:24 (show verse)

For I tell you all that not one of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.'"

Luke 14:25 (show verse)

One day, when great crowds of people were walking with Jesus, he turned and said to them:

Luke 14:26 (show verse)

"If any man comes to me and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes and his very life, he can be no disciple of mine.

Luke 14:27 (show verse)

Whoever does not carry his own cross, and walk in my steps, can be no disciple of mine.

Luke 14:28 (show verse)

Why, which of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and reckon the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?--

Luke 14:29 (show verse)

For fear that, if he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish it, every one who sees it should begin to laugh at him,

Luke 14:30 (show verse)

And say 'Here is a man who began to build and was not able to finish!'

Luke 14:31 (show verse)

Or what king, when he is setting out to fight another king, does not first sit down and consider if with ten thousand men he is able to meet one who is coming against him with twenty thousand?

Luke 14:32 (show verse)

And if he cannot, then, while the other is still at a distance, he sends envoys and asks for terms of peace.

Luke 14:33 (show verse)

And so with every one of you who does not bid farewell to all he has--he cannot be a disciple of mine.

Luke 14:34 (show verse)

Yes, salt is good; but, if the salt itself should lose its strength, what shall be used to season it?

Luke 14:35 (show verse)

It is not fit either for the land or for the manure heap. Men throw it away. Let him who has ears to hear with hear!"