Luke 14 Summary - 5 Minute Study

You can download this handout on our website under the Resources Tab.

LUKE 14 IN 5 MINUTES

WHEN:

• The events of chapter 14 were part of Jesus’ ministry on earth.

• These events took place between approximately 26-31 A.D..

CHARACTERS:

• Jesus - The Son of God.

• Man with Dropsy - A man Jesus healed on the Sabbath day.

• The Pharisees - Jesus was invited to a Pharisee’s house to dine where other Pharisees and lawyers were gathered.

WHERE:

• Luke does not share the exact location of these events.

• Verse 22 reads, “He [Jesus] went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.

OUTLINE:

• JESUS HEALS A MAN WITH DROPSY (14:1-6):

  • On the Sabbath, Jesus was invited into the home of a Pharisee where He met a man with dropsy.

  • Jesus asked the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?”

  • He went on to challenge their double standards and hypocritical practice of Sabbath law.

• DO NOT CHOOSE THE BEST SEATS (14:7-11):

  • Jesus taught the people not to sit in the best seat available when arriving at a feast.

  • Instead, they ought to choose a humble seat and allow the host to honor them with a better one.

  • “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

• DO GOOD TO PEOPLE WHO CAN’T PAY YOU BACK (14:12-14):

  • Jesus taught the people they ought not throw a banquet for people who could return the favor.

  • When throwing a banquet, they were to invite the “poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.”

  • They might not be repaid while on earth, but their kindness would be rewarded in heaven.

• THE PARABLE OF THE PREPARED BANQUET (14:15-24):

  • A man planned a banquet and invited many guests.

  • When the banquet was prepared, he called the guests to his home to enjoy the feast.

  • But each guest had an excuse for why they couldn’t come.

  • The host was very angry and told his servant to invite the guests from the streets, lanes, and highways.

• COUNTING THE COST OF BEING A DISCIPLE (14:25-33):

  • Anyone who doesn’t “hate” their spouse, parents, children, and siblings cannot be a disciple.

  • “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”

  • Jesus used the illustration of a man building a tower and a king going to war to emphasize the necessity of counting the cost.

• WORTHLESS SALT (14:34-35):

  • Salt that doesn’t have any taste isn’t good for anything.

  • A disciple who has no influence on the world they live in is comparable to tasteless salt.

BIG PICTURE:

• This chapter has several themes that will be repeated and discussed throughout the Bible.

• Jesus taught compassion (14:1-6), humility (14:7-11), about the rejection of the gospel by the Jewish people (14:12-24), the challenges facing disciples (14:25), and the importance of the Christian influence (14:34-35).

APPLICATION:

• If it came down to it, would you be willing to cut off ties with your family to follow Jesus?

• If you don’t have to face that decision, thank God you don’t.

• If you are in a position where you have to choose family vs. Christ, pray for strength to choose correctly.

• Take a moment and say a prayer for people around the world who have to choose between family and Jesus.