Luke 14:1 kjv
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.
Luke 14:1 nkjv
Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely.
Luke 14:1 niv
One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.
Luke 14:1 esv
One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully.
Luke 14:1 nlt
One Sabbath day Jesus went to eat dinner in the home of a leader of the Pharisees, and the people were watching him closely.
Luke 14 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 5:29-32 | Levi held a great feast... Pharisees and scribes grumbled, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" | Jesus dines with perceived outcasts. |
| Lk 6:6-11 | On another Sabbath, Jesus entered the synagogue... He healed a man with a withered hand, and they watched Him... | Sabbath healing sparks intense scrutiny. |
| Lk 7:36-50 | One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him... | Another Pharisee dinner, focus on forgiveness. |
| Lk 11:37-54 | After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him... Pharisees' hypocrisy denounced. | Dinner where Jesus confronts legalism. |
| Lk 13:10-17 | Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. A woman who had been crippled... | Healing on Sabbath, synagogue ruler angered. |
| Mt 12:1-14 | On the Sabbath, Jesus went through the grainfields... healed a man with a withered hand... | Pharisees accused disciples of unlawful work. |
| Mk 3:1-6 | Again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man was there... He healed him... Pharisees began to plot against Him. | Sabbath healing, intensified plot against Jesus. |
| Jn 5:1-18 | After this, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast... healed a man by the pool... Pharisees sought to kill Him because He broke the Sabbath. | Healing on Sabbath, direct charge of breaking it. |
| Jn 9:1-41 | As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth... opened his eyes... | Another Sabbath healing, prolonged Pharisee interrogation. |
| Mt 22:15-18 | Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in his words... asked Him about paying taxes. | Pharisees consistently test Jesus. |
| Mk 8:11-12 | The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus, seeking from Him a sign... | Pharisees demanding signs to test Him. |
| Lk 20:20 | Spies... pretending to be sincere, so that they might catch Him in His words... | Enemies observing Jesus with ill intent. |
| Ps 37:32 | The wicked watch for the righteous and seek to slay them. | Ungodly surveillance of the righteous. |
| Job 14:16 | For then you would number my steps; you would not keep watch over my sin. | Watching in a sense of divine scrutiny. |
| 1 Sam 18:9 | From that day on, Saul kept a jealous eye on David. | Malevolent observation. |
| Prov 29:7 | The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no understanding. | Pharisees' lack of concern for people. |
| Isa 58:13-14 | "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath... | True Sabbath observance contrasted with external rules. |
| Heb 13:2 | Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers... | General principle of hospitality. |
| Rom 12:13 | Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. | Christian command for hospitality. |
| Gal 6:1-2 | Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him... | Spirit of restoration, not critical judgment. |
| Jas 4:11-12 | Do not speak evil against one another... | Warning against judgmental speech. |
| Phil 2:3-4 | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. | Call to humility, contrary to Pharisaic pride. |
Luke 14 verses
Luke 14 1 Meaning
Luke 14:1 sets the scene for a significant encounter and series of teachings. It describes Jesus accepting an invitation to dine at the house of a prominent Pharisee on a Sabbath day. Crucially, the verse highlights that "they" (referring to the hosts and perhaps other guests) were closely observing Him with critical intent, foreshadowing the conflict and testing that would follow during the meal.
Luke 14 1 Context
Luke 14:1 follows a lament over Jerusalem (Lk 13:34-35) and marks the beginning of a series of teachings and parables by Jesus, predominantly delivered during meal settings. This particular setting—a Sabbath meal at a chief Pharisee's house—is crucial. Luke frequently portrays Jesus at various social gatherings, including meals, which serve as natural stages for His teaching and for contrasting His ways with the prevailing social and religious norms. Coming directly after a period of increasing hostility from religious leaders and His warnings about the kingdom of God's urgency, this invitation, though seemingly innocuous, is pregnant with tension. It leads directly into a challenge concerning Sabbath law through a healing, followed by parables on humility, true guest lists for feasts, and the cost of discipleship. It highlights Jesus's willingness to engage even with His adversaries, using every opportunity to reveal God's truth.
Luke 14 1 Word analysis
- And it came to pass (Greek: kai egeneto - "and it happened"): This is a common Septuagintal and Lukan transitional phrase, marking the unfolding of events. It simply signals that a new significant event is about to occur.
- as he went (Greek: eiselthen - "he entered"): This verb signifies a purposeful action. Jesus willingly accepts the invitation and enters the house. It's not a chance encounter but a deliberate act.
- into the house (Greek: eis oikon - "into a house"): Implies a private setting, an intimate gathering, contrasting with public synagogue settings or outdoor teaching. This creates a specific context for dialogue and observation.
- of one of the chief Pharisees (Greek: tinos tōn archontōn tōn Pharisaiōn - "of a certain one of the rulers of the Pharisees"):
- Pharisees: A prominent Jewish religious and political party known for their strict adherence to the Mosaic Law and oral traditions. Luke consistently presents them as Jesus's main antagonists, often highlighting their hypocrisy and legalism.
- chief (Greek: archontōn - "rulers" or "officials"): This term indicates a person of high status, authority, or influence, perhaps a member of the Sanhedrin, a ruler of a synagogue, or a leading figure within the Pharisaic sect. This host is not just any Pharisee but a significant one, raising the stakes of the encounter.
- to eat bread (Greek: phagein arton - "to eat food" or "to dine"): A common idiom for sharing a meal. Meal fellowship was highly significant in ancient Jewish culture, often symbolizing peace, fellowship, and inclusion. Jesus consistently used meal settings for teaching and fellowship.
- on the sabbath day (Greek: en sabbatō - "on a Sabbath"): This detail is crucial. The Sabbath was the most sacred day in Judaism, but interpretations of permissible activities on it varied, often leading to conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees, particularly regarding healing or "work." Its mention immediately flags the potential for tension and confrontation. It’s the last recorded Sabbath controversy in Luke's Gospel.
- that they watched him (Greek: kai autoi paratēroumenoi - "and they themselves were observing closely"):
- they (Greek: autoi - "themselves"): Emphatic, refers to the host and possibly other prominent guests, emphasizing their active role.
- watched (Greek: paratēroumenoi - "observing closely," "watching intently," "spying on," "monitoring with hostile intent"): The imperfect passive participle conveys continuous action and implies a sinister or critical motive. It’s not just casual observation but scrutiny, likely with the aim of finding fault or catching Jesus in a violation of their legal interpretations, especially regarding the Sabbath. This mirrors similar occurrences where religious leaders plotted against Jesus (e.g., Lk 11:53-54; Lk 20:20).
Luke 14 1 Bonus section
- The detail of "eating bread" on the Sabbath might also be seen as a challenge from the Pharisee's perspective. It provides a relaxed social setting where Jesus might be perceived to act less cautiously, thus giving them an opportunity to accuse him.
- Jesus’s willingness to dine with Pharisees, even those observing Him critically, highlights His mission to seek and save the lost (Lk 19:10). His table fellowship often cut across social and religious boundaries, drawing criticism from those who confined their holiness to rigid separation.
- This verse immediately sets up an impending conflict that will challenge the Pharisaic interpretation of the Sabbath law concerning healing (Lk 14:2-6) and subsequently Jesus will provide counter-arguments through parables and teachings (Lk 14:7-35). It demonstrates Jesus's courage in placing the needs of humanity over rigid traditional interpretations.
Luke 14 1 Commentary
Luke 14:1 serves as a stark introduction to a series of encounters where Jesus, with divine wisdom and compassion, directly confronts the legalistic and hypocritical attitudes of some religious leaders. The scene's specific elements—a Sabbath, a high-ranking Pharisee, and critical surveillance—collectively establish an atmosphere of suspicion and challenge rather than genuine hospitality. Jesus, fully aware of their hostile intent, nonetheless enters, demonstrating His unyielding commitment to engaging with all people, even His critics, as opportunities for ministry. He does not shy away from confronting error or upholding truth, even when under intense scrutiny. This initial act of "watching" sets the stage for Jesus's subsequent actions, which deliberately expose the heartlessness of a legalistic interpretation of God's law and highlight the true spirit of the kingdom of God. This particular meal becomes a theological classroom, where Jesus teaches about true humility, the nature of a feast of grace, and the radical demands of discipleship, all against the backdrop of superficial religiosity.