1One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. (Mr 3:2; Lu 7:36; Lu 11:37; Lu 20:20)2And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy.3And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” (Mt 12:10; Lu 7:30; Lu 13:14)4But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away.5And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son[1] or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” (De 22:4; Mt 12:11; Lu 13:15)6And they could not reply to these things. (Mt 22:46)
The Parable of the Wedding Feast
7Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, (Lu 11:43)8“When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him,9and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.10But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. (Pr 25:6)11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Pr 29:23; Eze 21:26; Mt 18:4; Lu 18:14; Jas 4:6; Jas 4:10; 1Pe 5:5)
The Parable of the Great Banquet
12He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers[2] or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. (Lu 6:34; Joh 21:12)13But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, (Ne 8:10; Ne 8:12; Es 9:22; Lu 14:21)14and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Joh 11:24; Ac 24:15; 1Co 15:23; 1Th 4:16; Re 20:4)15When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” (Lu 13:29; Lu 22:16; Lu 22:30; Re 19:9)16But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. (Isa 25:6; Mt 22:2)17And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant[3] to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ (Es 6:14; Pr 9:3; Pr 9:5)18But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’19And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’20And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ (De 24:5)21So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ (Lu 14:13)22And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’23And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.24For I tell you,[4] none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’” (Mt 21:43; Ac 13:46)
The Cost of Discipleship
25Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them,26“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (De 33:9; Mt 10:37; Lu 14:33; Lu 16:13; Joh 12:25; Ac 20:24; Re 12:11)27Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. (Mt 10:38; Mt 16:24; Mr 8:34; Lu 9:23; Joh 19:17)28For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? (Pr 24:27)29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,30saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’31Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? (Lu 14:28)32And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.33So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (Lu 14:26; Lu 18:28; Php 3:7)
Salt Without Taste Is Worthless
34“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? (Mt 5:13; Mr 9:50)35It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mt 11:15)
Luke 14
New International Version
Jesus at a Pharisee’s house
1One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.2There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body.3Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?’4But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way.5Then he asked them, ‘If one of you has a child[1] or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?’6And they had nothing to say.7When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honour at the table, he told them this parable:8‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honour, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.9If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, “Give this person your seat.” Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.10But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, “Friend, move up to a better place.” Then you will be honoured in the presence of all the other guests.11For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’12Then Jesus said to his host, ‘When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbours; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’
The parable of the great banquet
15When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, ‘Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.’16Jesus replied: ‘A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.17At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, “Come, for everything is now ready.”18‘But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, “I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.”19‘Another said, “I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.”20‘Still another said, “I have just got married, so I can’t come.”21‘The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.”22‘ “Sir,” the servant said, “what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.”23‘Then the master told his servant, “Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.24I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.” ’
The cost of being a disciple
25Large crowds were travelling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:26‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even their own life – such a person cannot be my disciple.27And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.28‘Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?29For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you,30saying, “This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.”31‘Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.33In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.34‘Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?35It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure heap; it is thrown out. ‘Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.’
Luke 14
King James Version
1And 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.2And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.3And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?4And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;5And 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?6And they could not answer him again to these things.7And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,8When 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;9And 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.10But 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.11For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.12Then 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.13But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:14And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.15And 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.16Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:17And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.18And 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.19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.21So 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.22And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.23And 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.24For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.25And there went great multitudes with him and he turned and said unto them,26If 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.27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.31Or 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?32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.34Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?35It 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.
Luke 14
New International Reader’s Version
Jesus eats at a Pharisee’s house
1One Sabbath day, Jesus went to eat in the house of a well-known Pharisee. While he was there, he was being carefully watched.2In front of him was a man whose body was badly swollen.3Jesus turned to the Pharisees and the authorities on the law. He asked them, ‘Is it breaking the Law to heal on the Sabbath day?’4But they remained silent. So Jesus took hold of the man and healed him. Then he sent him away.5He asked them another question. He said, ‘Suppose one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day. Wouldn’t you pull it out right away?’6And they had nothing to say.7Jesus noticed how the guests picked the places of honour at the table. So he told them a story.8He said, ‘Suppose someone invites you to a wedding feast. Do not take the place of honour. A person more important than you may have been invited.9If so, the host who invited both of you will come to you. He will say, “Give this person your seat.” Then you will be filled with shame. You will have to take the least important place.10But when you are invited, take the lowest place. Then your host will come over to you. He will say, “Friend, move up to a better place.” Then you will be honoured in front of all the other guests.11All those who lift themselves up will be made humble. And those who make themselves humble will be lifted up.’12Then Jesus spoke to his host. ‘Suppose you give a lunch or a dinner,’ he said. ‘Do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, or your relatives, or your rich neighbours. If you do, they may invite you to eat with them. So you will be paid back.13But when you give a banquet, invite those who are poor. Also invite those who can’t see or walk.14Then you will be blessed. Your guests can’t pay you back. But you will be paid back when those who are right with God rise from the dead.’
The story of the great banquet
15One of the people at the table with Jesus heard him say those things. So he said to Jesus, ‘Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in God’s kingdom.’16Jesus replied, ‘A certain man was preparing a great banquet. He invited many guests.17Then the day of the banquet arrived. He sent his servant to those who had been invited. The servant told them, “Come. Everything is ready now.”18‘But they all had the same idea. They began to make excuses. The first one said, “I have just bought a field. I have to go and see it. Please excuse me.”19‘Another said, “I have just bought five pairs of oxen. I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.”20‘Still another said, “I just got married, so I can’t come.”21‘The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry. He ordered his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the town. Bring in those who are poor. Also bring those who can’t see or walk.”22‘ “Sir”, the servant said, “what you ordered has been done. But there is still room.”23‘Then the master told his servant, “Go out to the roads. Go out to the country lanes. Make the people come in. I want my house to be full.24I tell you, not one of those people who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.” ’
The cost of being a disciple
25Large crowds were travelling with Jesus. He turned and spoke to them. He said,26‘Anyone who comes to me must hate their father and mother. They must hate their wife and children. They must hate their brothers and sisters. And they must hate even their own life. Unless they do this, they can’t be my disciple.27Whoever doesn’t carry their cross and follow me can’t be my disciple.28‘Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you sit down first and figure out how much it will cost? Then you will see whether you have enough money to finish it.29Suppose you start building and are not able to finish. Then everyone who sees what you have done will laugh at you.30They will say, “This person started to build but wasn’t able to finish.”31‘Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. And suppose he has 10,000 men, while the other has 20,000 coming against him. Won’t he first sit down and think about whether he can win?32And suppose he decides he can’t win. Then he will send some men to ask how peace can be made. He will do this while the other king is still far away.33In the same way, you must give up everything you have. Those of you who don’t cannot be my disciple.34‘Salt is good. But suppose it loses its saltiness. How can it be made salty again?35It is not good for the soil. And it is not good for the compost heap. It will be thrown out. ‘Whoever has ears should listen.’