THE BOOK OF LUKE

 

Luke Chapter 14

1 ¶ And it so happened, that when Jesus entered the house of a prominent Pharisee to dine on the sabbath day, they watched him closely.

2 And, there in front of him was a certain man suffering from dropsy.

3 And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

4 But they said nothing. So Jesus took hold of him, and healed him, and sent him away;

5 And he said to them, Who of you who has an ox or donkey that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?

6 And they could not disagree with what he said.

7 ¶ Then, after he noticed how those who were invited tried to get places of honor, he told them this parable; saying,

8 When someone invites you to a wedding, do not sit down in a place of honor; for he may have invited someone more distinguished than you;

9 If so, the one who invited both of you may come and say to you, Give your place to this man; and in humiliation you will proceed to take the least important place.

10 But when you are invited, sit down in the least important place; so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, Friend, move up higher: then you will be honored in the presence of all who are at the table with you.

11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled; and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

12 Then Jesus went on to say to the man who invited him, When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not call your friends, your brothers, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; lest they also invite you in return, and you be paid back.

13 But when you give a banquet, call the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind:

14 And you will be blessed; since they cannot repay you: you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

15 ¶ Now upon hearing these things, one of those eating with him said, Blessed is he who will eat bread in the kingdom of God.

16 Then Jesus replied, A certain man prepared a great banquet, and invited many:

17 And when it was time for the dinner sent his servant to tell those who were invited, Come; for everything is now ready.

18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, I just bought a field, and must go and inspect it: Please have me excused.

19 And another said, I just bought five yoke of oxen, and am on my way to test them out: Please have me excused.

20 And another said, I just got married, and therefore I cannot come.

21 And when the servant returned, he reported this to his master. 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 the poor, and the crippled, and the lame, and the blind.

22 And the servant said, Lord, what you have commanded has been done, and there is still room.

23 Then the lord said to the servant, Go out into the roads and country lanes, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be full.

24 For I am telling you, That none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.

25 ¶ Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus: and he turned to them, and said,

26 If anyone comes to me, and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27 And anyone who does not bear his cross, and follow me, cannot be my disciple.

28 For who of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first, and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough money to complete it?

29 Otherwise, when he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all who observe it may start to mock him,

30 Saying, This man began to build, but was not able to finish.

31 Or what king, who is going to war against another king, does not first sit down, and determine if he is able with only ten thousand to meet one coming against him with twenty thousand?

32 If not, while the other king is yet far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

33 Likewise, any of you who does not give up all that he has, cannot be my disciple.

34 Salt is good: but if the salt has lost its flavor, what can it be seasoned with?

35 It is not fit for the land, or for the compost pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.