Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2.pdf

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
of the Sabbath. And this he undoubtedly does, not so much with the view of instructing them, as
of protecting himself against their slanders; for he knew that they were too much blinded by virulent
hatred to yield submissively, to argument, but wished to triumph over their malice, by compelling
them through shame to be silent. If we are at liberty to relieve brute animals on Sabbath, it would
be unreasonable that we should not perform a similar office of kindness to man, who is formed
after the image of God.
LUKE 14:7-14
Luke 14:7-14
7. And he spoke a parable to those who were invited, observing how they chose the first seats,
saying to them: 8. When thou shalt be invited by any one to a marriage, do not sit at table in the
first seat, lest perhaps a more honorable person than thyself be invited by him, 9. And he who
invited thee and him come and say to thee, Give place to this man, and thou begin then with shame
to occupy the lowest place. 10. But on the contrary, when thou shalt be invited, go, and sit at table
in the lowest place, that when he who hath invited thee shall come, he may say to thee, Friend, go
up higher: then shalt thou have honor in presence of those who sit at table with thee. 11. For every
one that exalteth himself shall be humbled, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 12. And
he said to him by whom he had been invited, When thou makest a dinner or supper, invite not thy
friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also in their turn invite
thee, and a recompense be made thee. 13. But when thou makest a banquet, invite the poor, the
maimed, the lame, the blind. 14. And thou shalt be blessed, because they cannot recompense thee;
for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the righteous.
7. And he spoke a parable to those who were invited. We know to what an extent ambition
prevailed among the Pharisees and all the scribes. While they desired to exercise a haughty dominion
over all other men, the superiority among themselves was likewise an object of emulation. It is
constantly the case with men who are desirous of empty applause, that they cherish envy towards
each other, every one endeavoring to draw to himself what others imagine to be due to them. Thus
the Pharisees and scribes, while they were all equally disposed, in presence of the people, to glory
in the title of holy order, are now disputing among themselves about the degree of honor, because
every one claims for himself the highest place.
This ambition of theirs Christ exposes to ridicule by an appropriate parable. If any one sitting
at another man’s table were to occupy the highest place, and were afterwards compelled to give
way to a more honorable person, it would not be without shame and dishonor that he was ordered
by the master of the feast to take a different place. But the same thing must happen to all who
proudly give themselves out as superior to others; for God will bring upon them disgrace and
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John Calvin