141 And it came about that when he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees on the Sabbath, to have a meal, they were watching him. 2 And a certain man was there who had a disease. 3 And Jesus, answering, said to the scribes and Pharisees, Is it right to make people well on the Sabbath or not? 4 But they said nothing. And he made him well and sent him away. 5 And he said to them, Which of you, whose ox or ass has got into a water-hole, will not straight away get him out on the Sabbath? 6 And they had no answer to that question.
7 And he gave teaching in the form of a story to the guests who came to the feast, when he saw how they took the best seats; saying to them, 8 When you get a request to come to a feast, do not take the best seat, for a more important man than you may be coming, 9 And then the giver of the feast will come to you and say, Give your place to this man; and you, with shame, will have to take the lowest seat. 10 But when you come, go and take the lowest seat, so that when the giver of the feast comes, he may say to you, Friend, come up higher; and then you will have honour in the eyes of all the others who are there. 11 For every man who gives himself a high place will be put down, but he who takes a low place will be lifted up.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 14:1-11
Commentary on Luke 14:1-6
(Read Luke 14:1-6)
This Pharisee, as well as others, seems to have had an ill design in entertaining Jesus at his house. But our Lord would not be hindered from healing a man, though he knew a clamour would be raised at his doing it on the sabbath. It requires care to understand the proper connexion between piety and charity in observing the sabbath, and the distinction between works of real necessity and habits of self-indulgence. Wisdom from above, teaches patient perseverance in well-doing.
Commentary on Luke 14:7-14
(Read Luke 14:7-14)
Even in the common actions of life, Christ marks what we do, not only in our religious assemblies, but at our tables. We see in many cases, that a man's pride will bring him low, and before honour is humility. Our Saviour here teaches, that works of charity are better than works of show. But our Lord did not mean that a proud and unbelieving liberality should be rewarded, but that his precept of doing good to the poor and afflicted should be observed from love to him.