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Luke 14

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.

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

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

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

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?

And they could not answer him again to these things.

And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,

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;

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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.

What does Luke 14:11 mean?

Explanation

This verse from the Book of Luke in the New Testament encapsulates a teaching of Jesus that revolves around the theme of humility.

The literal meaning is straightforward: those who seek to elevate themselves, to occupy a position of pride or superiority, will eventually be brought down ('abased').

Conversely, those who adopt a position of humility, not seeking self-aggrandizement, will be lifted up ('exalted').

On a deeper level, Jesus is addressing issues related to social status and the attitude one has towards oneself and others.

It suggests a spiritual principle that favors humility over pride and implies that true honor is not something to be grasped at but something that is bestowed by God.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

This particular verse is part of a passage where Jesus attends a dinner at the house of a prominent Pharisee and observes how the guests choose the places of honor at the table.

This social context is important as it reflects a time and culture where social status and honor were highly valued and often demonstrated in public settings like banquets.

In the Greco-Roman culture of the time, dinner parties were events where one's social standing could be asserted or challenged.

Jesus uses this observation as a teaching moment to challenge the societal norms and preconceptions of honor and status.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse echoes the theme of reversal found throughout the scripture, where the last will be first, and the first will be last.

From a Christian perspective, the statement aligns with the idea that true greatness comes from serving others rather than ruling over them. It also reflects the concept of divine justice, where God is the ultimate arbiter who humbles the proud and exalts the humble.

The phrase points toward the values of the Kingdom of God, being inverted from the values of the world.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse can guide individuals in daily life by encouraging them to practice humility, to not seek recognition for themselves but to let their actions speak for themselves.

It can lead to introspection about motives for seeking status and challenge the desire for self-promotion.

In workplaces, communities, and even family dynamics, adopting a humble attitude can transform relationships and create an environment where cooperation and mutual respect thrive.

Cross-References

Matthew 23:12: "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
James 4:6: "But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."

Proverbs 29:23: "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit."
1 Peter 5:6: "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"

Language Study

The Greek term translated as "exalteth" is "ὑψόω" (hypsoo), which means 'to lift up high' or 'to elevate’.

Conversely, "abased" comes from the Greek "ταπεινόω" (tapeinoo) which implies 'to make low', 'to humble', or 'to bring down.’ "Humbleth" is also derived from the same root as "abased", further emphasizing the contrast between seeking eminence and adopting modesty.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Similar to this teaching in Luke, many ancient cultures and religions emphasize humility.

For instance, in Buddhism, there is the concept of 'anatta', or not-self, which teaches against selfishness and ego.

In Confucianism, humility is a virtue aligned with proper behavior and respect for one's place in society.

The Egyptian god Osiris is often associated with humility due to his connection with the afterlife and judgment based on one's life deeds.

Scientific Perspectives

From a psychological perspective, the concept of humility has been explored in relation to social and personal well-being.

Research suggests that humility can lead to more positive social relationships, increase one's ability to forgive, and may be associated with better psychological health.

The practice of humility might also reduce the likelihood of aggression and could contribute to higher levels of life satisfaction and emotional support systems.

Commentaries

Numerous biblical scholars and theologians have commented on this verse, providing various insights.

For instance, Matthew Henry's commentary suggests that in seeking honor, we lose it, and in humble service, we find it.

He sees this reversal as a principle rooted in the economy of God's grace.

John Gill mentions the pharisaical pride as a backdrop for Jesus' words and emphasizes the practical admonition to avoid the self-righteous behavior of the Pharisees.

Similarly, William Barclay highlights the social implications of Jesus' teaching, suggesting that societies often favor the opposite of what Jesus teaches, rewarding those who assert themselves and neglecting the humble.

Luke 14

Luke 14

What does Luke 14:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 14:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?