141 It happened that when He went into the house of one of the leaders of the Pharisees on the Sabbath to eat bread , they were watching Him closely . 2 And there in front of Him was a man suffering from dropsy . 3 And Jesus answered and spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees , saying , " Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath , or not?" 4 But they kept silent . And He took hold of him and healed him, and sent him away . 5 And He said to them, " Which one of you will have a son or an ox fall into a well , and will not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day ?" 6 And they could make no reply to this .
7 And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them, 8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast , do not take the place of honor , for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both e will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this man ,' and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place . 10 "But when you are invited , go and recline at the last place , so that when the one who has invited you comes , he may say to you, 'Friend , move up higher '; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you. 11 " For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled , and he who humbles himself will be exalted ."
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.