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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 14:33 mean?

Explanation

Luke 14:33 is a verse that challenges the reader to consider the cost of discipleship under Jesus Christ.

The verse, at a literal level, suggests that one must be willing to give up everything to follow Jesus.

The "forsaketh not all that he hath" portion implies abandoning personal possessions, relationships, social status, or any other worldly attachments.

The deeper meaning encompasses a spiritual surrender, where personal desires and material possessions do not take precedence over one's commitment to Christ.

It points towards an ultimate test of faith and prioritization of one's life, where Jesus should be at the center of a disciple's life decisions and pursuits.

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Historical Context

The verse comes from the larger passage of Luke 14:25-35 where Jesus talks about the cost of being His disciple.

At the time, large crowds were following Jesus, fascinated by His teachings and miracles.

This statement served as a way to sift through the crowd to differentiate between the curious onlookers and those truly willing to commit their lives to Him.

In the historical and cultural context of 1st Century Judea, family bonds, possessions, and social status were highly valued.

Jesus' teachings often turned these values on their heads, creating a radical expectation for His followers that could potentially result in societal ostracism.

Theological Insights

Different theological interpretations arise from this verse.

Some view it as a hyperbolic statement, emphasizing the seriousness of the decision to follow Jesus rather than a literal command to dispose of all possessions.

Other theologians might argue that this is a call to a life of asceticism or voluntary poverty, suggesting that true discipleship involves a stark rejection of material wealth.

Liberation theology might interpret this as an imperative for solidarity with the poor and marginalized, indicating that discipleship involves advocating for social justice.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Luke 14:33 can be applied to modern life by encouraging individuals to evaluate their priorities and attachment to material goods or social status.

It can influence lifestyle choices where the values of generosity, simplicity, and selflessness are embraced.

This verse can guide decisions regarding careers, finances, and relationships, ensuring they align with one's faith commitment. It may also inspire charitable giving and volunteering, reflecting the notion that following Christ entails serving others and letting go of selfish ambitions.

Cross-References

Matthew 10:37-39: "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me..."
Matthew 19:21: "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor..."
Philippians 3:7-8: "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."

Language Study

The key word in the original Greek text for "forsaketh" is ἀποτάσσεται (apotassetai), which indicates a definitive separation or departure.

It is a strong term that implies a complete and final leaving behind.

The phrase "all that he hath" translates from πᾶσιν τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ ὑπάρχουσιν (pasin tois heautou hyparchousin) - "all his possessions," highlighting the totality of the surrender Jesus demands.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison to other ancient religions, many also had ascetic elements where renunciation played a part in spiritual enlightenment or commitment.

For instance, in Buddhism, the concept of non-attachment to the material world is foundational.

Hindu sannyasis (renunciates) give up worldly attachments for spiritual goals.

Stoicism, a philosophy with religious overtones, also emphasizes detachment from wealth and possessions for virtuous living.

Scientific Perspectives

There is no direct scientific perspective related to this scriptural verse since it addresses spiritual commitment and moral values, not empirical facts.

However, psychological studies on happiness and well-being have shown that beyond a certain point, increased material wealth does not correlate strongly with increased happiness, which could indirectly support the notion that life's focus should not be on accumulating possessions.

Commentaries

Many biblical scholars and commentators have studied this verse and provide various insights:

John MacArthur stresses that discipleship involves total commitment and the term "cannot" implies impossibility - without full surrender, discipleship simply cannot occur.
William Barclay notes the necessity of absolute detachment from things that could become more important than Jesus.
Matthew Henry suggests the emphasis is on preparedness to forsake all - with the heart's affection primarily on Christ, rather than on dispossession as an end in itself.

Luke 14

Luke 14

What does Luke 14:33 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 14:33 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?