Luke 14:18

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. 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....

15-24 In this parable observe the free grace and mercy of God shining in the gospel of Christ, which will be food and a feast for the soul of a man that knows its own wants and miseries. All found some pretence to put off their attendance. This reproves the Jewish nation for their neglect of the offers of Christ's grace. It shows also the backwardness there is to close with the gospel call. The want of gratitude in those who slight gospel offers, and the contempt put upon the God of heaven thereby, justly provoke him. The apostles were to turn to the Gentiles, when the Jews refused the offer; and with them the church was filled. The provision made for precious souls in the gospel of Christ, has not been made in vain; for if some reject, others will thankfully accept the offer. The very poor and low in the world, shall be as welcome to Christ as the rich and great; and many times the gos...

I HAVE BOUGHT A PIECE OF GROUND - Perhaps he had purchased it on condition that he found it as good as it had been represented to him. I MUST NEEDS GO - I have necessity, or am obliged to go and see it; possibly pleading a contract or an agreement that he would go soon and examine it. However, we may learn from this that sinners sometimes plead that they are under a “necessity” to neglect the affairs of religion. The affairs of the world, they pretend, are so pressing that they cannot find time to attend to their souls. They have no time to pray, or read the Scriptures, or keep up the worship of God. In this way many lose their souls. God cannot regard such an excuse for neglecting religion with approbation. He commands us to seek “first” the kingdom of God and his righteousness, nor can he approve any excuse that people may make for not doing it....

EXPOSITION LUKE 14:1 _The Pharisee_'_s feast on a sabbath day. The healing of the sick with dropsy._ LUKE 14:1 AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS HE WENT INTO THE HOUSE OF ONE OF THE CHIEF PHARISEES TO EAT BREAD ON THE SABBATH DAY. Still on the same journey; the Lord was approaching gradually nearer Jerusalem. The house into which he entered this sabbath belonged to one who was a leading member of the Pharisee party, probably an influential rabbi, a man of great wealth, or a member of the Sanhedrim "To eat bread on the sabbath day," as a guest, was a usual practice; such entertainments on the sabbath day were very usual; they were often luxurious and costly. The only rule observed was that all the viands provided were cold,, every

AND THEY ALL WITH ONE CONSENT BEGAN TO MAKE EXCUSE,.... Or, "they all together", as the Vulgate Latin version, באחת, "in one", or "at once": in Jeremiah 10:8 rendered "altogether"; and so the Ethiopic version, which adds, "with one voice": but their words and language were not the same: their excuses are differently expressed. Some render απο μιας, "from one hour": or the selfsame hour; immediately, directly, as soon as ever they were bidden, they began to frame excuses; they at once agreed, as by common consent, to excuse themselves from coming. THE FIRST SAID UNTO HIM, I HAVE BOUGHT A PIECE OF GROUND, OR A FIELD, AND I MUST NEEDS GO AND SEE IT: he ought to have seen it before he bought it; and however, it was a very improper time, at evening, at supper time, as this was, to go and see a piece of ground; and at least it might have been put off till next morning; so that

Luke 14:7. _And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms;_ This parable was by far the best part of the entertainment of the day: Luke 14:7. _Saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be hidden of him; and he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room._ For, of course, the next room is full, and the next, and the only vacant seat, when the feast has begun, will probably be in the very lowest room of the house. Luke 14:10. But when thou art bidden, go and sit

CHAPTER 14 _ 1. The Man with the Dropsy Healed on the Sabbath. (Luke 14:1)_ 2. The Wisdom of Humility. (Luke 14:7) 3. Recompensed in Resurrection. (Luke 14:12) 4. The Parable of the Great Supper. (Luke 14:15) 5. Conditions of Discipleship. (Luke 14:25 .) Luke 14:1 Again He heals on the Sabbath. In the house of a ruler, a Pharisee, they were watching Him. He had gone there to eat bread. What condescension! They were His enemies, yet He loved

A SABBATH WITH A PHARISEE. A companion picture to Luke 13:10. When in Luke 6:6 Lk. relates the cure of the man with a withered hand (Mark 3:1; Matthew 12:9) he omits the illustrative argument used by Jesus (Matthew 12:11 f.); he brings it in here in a story peculiar to his gospel. Montefiore justly points out that the animals (Luke 14:5; cf. Luke 13:15) are in danger of perishing, whereas the woman and man w

UNDER THE SCRUTINY OF HOSTILE MEN (Luke 14:1-6)...

WITH ONE CONSENT. from (Greek. _apo._ App-104. _iv)_ one [mind], MAKE EXCUSE. beg off. A PIECE OF GROUND. a field. MUST NEEDS. have need to. GO. go out (i.e. from the city). Greek. _exerchomai,_ as in verses: Luke 14:21; Luke 14:23. AND SEE. to see. App-133. I PRAY. App-134. HAVE. consider me....