The Gospel According to St. Luke

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 14 -

And it came to pass, when Jesus went into the house of one of the chief of the Pharisees, on the sabbath day, to eat bread, that they watched him.

And behold, there was a certain man before him that had the dropsy.

And Jesus answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying: Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

But they held their peace. But he taking him, healed him, and sent him away.

And answering them, he said: Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fall into a pit, and will not immediately draw him out, on the sabbath day?

And they could not answer him to these things.

The Parable of the Guests

And he spoke a parable also to them that were invited, marking how they chose the first seats at the table, saying to them:

When thou art invited to a wedding, sit not down in the first place, lest perhaps one more honourable than thou be invited by him:

And he that invited thee and him, come and say to thee, Give this man place: and then thou begin with shame to take the lowest place.

But when thou art invited, go, sit down in the lowest place; that when he who invited thee, cometh, he may say to thee: Friend, go up higher. Then shalt thou have glory before them that sit at table with thee.

Because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.

And he said to him also that had invited him: When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor thy neighbours who are rich; lest perhaps they also invite thee again, and a recompense be made to thee.

But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind;

And thou shalt be blessed, because they have not wherewith to make thee recompense: for recompense shall be made thee at the resurrection of the just.

The Parable of the Banquet

(Matthew 22:1–14)

When one of them that sat at table with him, had heard these things, he said to him: Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

But he said to him: A certain man made a great supper, and invited many.

And he sent his servant at the hour of supper to say to them that were invited, that they should come, for now all things are ready.

And they began all at once to make excuse. The first said to him: I have bought a farm, and I must needs go out and see it: I pray thee, hold me excused.

And another said: I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to try them: I pray thee, hold me excused.

And another said: I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

And the servant returning, told these things to his lord. 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 feeble, and the blind, and the lame.

And the servant said: Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

And the Lord said to the servant: Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

But I say unto you, that none of those men that were invited, shall taste of my supper.

The Cost of Discipleship

(Matthew 8:18–22; Luke 9:57–62; John 6:59–66)

And there went great multitudes with him. And turning, he said to them:

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.

And whosoever doth not carry his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

For which of you having a mind to build a tower, doth not first sit down, and reckon the charges that are necessary, whether he have wherewithal to finish it:

Lest, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that see it begin to mock him,

Saying: This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Or what king, about to go to make war against another king, doth not first sit down, and think whether he be able, with ten thousand, to meet him that, with twenty thousand, cometh against him?

Or else, whilst the other is yet afar off, sending an embassy, he desireth conditions of peace.

So likewise every one of you that doth not renounce all that he possesseth, cannot be my disciple.

Good Salt

(Matthew 5:13–16; Mark 9:49–50)

Salt is good. But if the salt shall lose its savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

It is neither profitable for the land nor for the dunghill, but shall be cast out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

When he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a Sabbath to eat bread, they were watching him.

Behold, a certain man who had dropsy was in front of him.

Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

But they were silent. He took him, and healed him, and let him go.

He answered them, “Which of you, if your son (a) or an ox fell into a well, wouldn’t immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?”

They couldn’t answer him regarding these things.

The Parable of the Guests

He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them,

“When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the best seat, since perhaps someone more honorable than you might be invited by him,

and he who invited both of you would come and tell you, ‘Make room for this person.’ Then you would begin, with shame, to take the lowest place.

But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may tell you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you make a dinner or a supper, don’t call your friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor rich neighbors, or perhaps they might also return the favor, and pay you back.

But when you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind;

and you will be blessed, because they don’t have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.”

The Parable of the Banquet

(Matthew 22:1–14)

When one of those who sat at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is he who will feast in God’s Kingdom!”

But he said to him, “A certain man made a great supper, and he invited many people.

He sent out his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’

They all as one began to make excuses. “The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please have me excused.’

“Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go try them out. Please have me excused.’

“Another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I can’t come.’

“That servant came, and told 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 the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’

“The servant said, ‘Lord, it is done as you commanded, and there is still room.’

“The lord said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

For I tell you that none of those men who were invited will taste of my supper.’”

The Cost of Discipleship

(Matthew 8:18–22; Luke 9:57–62; John 6:59–66)

Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them,

“If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard (b) his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple.

Whoever doesn’t bear his own cross and come after me, can’t be my disciple.

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?

Or perhaps, when he has laid a foundation and isn’t able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him,

saying, ‘This man began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an envoy and asks for conditions of peace.

So therefore, whoever of you who doesn’t renounce all that he has, he can’t be my disciple.

Good Salt

(Matthew 5:13–16; Mark 9:49–50)

“Salt is good, but if the salt becomes flat and tasteless, with what do you season it?

It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Footnotes

(a)14:5 TR reads “donkey” instead of “son”

(b)14:26 or, hate