Luke 14:1 "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."

"Watched" as used in this verse is # 3906 in Strong's Greek dictionary, "parattereo, from 3844, to inspect insidiously or scrupulously." The prime # 3844 is "para", or to be close to or along side when the inspection is done. These Pharisees were not going to miss one detail of what Jesus said or did in their observations. This Pharisee invited Jesus over to dinner, along with others, and the purpose was to entrap Jesus into violating one of their Sabbath laws. This is a lessen to each of us as a Christian that we should be well founded in the Scriptures, especially when you are presenting yourself as a teacher of the Word of God. So this is one of the best examples you could have as to how we are to act and react to these people with their legalistic minds. Even though bread is used here, in the Greek text it means dinner, all food.

Luke 14:2 "And, behold, there was a certain man before Him which had the dropsy."

One of the men at the dinner was a man that had "dropsey". Dropsey is a medical term used of one that retains a great deal of water within his body. By using this word Luke leaves one of his marks of his medical profession. This ailment was fairly common for that day.

Luke 14:3 "And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?"

We know from the prior chapters, that Jesus was in trouble with these Pharisees for healing on the Sabbath. In the past the Pharisees and scripture lawyers would scream and rant over Jesus healing and casting out demons on the Sabbath. So before He healed this man, Jesus asked the people sitting at the dinner this question. "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?" When someone tries to put you under the bondage of their legalism and limit your freedom that we have in Christ, what do you do about it? Jesus is going to beat them at their own game, and disarm them before the Pharisee and scripture lawyers have a chance to attack them. Any Scripture lawyer should have been able to answer that without even thinking about the question.

Put this question to yourself, and ask yourself, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" There is no law written in God's Word that prevents anyone from healing on the Sabbath. If these men at this dinner were as sharp as they claimed themselves to be, of course they would have to be quit. The law preventing the healing was from their own traditions, and not God's Word. In becomes a matter then as to whether I obey God or man's traditions.

Luke 14:4 "And they held their peace. And He took him, and healed him, and let him go."

Right there at the dinner table not one word was uttered, and Jesus touched the man and healed him, and let the man go. He was fully healed of his dropsy. These Pharisees and lawyers are sitting there quiet, and Jesus is going to teach them a less using this man's healing as the object of the lesson.

Luke 14:5 "And answer 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?"

Jesus is giving these men a lesson using a common occurrence of that day. They all had oxen or asses to do the work, or for transportation, and if one fell into a pit, would you leave it there if it was the Sabbath day? Of course they wouldn't, they would see to it that the animal was taken care of immediately. To put this in today's terms, if your pet was in trouble, or your car went into the ditch on the way to church, wouldn't you make an effort to take care of the problem? Of course you would? In Exodus 23:5 "If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him." If even your enemies mule or ox is in trouble in a ditch you are to give help to that animal immediately. These Scripture lawyers knew this, that the Sabbath day had nothing to do with the help that would be given to this animal. God's Word says that you will help and it not up for debate.

Man's way under this same set of circumstances, would be to feed the animal and comfort him until the Sabbath was over, then pull the animal out of the pit. Which was sounds the best to you? Exodus 23:5 says to get that creature out of there. God's way verses man's way.

Luke 14:6 "And they could not answer Him again to these things."

Sure, these Pharisees and lawyers could have given an answer by their traditions and the laws that these religious leaders had made, but not by God's law. These men kept their mouths shut, rather than admit that it was legal by God's law to help a beast on the Sabbath. Notice that Jesus has taken these men's minds off the healing that just took place, and on to the error of one of their doctrines and traditions. These Pharisees did not want to admit that it was legal to heal and have compassion on a dumb animal or a man on the Sabbath, or any day of the week. Jesus was walking all over their church system, and these Pharisees could only sit and listen.

Luke 14:7 "And He put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when He marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,"

Jesus is about to give a parable, and this parable applies to what was happening at that moment. Jesus and these Pharisees and lawyers were not just invited to the chief Pharisees house. Jesus and these men are in this house of the leader of the Pharisee and where you sat at the dinner table depended on your rank in the religious church community. You can see as people enter into the room, what chair they will seek will establish what they think their position in the group is. All these religious muck-mucks are there fine cloths of the day, and poor Jesus with his poor white robe is there in this crowd.

Luke 14:8 "When 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;"

Jesus is pointing out how embarrassing this could be to a person that came to a wedding and took the highest chair in the room, the chair of honor. Then another man came into the room, and the host had to go to that first man and ask him to take a chair in the back of the room. All eyes of the house would be on that person, as he got up from the chair of honor, and moved to the back of the room. The reason he took that chair of honor in the first place, was because in his mind; he thought of himself to be higher than what he was in the minds of the other people. These Pharisees know exactly what Jesus is leading them to, as they sat at the dinner table of the chief Pharisee.

Luke 14:9 "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 room."

When the hose bade that person to move, Jesus is asking these Pharisees to think of what an shame that would be to the man that was asked to take the lowest seat in the room.

Luke 14:10 "But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee come, 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."

However, Jesus is now asking these Pharisees to think on this other position. That if this same person had gone to the lowest seat in the room in the first place, and the host had to go to you and ask you to move to higher seat, it would show the others present that you were a man to be respected. As you moved to the position of the higher chair of honor, the people there would see the honorable man that you were. The greater the servant of God, the lower the seat that he should take before men. He is the responsible one for those God has given to him to teach.

Note that Satan's pride causes people to always seek out the highest seat. We know that Jesus is not concerned about what seat He sits in at this chief Pharisee's dinner table. Jesus is teaching a spiritual lesson to these religious people. No stop and think for a moment, when the feet of the disciples were being washed, who was the servant doing the washing? It was Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus is the chief of the group. When ever God gives great gifts to someone, He expects greater work and obedience from that person. These Scripture lawyers are presenting themselves as leaders and in authority over the religious community: Pillars of the church, and with the knowledge of the laws of God. They are to teach the people as God wanted the Word to be taught with understanding. They are not to take the highest seat because they had the best memory or highest education. Jesus is pointing out that what ever they have, God gave it to them and it is God that gets all the credit for what they have and do.

Luke 14:11 "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

For whoever honors himself on this earth will be the littlest; and he that humbleth himself as Christ did, he will be exalted in the kingdom of God. When Jesus went to the cross for you, he took the lowest form that any man could take for another. Jesus took the shame, the punishment, and the stripes for each of us, so that He could save your soul.

Isaiah 53:7 "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not his mouth."

Isaiah 53:8 "He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of My people was He strickened."

Isaiah 53:9 "And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth."

Jesus took all this violence to Himself so that our poor miserable soul at repentance could be forgiven of all of our sins. Jesus became the supreme servant to even give His life so that you and I could enter into the Kingdom of God. The thing that Jesus is asking of you, when you claim to be a Christian, is to follow His example.

Luke 14:12 "Then 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 recompense be made thee."

Jesus is now addressing the chief Pharisee, the one that asked Him to dinner. This Pharisee was suppose to be the head of the church or temple at Jesus' time. His profession was knowing and teaching God's Word, the Laws of Moses in the temple. What Jesus is telling this man is that if God gives you some gifts, don't just get with some other preacher or church leaders, and spout off to each other. And don't just hold your knowledge and instruction for your kinfolks, but teach what God has given you from the house top so that the entire community hears what God has given to you. Make that knowledge available to the poor, to your neighbors, and rich alike. It is not to be sold or mishandled, but to be spread to all people alike.

Luke 14:13 "But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, and maimed, and lame, the blind:"

Jesus has all these rich and wealthy religious people sitting around the dinner table at this chief Pharisees house, and He is telling this man that it is not right to do what he is doing. Sure this is a dinner, but Jesus is using this in a spiritual manner also, for when you have a spiritual feast to give out the bread of God's Word, call in all the people, the spiritually poor, the maimed, the lame and the spiritually blind; share the Word and teaching with everyone. Enrich them and heal them on the Sabbath, for that is what the Sabbath is for. This is not directed to the physical handicapped, but the spiritually handicapped. The point to this verse is that if you have a feast of knowledge, don't just invite those closest to you, but spread those seeds of truth with everyone.

We are in the end generation, and Amos 8:11; "the famine in the end times is not for bread to eat, or thirst for water to drink, but for the hearing of the Word of God."

It will be then, at the time of the resurrection that you will receive your just reward for sharing the knowledge and teaching that God has instructed you to do. Sure, it will lay up treasures in heaven, but it will also bring forth blessings to you in this earth age of the flesh also. When you follow the directions that God has given to you, God will bless you for your faithfulness. Remember, we are talking spiritually here. If people ask you question about your faith, or the scriptures, try to given them an answer. Give them hope in the Father.

Luke 14:14 "And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just."

Jesus is going to give these Pharisees and lawyers a parable of the invitation to the kingdom of God. It will be addressed as food, or bread, but it food for thought of the truth, and the famine that will exist in these end times. Remember that the famine in the end days will not be for food you eat, but for the hearing of the Word of God.

Luke 14:15 "And 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."

This is a parable of the invitation to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 14:16 "Then said He unto him, "A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:"

This certain man invited who ever wanted to come to the great supper to come. "Whom so ever will."

Luke 14:17 "And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, `Come; for all things are now ready.' "

Naturally the servant was His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ. Again, this is just the opposite of the other supper where Jesus was invited with all the high ranking in the religious community were there. That first supper was set up to trap Jesus into doing and saying things that they could use against Him. Here, everyone was invited.

Luke 14:18 "And 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.'"

When the invitation from Jesus comes to the supper that our heavenly Father set, there seems to always be an excuse for not attending that supper. When the Holy Spirit touches someone, they are always trying to find a way to avoid making a commitment that would change their way of life. Most people always are to busy, and just don't have the time to spare. It's always later.

Luke 14:19 "And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.' "

If a person could afford five yoke of oxen at the time of Christ, while the Romans were ruling the world, were considered rich. Five in biblical numerics was the number for grace. This man had nothing to do with repentance, for that is the only way grace would apply to this man's excuse.

Luke 14:20 "And another said, `I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' "

This man had to consummate his marriage, and his romantic life came before his consideration of repentance. He had other things on his mind that came before His position with our Lord.

Luke 14:21 "So 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.' " 

So this servant, or Christ, came back to the Father to give his report on those that received the invitation; for they all said that they were to busy to go to the marriage supper that was prepared for them. They did not want to come to the kingdom wedding. So who is being asked to come to this wedding feast. We are talking about somebody that is to lame and blind to walk in righteousness, for they simply are ignorant of the truth. This is not referring to the physical handicapped, blind and maimed, but someone that simply does not have the time to walk in righteousness.

The only way to walk in righteousness is by following the path that Christ has set before us. Many are so blind that they can't see the truth of the Word, in the simplicity of the Word that our Lord Jesus Christ teaches. They get so wrapped up in the things of the world that they chose to be blind. They are busybodies, and so involved in matters that just don't matter. To many it is in sports, in business, or even in music or the arts, for they have loaded their schedules with everything to come ahead of the things of God's Word. Each of these things puts your "self" ahead of God, and that makes you unfit for the kingdom. Now is the time to store some treasures up for the eternity, for if your flesh dies, your soul slips into God's kingdom, where only the things of this earth age establishes your rewards for then.

However, this is the invitation by Almighty God, and that invitation is for all that will in repentance come to Him in Jesus name. The kingdom and the marriage supper is open to every one that will accept that invitation: poor, blind, or what ever your conditions, but anytime any person tries to handicap you with the Word of God, they are lying to you. The truth from all of God's Word sets you free. John 8:32; "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Once you repent and Christ forgives you, you are free. And don't ever let men put limits on you, for whom so ever will, that's who can come.

Luke 14:22 "And the servant said, `Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.' "

God can create all the room that is necessary for all those that will come to the marriage feast. Our duty is to plant seeds in the mind of sinners, so the Holy Spirit can work on the seed of truth to draw that sinner to Himself: so that they can be converted. That is your purpose of living in this earth age, to do work for the Lord.

Luke 14:23 "And 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."

In 2nd Peter 3:9; "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." God's will is that every person on the face of the earth come to repentance, but they all won't, but some will. God does not wish to destroy you or anyone, but that is your choice whether you will be in God's kingdom or chose to perish with Satan. God loves you, but He has given you the will to make your own choices.

Luke 14:24 "For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper,' "

God is telling you that not one of the persons that put their worldly problems ahead of God's path will be there at the marriage supper feast. The door will be closed in their face, and the invitation cut off. Just one day to late to make it, and we are living in the end times. Many of the trumps and seals are long past history to us living today. The Jews have gone back to Jerusalem, the world government already has control of every nation on the face of the earth, and those events in the heavens and signs on the earth are in the history books, yet most people could care less. Friend, our heavenly Father loves you, and He is longsuffering, but at the appointed moment in time, the invitation is closed. When Satan arrives here on earth with his fallen angels, it will be to late, for you will either be sealed in your mind with the truth, or you will not. Revelation 9:4, 5 deal with this moment in time, and those not sealed will be turned over to Satan's scorpion army of fallen angels.

You have a standing invitation and it is extended to you right now. Our Heavenly Father wants you at that marriage feast, but it is up to you.

Luke 14:25 "And there went great multitudes with Him: and He turned, and said unto them,"

We are going to another topic here, and Jesus is standing amongst a great multitude of people. When Jesus is with a multitude there are many in the crowd that Jesus does not want them to hear and understand what He is saying.

Luke 14:26 "If 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."

Jesus is specifically identifying all those people that are closest to you. Father, mother, wife, brother, children and so on, even to the point of your own like; all of these should be second to following Christ. So from the beginning there is something wrong to this verse in the translation. God is not asking you to hate anyone, for remember we are to honor our parents, love our neighbor as our selves, and remember that one that hates his brother in his heart is as bad as a murderer. So the problem is in the word "hate". "Miseo", # 3404 in the Strong's Greek dictionary, "means to love less". In other words we are to love them less than we love Jesus and our Heavenly Father.

Being a disciple of the Word of God should come first in your life, and a student of the path that Jesus wants you to follow. When you study and understand those teachings, then you are to follow them in your life. Keep on loving your family, but put Me first in your life. He wants your love and commitment to follow His path.

Luke 14:27 "And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple."

Try to put yourself back to the time of this writing; Why would a man carry a cross? He would carry his cross to be crucified on. This man is going to die on this cross. The point here is that you have to be willing to die for Christ if it is necessary. However there are only two that our Lord has said will lose their lives in these latter days, and those are the two witnesses. Sure many more have sacrificed their lives on the mission field, and they will have their due rewards. However, that is the conviction that you must have, and the doubt removed from your mind.

Don't ever follow some man that tells you that you have to die to please God; that is a lie. Of course, unless you are one of the two witnesses.

Luke 14:28 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?"

If you intend to build a house, you must first stop and think of the cost to construct your house. If you intend to serve God, you also must take the time to consider the cost of serving Him.

Luke 14:29 "Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,"

If you start construction and find that you don't have the funds to finish the construction, every time someone sees that eye sore of a building you started, your name will become a joke in the community. That is the same as Jesus is telling you here. For if you start and lay the foundation in your life to follow Jesus, and you stop short in your studies, it will be well known as people hear your testimony but witness the things different in your life. You may decide what you want to be, but it is God that determines and gives the gifts to carry them out. Your job is to dedicate yourself to God, and be willing to use whatever gifts of the Spirit He places within you. If God gives you a gift, use it, and develop it so it can be used for the Lord. Even though you do the work, and are a faithful servant, the credit always goes back to God.

Revelation 9:11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created."

No man ever build a great ministry, God did and He used a faithful servant along with the gifts that He placed into many other willing and faithful souls. Some as Prayer warriors, other with monetary gifts, others in various other duties to make that ministry flourish. However the Lord receives all the glory and honor and power, for He has created all things, you included. Unless God lays the foundation, it will not succeed.

Luke 14:30 "Saying, `This man began to build, and was not able to finish.' "

Luke 14:31 "Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth withether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?"

If a king is planning to go to war against his enemy, and before he rattles the saber, he must first consider the cost to his kingdom. His intelligence must know the strengths and weaknesses of that enemy. If that enemy has twenty thousand soldiers, and he has ten thousand, it is time to consider what is best for his kingdom.

Following Christ is going to war, and the enemy is Satan. Christianity is not playing games, but going to battle against a very intelligent enemy. The battle field is your mind, and Satan's weapons are many. The war is between Satan and the Lord Jesus Christ. Every time you take the side of our Lord Jesus Christ, you are on the battle field, and Satan is going to come against you, so expect it. If every time Satan throws an obstacle in your path, and you run and cry, then you are not fit for our Lord's army. As a soldier of the Lord, we must learn how to take control of those time when Satan comes against us and order him out of our lives. Satan is going to throw many temptations your way, and his demons will come against you, but when they do, it is up to you to order them away.

Luke 14:32 "Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace."

Jesus is telling you that you had better learn how to operate in this world, especially if you are doing the work of the Lord. Learn as how, when and where to strike the enemy, and the weapons that are effect in this spiritual battle. God has already promise that we have the victory, but let God run your life as it is laid out in Scripture.

Luke 14:33 "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."

Any person that will not put God first in their life, should not be in the ministry. No, that doesn't mean to send your money to some fancy rip off artist, calling himself a preacher. That is not what is talked about here. This gets back to your loving others and things less than you do our Lord Jesus Christ, and our heavenly Father. It takes your dedication to be a disciple of the Lord.

Luke 14:34 "Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned:"

Jesus is telling you that you had better be a little bit salty, if you plan on being one of His disciples. Food lacking salt just doesn't taste right, just as a Christian with out a little salt from the Word of God just doesn't sound right. If you are void of the Word, and call yourself a Christian, then what are you good for in His service? That's right, nothing. God expects His people to make a difference as they live their lives.

Luke 14:35 "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."

Do you have ears to hear with understanding? If you call yourself one of Christ's disciples, do you make a difference in the life of those around you? If you have lost the flavor of the Word of God, of what good are you? You need the Word in your mind, and yourself armed with the shield of faith, and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel from the Word of God. You need to put on that helmet of Salvation, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. In other words, you need to prepare yourself for the spiritual battle that Satan will bring upon you, or you are not fit for any spiritual battle. To be a Christian is to be ready to go to spiritual war. The apostle Paul tell us abut that battle in Ephesians 6:10-20.

Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His [God's] might."

Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

The whole armor of God is the entire bible, all of it, Old and New Testament alike.

Ephesians 6:12 "for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Ephesians 6:13 "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

That evil day is when Satan and his fallen angels come to earth to deceive all the people of the earth. they are coming and it is not far away, for we are living in the time of the end.