The big picture
Luke 14 opens in verse 1 with “And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 18 with “And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have…”, and closes in verse 35 with “It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that…” Repeated or prominent terms include bidden, servant, bade, room, supper. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Luke · King James Version · 35Luke 14:1-7
1–7: It came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees…
Luke 14:1–7 opens with “And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the…” and reaches “And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 14 develops its own movement around bidden, servant, bade, room, supper, with particular weight carried by sabbath, chief, Pharisees.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“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…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.
Luke 14:1-7
King James Version1And 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,
Luke 14:8-14
8–14: When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the…
Luke 14:8–14 opens with “When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more…” and reaches “And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 14 develops its own movement around bidden, servant, bade, room, supper, with particular weight carried by bade, bidden, room.
Context that brings the passage to life
“When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bidden, highest, honourable. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
“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…” Naming Give keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Luke 14:8-14
King James Version8When 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.
Luke 14:15-21
15–21: When one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said…
Luke 14:15–21 opens with “And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is…” and reaches “So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 14 develops its own movement around bidden, servant, bade, room, supper, with particular weight carried by servant, bought, excused.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:” The line’s distinctive content terms include bade, certain, supper. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.
Luke 14:15-21
King James Version15And 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.
Luke 14:22-28
22–28: The servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there…
Luke 14:22–28 opens with “And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.” and reaches “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 14 develops its own movement around bidden, servant, bade, room, supper, with particular weight carried by disciple, lord, servant.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Luke 14:22-28
King James Version22And 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?
Luke 14:29-35
29–35: Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish…
Luke 14:29–35 opens with “Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it…” and reaches “It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 14 develops its own movement around bidden, servant, bade, room, supper, with particular weight carried by able, finish, hear.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,” Naming Lest keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Luke 14:29-35
King James Version29Lest 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Luke 14:1 begins with “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.”
Where the chapter turns
Luke 14:16 forms a natural hinge: “Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:”
The final note
Luke 14:35 leaves the reader with “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.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words bidden, servant, bade, room, supper, able help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What contrasts the two royal encounters?
Melchizedek blesses God as the source of victory; Abram refuses a financial arrangement that would let Sodom claim credit for his wealth.
How does Abram treat Lot after their separation?
He risks resources to rescue him rather than treating earlier disagreement as a reason for abandonment.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.