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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 14:19 mean?

Explanation

The verse in question, Luke 14:19, comes from a parable Jesus tells about a man who prepares a great banquet and invites many guests.

When the time of the banquet arrives, the invited guests begin to make excuses for why they cannot attend.

This particular verse refers to the third guest who declines the invitation by stating that he has recently purchased five pairs of oxen and must go to test them.

On the surface, this excuse seems reasonable, a man must tend to his new possessions.

However, the deeper meaning suggests the man is prioritizing his economic interests over the relationship or obligation represented by the invitation to the banquet, which symbolizes the Kingdom of God.

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Historical Context

This parable is part of Jesus' teaching in the Gospel of Luke, which is believed to have been written around AD 80-110.

The context of a banquet would have been understood by Jesus' original audience as a metaphor for God's invitation to share in His Kingdom.

In the cultural setting of the time, a feast was a significant social event, and attendance was considered an honor.

Refusing such an invitation would have been both insulting and dishonoring to the host.

The mention of oxen reflects the agrarian nature of the society during that time, as oxen were valuable for their work in plowing fields and were indicators of wealth.

Theological Insights

The theology surrounding this verse can be seen from different perspectives.

From a traditional Christian viewpoint, the excuses made by the guests represent the variety of ways people reject or neglect God's invitation to eternal life.

The five pairs of oxen, from this perspective, can be seen as material possessions or worldly concerns that distract individuals from pursuing a spiritual path.

Another theological insight could be that the parable teaches about the generosity of God's grace and the open invitation to all, not just a select few, to participate in the Kingdom.

Practical Applications

In everyday life, this verse serves as a reminder to prioritize spiritual values and commitments over material possessions and worldly distractions.

It encourages self-reflection on how one might be making excuses to avoid deeper engagement with faith, community, or moral obligations.

Practically, it calls individuals to evaluate where their true commitments lie and to consider the consequences of neglecting or refusing invitations to grow spiritually.

Cross-References

Matthew 22:2-14: The Parable of the Wedding Feast, which has a similar theme of invited guests making excuses and refusing to attend a banquet prepared by a king.
Revelation 3:20: Jesus offers an invitation, standing at the door and knocking, and if anyone hears His voice and opens the door, He will dine with them.
Luke 12:16-21: The Parable of the Rich Fool, where a wealthy man focuses on his possessions rather than his relationship with God.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word used for "oxen" is "βοῦς" (bous), which specifically refers to an ox or cow, an important animal in ancient agricultural systems.

The word "prove" in Greek is "δοκιμάζω" (dokimazo), meaning to test, examine, or prove the worth of something. This reflects that the guest wanted to make sure his investment was worthwhile, again emphasizing the focus on material interests.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this parable to other ancient myths and religions, one may find common themes of banquets and feasts as settings for divine encounters or moral tales.

For example, in ancient Greek mythology, the gods often interacted with humans during feasts, and the value of hospitality was central.

In this parable, Jesus reinterprets the common cultural motif of a feast to teach a spiritual lesson about acceptance and rejection of divine invitation.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the verse does not directly address scientific concepts.

However, it might be related to the field of behavioral economics or psychology, which study how individuals prioritize and make decisions. Modern science can provide insight into the reasons why people may choose immediate material profits over long-term spiritual or communal benefits.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians have commented on this verse and the parable as a whole.

Many agree that it represents the tension between earthly and divine callings.

John Calvin focused on the excuses as reflecting human nature's tendency to put off spiritual matters.

Matthew Henry commented on the politeness of the refusal yet pointed out the foolishness of preferring temporal affairs over the eternal feast with God.

Modern commentaries often focus on the inclusivity of the Gospel and the need for responsive action to God's invitation.

Luke 14

Luke 14

What does Luke 14:19 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 14:19 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?