Luke 14:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully.

NIV: One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.

NASB: 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.

CSB: One Sabbath, when he went in to eat at the house of one of the leading Pharisees, they were watching him closely.

NLT: One Sabbath day Jesus went to eat dinner in the home of a leader of the Pharisees, and the people were watching him closely.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely.

Luke 14:1—15:32 continues Luke's habit of organizing his stories by theme. As in Luke 13:10–35, 17:11—18:34, and 18:35—19:27, this section begins with a miraculous healing and continues with lessons on the kingdom of God. In this case, Luke focuses on who will enter the kingdom. These are the humble (Luke 14:7–11), the generous (Luke 14:12–14), those who answer the call (Luke 14:15–24), those who endure in their faith (Luke 14:25–35), and the lost whom Jesus seeks out (Luke 15).

Considering how often Jesus and the Pharisees clash, it may be surprising to see Him once again invited for a formal meal in a Pharisee's home. We know it's formal because they "recline" on couches (Luke 14:15). In such cases, the host would invite friends, family, and people who would provide good conversation and increase his social standing. He also assumes these important people would reciprocate with their own invitations (Luke 14:12). Other people from the area would be welcome to stand along the walls and listen in. The man with dropsy (Luke 14:2) may be one of those who wanted to listen.

"Ruler of the Pharisees" is an awkward term in English. This doesn't necessarily mean the man was a commanding leader within the group. It means he is a member of the sect of the Pharisees and he is some kind of leader: he may oversee a synagogue, or work as a civil official or chief priest. Even if he were a chief priest, it wouldn't mean this event takes place in Jerusalem. Priests only served specific shifts at the temple.

The host and his other guests—only men were invited to such banquets—are "watching him carefully." Ever since Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and their lawyers, they have been "lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say" (Luke 11:54).Commentators such as Darrell Bock have described this as "watching [Jesus] lurkingly." They want Him dead, and they need hard proof that He commits a capital offense.

Luke 14:1–6 begins a section discussing who can enter the kingdom of God, and how they must do so. God's kingdom isn't just about salvation. It's also about the blessings of God's sovereignty and character. While arriving at the home of a Pharisee for a formal banquet on the Sabbath, Jesus heals a man. The other guests remain silent while Jesus indirectly explains that the kingdom of God is about kindness for all God's creatures. It is not a matter of blindly following man-made laws. Jesus follows with three parables about humility, generosity, and the importance of accepting God's invitation to His kingdom (Luke 14:7—15:24).

Luke 14 continues Jesus' doctrinal march to Jerusalem and the cross. Luke 14 and 15 contain the second grouping of one miracle and a series of discussions about the kingdom of God and salvation; Luke 13:10–35 is the first. Next will be a collection of warnings about rejecting God's kingdom (Luke 16:1—17:10) and two more sets of lessons about the kingdom and salvation, each beginning with a single miracle (Luke 17:11—18:34; 18:35—19:27). After this comes Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.