PrevLuke 14:17Next

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 14:17 mean?

Explanation

Luke 14:17 contains a parable of Jesus, where a man prepares a great supper and invites many guests. When everything is ready, the host sends his servant to inform those who have been invited that it is time to come and partake of the feast.

However, the verse develops the theme of rejection as the narrative unfolds; the invited guests begin to offer excuses for not attending.

On a literal level, the verse depicts a common social practice of the time: a host sending a message to confirm the readiness of a prepared meal.

Metaphorically, this parable illustrates God's invitation to humanity to join in His spiritual feast, the kingdom of God.

The significance lies in the urgency and generosity of the invitation, everything is prepared and ready; the invited simply need to accept and participate.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

This parable was told during the time of Jesus' ministry in first-century Palestine.

The Jewish people were under Roman occupation, longing for a messianic deliverance.

In this cultural context, banquets often symbolized shared community and were a common metaphor for the messianic banquet at the end of times.

Such feasts had several stages: the initial invitation and a follow-up announcement once the feast was ready.

Jesus was addressing a Jewish audience familiar with religious feasts and the expectations of messianic deliverance. The parable served to challenge their preconceptions of who would be deemed worthy of participating in God's kingdom.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse is often interpreted as symbolizing the inclusivity of God's invitation to salvation.

The originally invited guests could represent Israel, the chosen people who are becoming complacent, whereas the subsequent invitees (mentioned later in the narrative) may stand for the Gentiles and others who were outside of the traditional Jewish fold.

Theologians have also reflected on the immediacy of the invitation ("Come; for all things are now ready.").

This suggests that the kingdom of God is not a distant promise, but something accessible in the present for those who respond to God's calling.

Practical Applications

Luke 14:17 encourages people to respond promptly and positively to God’s invitation to a spiritual relationship. It promotes readiness and openness to the opportunities and blessings that God presents.

In everyday life, this can translate to being receptive to new chances for growth, service, and community. It can also serve as a caution against complacency and making excuses when called to higher purposes or actions that align with one's faith.

Cross-References

Matthew 22:2-4: "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,"
Revelation 19:9: "Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb."
Isaiah 55:1: "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the phrase "all things are now ready" is translated from πάντα ἕτοιμά ἐστιν (panta hetoima estin).

Here, ἕτοιμά (hetoima) means "prepared" or "ready" and carries a sense of completion and immediate availability.

Understanding the precise meaning of these words underscores the urgency and readiness of the invitation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The imagery of a great banquet is not unique to Christianity; feasts play significant roles in various ancient cultures and religions.

For instance, in ancient Greek mythology, the gods on Mount Olympus feasted ambrosia and nectar.

Similarly, in Norse mythology, the hall of Valhalla was depicted as where the brave warriors feasted after death.

In Judaism, the idea of a messianic banquet is a part of eschatological expectations, where the righteous would participate in a feast marking the age of messianic redemption.

Scientific Perspectives

The narrative of Luke 14:17, while rich in symbolism, does not directly engage with scientific concepts, as it deals primarily with spiritual and moral teachings.

However, psychological studies on human behavior may relate to individuals' responses to invitations or calls to action, considering factors such as social obligations, personal interests, and the cost-benefit analysis that people subconsciously perform.

commentaries

Commentaries on this verse vary, but generally agree on its central theme of God's open invitation to salvation.

Many scholars interpret this passage within the framework of the Lukan emphasis on Jesus' outreach to the marginalized and the theme of the Great Banquet being a precursor to the Eucharist in Christian tradition.

Some commentators emphasize the importance of the immediate response to God's calling and the danger of indifference, as reflected in the subsequent verses where the invited guests provide excuses to decline the invitation.

Luke 14

Luke 14

What does Luke 14:17 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 14:17 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?