Devine Scripture

Luke 14:1

What does Luke 14:1 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 14:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 14:1 means

Jesus enters the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on the Sabbath to share a meal, fully aware that He is under scrutiny. Their watching is not the gaze of faith but of suspicion, testing whether He will transgress their strict traditions. Yet He goes anyway, showing that He will not avoid difficult places or tailor His actions to please critics. The setting—a formal Sabbath meal hosted by a leading Pharisee—places Jesus in the heart of religious life and authority. Here He will reveal God’s heart and expose human hypocrisy, teaching that the Sabbath is for mercy and that true righteousness is measured not by reputation, but by compassion and humility before God.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And it came to pass, when he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a sabbath to eat bread, that they were watching him.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And it came to pass, when he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a sabbath to eat bread, that they were watching him.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And it came about that when he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees on the Sabbath, to have a meal, they were watching him.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And it came to pass, on his going into the house of a certain one of the chiefs of the Pharisees, on a sabbath, to eat bread, that they were watching him,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And it came to pass, when Jesus went into the house of one of the Pharisees, on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the rulers, [who was] of the Pharisees, to eat bread on [the] sabbath, that they were watching him.

Context

This verse sets the scene for all that follows: a Sabbath meal in a Pharisee ruler’s house with watchful opponents present. The circumstances explain why issues of Sabbath law and social honor immediately surface. What happens next—the appearance of a suffering man—will force the question of what the Sabbath is for. Then Jesus’ teaching moves from healing to table manners, hospitality, and eventually to the great invitation of God’s kingdom. The chapter’s closing section on discipleship cost will contrast the earlier hunger for honor with the sober call to follow Jesus at any price.

v.1This passage

v.2And behold, there was before him a certain man that had the dropsy.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Isaiah 29:20

    For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scoffer ceaseth, and all they that watch for iniquity are cut off;

  • Luke 7:34

    The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold, a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

  • Luke 11:53

    And when he was come out from thence, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press upon him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things;

  • Luke 11:37

    Now as he spake, a Pharisee asketh him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.

  • Jeremiah 20:10

    For I have heard the defaming of many, terror on every side. Denounce, and we will denounce him, say all my familiar friends, they that watch for my fall; peradventure he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

  • Psalms 37:32

    The wicked watcheth the righteous, And seeketh to slay him.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Luke 14

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Luke 14.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Luke 14:1.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary