Annotations Upon the New Testament, Luke · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIIII.
Verse 2. ANd behold there was a certaine man before him which had the dropsie] It is probable that the man which had the dropsie was brought thither purposely to tempt Christ,Calvin. Hoc miraculum aliquid peculiare habet, viz. hoc, quod non petit sanari sed tantum erat ante illum, hoc est vel adstabat, vel assidebat, vel decumbebat, & tacebat. Polyc. Lyc. In Evangelio de multis aegris legimus quibus Christus subvenit; sed illi ejus opem vel ipsi implorarunt, vel alii pro ipste intercesserunt. Id. ibid. for he could not come to the table by chance, nor without the will and permission of the Master.
Vers. 4. And they held their peace] As also at other times those that were asked were wont to be silent, for if they had said it had been lawfull, they had opposed their own observations, but if they had said it had not been lawfull, they feared the reprehension of Christ, therefore they were silent.
And let him goe] He did not detaine him with him for ostentation sake, nor kept him with him for his service, but let him him goe to his owne.
Vers. 5. Which of you shall have an asse or an Oxe fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the Sabbath day] Christ very fitly compares the man sick of the dropsie with one fallen into a pit, in which he had been drowned in the waters unlesse he had been drawn out, so a man that hath the dropsie will be choaked at length with the water between the skin, unlesse he be freed from the disease.
Vers. 7. And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chiefe roomes] As in his first entrance he cured the dropsie tumour of the man sick,Opportunè Christus sanato eorporis hydrope, sanare etiam aggreditur duplicem animae hydropem, superbiae tumorem & pecuniae sitim. Grotius. so now he intends to cure the spirituall tumour and pride of the Pharisees.
Vers. 16. A certaine man] God our heavenly Father, as Matth. 22.2. Supper] The felicity of eternall life, to which the elect are called by the ministery of the word. Great] Whether you respect the provider of this Supper, God,Polyc. Lyser. or the multitude of those which were called, or the plenty of the dishes. Bad many] The Jewes, especially the chief of them.
Vers. 18. With one consent] Although they allege severall reasons,foreign See that opened in my Greek Critica. yet they all agree in that, that they pretend their owne businesses that they may not come to the Supper.
Vers. 21. Goe out quickly into the streets and lanes of the City, and bring in hither the poore, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blinde] The remote Gentiles and barbarous people dwelling even at the end of the world.Polyc. Lyser. But these lie in the wayes and behind the hedges, because they wanted both divine and humane Lawes, by which a City may be established.
Vers. 23. The Lord said unto the servant] It may be understood of the Christian Magistrate,Perkins. for that is the Magistrates duty in respect of the outward profession of religion, or Ministers by the promises and threats, to be instant with them till they overcome them.Polyc. Lyser. 2 Tim. 4.3.
Vers. 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 owne life also, cannot be my Disciple.] That is, rather than not love Christ, if the case so stand, that they must be hated or Christ not loved, they must be hated, much more farme and Oxen; or so entirely to love Christ above all, as our love of Parents in comparison thereof is an hatred.
His owne life] That is, in comparison of me and my gospel.
Vers. 33. Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath] The universality, 1. Of the Subject. 2. The object. 3. Peremptorinesse of the sentence, Cannot be.
Forsake all. 1. In Judgement and inward esteeme. 2. In affection. 3. In resolution. 4. In reference to an actuall practise, and must actually forsake them when it commeth to this point,Must forsake it first as a snare, if it be a meanes to hinder from good, or draw to evill. 2. As a sacrifice, if God call for it. that either he must lose them or renounce Christ.
Vers. 34. If the salt have l…st his savour] If it be infatuated,Verbum Dei salis propria habet. 1. Sat est calidae naturae, sic verbum Dei hominum mentes accendit & amore Dei quasi fervere facit. 2. Sale carnes à corruptione praeservantur, sic natura nostra per verbum Dei ab aeterna corruptione liberatur. 3. Sale cibi condiuntur ut ex sapore suaviore nobis commendentur & à ventriculo facilius concoguantur: Sic verbum Dei nos gratos & acceptos Deo reddit qui alioquin coram ipso insuisi & insipidi futuri essemus. 4. In veteri Testamento salis magnus usus fuit in sacrificiis, Marc. 9.49. Ita omnis cultus Dei, omnia etiam dicta & facta nostra verbo Dei cona…ta esse debent, si Deo grata esse velint. Polyc. Lyser. or growne foolish (a word that suites well with Zach. 11.15.) if it have lost his savour; If a Christian have either corrupted or cast away the word of life, and the sincere doctrine of the gospel.
Vers. 35. Men cast it out] There is not a more miserable Creature than an Apostate Christian.
He that hath eares to heare.] He that hath eares by which he may attend to what is said, and understand it, Let him hear] that is, let him attend, ponder, and practise it.