PrevLuke 14:5Next

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 14:5 mean?

Explanation

[Luke 14:5] confronts the legalistic interpretation of the Sabbath laws that were held by some Jewish religious leaders of the time.

In this verse, Jesus challenges the Pharisees with a question about doing good on the Sabbath, a day on which work was strictly prohibited according to Jewish law.

The specific scenario Jesus presents is one of an emergency - an ox or an ass falling into a pit - suggesting that compassion and mercy lead to the necessity of intervening, even on the Sabbath.

The deeper meaning here insists on the priority of human (and animal) need over ritualistic law-observance.

Thus, Jesus emphasizes the importance of love and kindness over strict adherence to religious regulations.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

The verse is part of a larger story in the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus is dining at the house of a Pharisee on the Sabbath.

The Pharisees, who were a Jewish sect committed to strict observance of the Torah's laws, had a history of conflict with Jesus over his interpretation and application of the Sabbath.

During Jesus' time, the Sabbath was considered a day of rest, and doing work on the Sabbath was forbidden.

The rules were based on interpretations of the laws found in the Old Testament and were intended to honor God.

However, Jesus often pointed out the hypocrisy and shortcomings of such literal interpretations, especially when they overshadowed the laws' intended spirit.

Theological Insights

Different Christian traditions have interpreted this verse in various ways. For example:

Traditional and conservative interpretations may argue that Jesus is not abolishing the Sabbath law but rather fulfilling its true intention, which is to benefit and not harm.
Progressive interpretations might suggest that Jesus is teaching about the relative nature of religious practices compared to the overarching principle of compassion.
Liberation theology might take the example as an indication that Jesus prioritizes the needs of the oppressed or those in dire situations over ritual habits.

In all these interpretations, the common thread is that Jesus seeks a more humane understanding of the law.

Practical Applications

The practical application of Luke 14:5 is to prioritize helping others and acting with compassion, even if it means breaking societal or religious norms.

In daily life, this could be interpreted as the need to balance legalistic tendencies with empathy and a focus on what benefits others.

It emphasizes the importance of responding to urgent needs and suggests that rules should serve humanity, not the other way around.

Cross-References

Here are some related verses from the King James Version of the Bible that reflect similar themes:

Mark 3:4: "And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace."
Matthew 12:11-12: "And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? Therefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days."

Language Study

In the original Greek text of the New Testament, key words stand out:

"ὄνος" (onos) translated as "ass" is a beast of burden, often used by poorer people for work.
"βοῦς" (bous) translated as "ox," is a valuable animal for agriculture and could represent significant wealth.
"φρέαρ" (phrear) translated as "pit," could mean a cistern or well, indicating a deep, inescapable place.

These terms solidified the necessity of the action taken on the Sabbath due to the value of the animals and the severity of the situation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison to other ancient myths and religious interpretations, Jesus' teaching here is somewhat radical as it prioritizes practical compassion over ritual purity. Similarly, many ancient myths might emphasize the importance of the spirit of law and duty to others above the letter.

However, in some ancient religious practices, such an act on a sacred day could be seen as sacrilegious or taboo.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific perspective could touch upon the ethics of animal welfare and human response to animals in distress. Modern science supports the idea that animals are sentient beings capable of suffering, which corroborates the ethical imperative highlighted by Jesus to rescue animals in danger.

Commentaries

Various experts and biblical scholars have commented on this verse:

John Calvin emphasizes that Christ is clearly indicting the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who would care more for animals than for a man if that suited their own interests.
William Barclay suggests that Jesus is confronting the Pharisees with the inconsistency of their own actions, as they obviously would act to save their property.
Matthew Henry expands on the idea that the observance of the external rites of religion is meant to be subservient to the good of mankind.

Commentators agree on the central idea that the compassion and welfare of living beings override strict interpretations of religious rules.

Luke 14

Luke 14

What does Luke 14:5 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 14:5 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?