A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Luke · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIIII.
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. 2. And behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropſie. 3. And Jeſus anſwering ſpake unto the lawyers and Phariſees ſaying, Is it lawful to heal on the ſabbath-day? 4. And they held their peace. And he took him and healed him, and let him go:
1, 2, 3, 4. Note; Chriſt choſe ſo uſually to heal on the Sabbath, that it ſeems he purpoſely choſe that time, to ſhew them what work ſhould be preferred. He would not forbear doing good, to avoid the offence of erroneous Hyp…crites.
5. And 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? 6. And they could not anſwer him again to theſe things.
5, 6. They could not confute his plain reaſon; (But the wranglers of this Age can anſwer any thing.)
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, 8. When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, ſit not down in the higheſt room, leſt a more honourable man then thou be bidden of him: 9. And he that bad thee and him, come and ſay to thee, Give this man place: and thou begin with ſhame to take the loweſt room. 10. But when thou art bidden, go and ſit down in the loweſt room, that when he that bad 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.
7, 8, 9, 10. Note; Chriſt diſdained not to give Rules of Decency for civil converſation, when the Virtue of Humility, or the Vice of Pride are concerned therein.
11. For whoſoever exalteth himſelf, ſhall be abaſed; and he that humbleth himſelf, ſhall be exalted.
11. God will exalt the humble, and abaſe the proud; and therefore we muſt humble our ſelves.
12. Then ſaid he alſo to him that bad 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. 13. But when thou makeſt a feaſt, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: 14. And thou ſhalt be bleſſed; for they cannot recompenſe thee: for thou ſhalt be recompenſed at the reſurrection of the juſt.
12, 13, 14. It is good in its ſeaſon to make Feaſts of Amity, and to rejoyce with Friends; but to avoid Prodigality, let thy moſt uſual feaſting be Feaſts of Charity; And in them it is the Poor that thou muſt feaſt, and from God that thou muſt expect thy reward.
Note; Some hence infer, that there is no reward till the Reſurrection: But in Scripture the Reſurrection is oft taken for the Life after this, even before the Reſurrection of the Body.
Note; Chriſt oft forbids things in abſolute words, when he meaneth but comparatively: So here, feaſt not rich Friends, that is, not ſo much as the Poor.
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.
15. They will be happy that ſhall live to ſee and rejoyce in the Kingdom of the Meſſiah when he cometh.
16. Then ſaid he unto him, A certain man made a great ſupper, and bad many: 17. And ſent his Servant at ſupper time to ſay to them that were bidden, Come, for all things are now ready.
16, 17. Note; God ſent his Son and the Goſpel to the Jews, and invited them into the Kingdom of the Meſſiah; and bade his Miniſters tell them, that Chriſt was come, and all is ready on his part. He is a ſufficient Saviour, and none ſhall periſh for want of the performance of his part (antecedent.)
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. 19. And another ſaid, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excuſed. 20. And another ſaid, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
18, 19, 20. All ſeemed to them ſufficient Reaſons. And ſo you Jews, that wiſh for the Kingdom of God, prefer your worldly Intereſt, and for that, refuſe it when it is come, (And ſo do all ungodly men …ndeed.)
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. 22. And the ſervant ſaid, Lord, it is done as thou haſt commanded, and yet there is room.
21, 22. God was angry with the Jews, and ſent his Miniſters to call the Gentiles whom the Jews deſpiſed as prophane.
23. And the lord ſaid unto the ſervant, Go out into the high waies and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my houſe may be filled.
23. Go to the moſt barbarous remote Nations, and call them into the Church, and be importunate with them, and take no denial, that my Church may be Catholick and enlarged.
24. For I ſay unto you that none of thoſe men which were bidden, ſhall taſt of my ſupper.
24. Thoſe refuſing Jews, that were firſt invited, ſhall not come into the Church of Chriſt.
25. And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and ſaid unto them. 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.
25, 26. If he love them not leſs than my Kingdom, and cannot for it forſake them, as men do a hated thing.
Note; This diſobligeth none from natural affection and duty; but Chriſt muſt be preferred.
27. And whoſoever doth not bear his croſs, and come after me, cannot be my diſciple.
27. He that cannot ſuffer for me, and for Salvation, but ſets more by his life, can be no true Diſciple of mine.
28. For which of you intending to build a tower, ſitteth not down firſt, and countteth the coſt, whether he have ſufficient to finiſh it? 29. Leſt haply after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finiſh it, all that behold it, begin to mock him, 30. Saying, This man began to build and was not able to finiſh. 31. Or 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? 32. Or elſe, while the other is yet a great way off, he ſendeth an ambaſſage, and deſireth conditions of peace.
28, 29, 30, 31, 32. All wiſe men will conſider what it will coſt them to finiſh before they begin.
33. So likewiſe, Whoſoever he be of you, that forſaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my diſciple.
33. If he prefer not the Kingdom of Heaven before all worldly Intereſt, and forſake it not all comparatively in eſteem and reſolution now, and in act when he is called to it.
34. Salt is good: but if the ſalt have loſt his ſavour, wherewith ſhall it be ſeaſoned? 35▪ It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghil, but men caſt it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
34, 35. Ye are the Salt of this corrupted World: But if you, my Diſciples, eſpecially Preachers, ſhould apoſtatize, you would be the vileſt and moſt hopeleſs men on Earth; deſpiſed, and caſt out by God and Man. Therefore count your coſt before you undertake the Sacred Miniſtry, or Chriſtian Profeſſion.