論安息日治病

14 有個安息日,耶穌到一位法利賽人的首領家裡作客,人們密切地監視祂。 當時有一個患水腫病的人在耶穌面前, 耶穌問法利賽人和律法教師:「在安息日可以醫病嗎?」

他們都閉口不言。耶穌便扶著那人把他醫好,叫他走了, 然後又問他們:「如果你們有驢[a]或牛在安息日掉進井裡,難道你們不會立刻把牠拉上來嗎?」 他們都啞口無言。

論謙卑

耶穌在宴席中看見賓客們都爭著坐首位,就用比喻對他們說: 「參加婚宴的時候,不要坐在首位,因為或許有更尊貴的賓客來赴宴, 主人會把他帶到你面前,說,『請你把首位讓給他吧!』你就要滿面羞愧地退到末位去了。 10 你去赴宴時,應該先坐在末位,這樣主人會對你說,『朋友,請上坐!』那時,你在賓客面前就有光彩了。 11 因為自高的人必遭貶抑,謙卑的人必得尊榮。」

論待客之道

12 耶穌又對主人說:「擺設午宴、晚宴時,不要邀請你的朋友、弟兄、親戚或有錢的鄰居,免得他們回請你,你便得到報答了。 13 相反,你設宴時,要邀請貧窮的、殘疾的、瘸腿的、瞎眼的, 14 這樣你就有福了,因為他們都沒有能力回報你,到了義人復活那天,上帝一定會賞賜你。」

大宴席的比喻

15 同席的一個客人聽了這番話,就對耶穌說:「能夠在上帝的國坐席的人多麼有福啊!」

16 於是,耶穌對他說:「有一個人大擺宴席,邀請了許多客人。 17 要開席的時候,主人就派奴僕去對客人說,『一切都準備好了,來赴宴吧!』 18 可是,他們都找藉口推辭。頭一個說,『我剛買了一塊田,必須去看一看,請恕我不能參加。』 19 另一個說,『我新買了五對牛,要去試一試,請恕我不能參加。』 20 還有一個說,『我剛結了婚,所以不能去。』 21 奴僕回來將這些話告訴主人,主人非常生氣,於是對奴僕說,『快出去到城裡的大街小巷把貧窮的、殘疾的、瘸腿的、瞎眼的都請來。』 22 奴僕說,『主人啊,我照你的吩咐辦了,可是還有空位。』 23 主人又說,『出去到大路上、籬笆旁硬把人拉來,讓我家裡座無虛席。 24 我告訴你們,原來邀請的那些人沒有一個能嚐到我的宴席!』」

做門徒的代價

25 有一大群人跟著耶穌,祂轉身對他們說: 26 「若有人要跟從我,就要愛我勝過愛他的父母、妻子、兒女、弟兄、姊妹,甚至自己的生命,否則就不能作我的門徒。 27 若不背起自己的十字架跟從我,就不能作我的門徒。

28 「哪有人建樓房不事先坐下來計算成本,看能否建成? 29 否則,打好了地基卻不能完工,徒惹別人嘲笑, 30 『這個人開了工,卻不能完工!』

31 「哪有王要跟另一個王打仗時,不先坐下來酌量一下自己的一萬人是否敵得過對方的兩萬人? 32 如果自知不敵,一定趁敵人還遠的時候,就差使者去求和。

33 「同樣,你們若不撇下一切,就不能作我的門徒。 34 鹽本來是好的,但如果鹽失去了鹹味,怎能使它再變鹹呢? 35 沒有味的鹽,既不利於土壤,也不適宜作肥料,只好丟掉。有耳可聽的,就應當聽。」

Footnotes

  1. 14·5 」另有抄本作「兒子」。

14 Siku moja ya sabato Yesu alipokuwa amekwenda kula chakula kwa mmoja wa viongozi wa Mafarisayo, watu walikuwa wakimtazama kwa makini. Mtu mmoja mwenye ugonjwa wa kuvimba miguu na mikono akaja mbele yake. Yesu akawauliza walimu wa sheria na Mafari sayo, “Je, sheria inaruhusu kumponya mtu siku ya sabato au hairuhusu?” Wakakaa kimya. Basi Yesu akamshika yule mgonjwa akamponya, akamruhusu aende zake. Kisha akawauliza, “Kama mmoja wenu angekuwa na mtoto au ng’ombe wake ambaye ametumbukia katika kisima siku ya sabato, hamtamvuta mara moja na kumtoa?” Hawakuwa na la kujibu.

Alipoona jinsi wageni walioalikwa walivyokuwa wakichagua viti vya wageni wa heshima, akawaambia mfano huu: “Mtu akiku alika harusini, usikae kwenye kiti cha mgeni wa heshima. Inaweze kana kuwa amealika mheshimiwa akuzidiye, na yule aliyewaalika ninyi wawili akaja kukuambia, ‘Tafadhali mpishe huyu bwana.’ Ndipo kwa aibu utalazimika kwenda kukaa katika kiti cha nyuma kabisa. 10 Badala yake, unapoalikwa, chagua kiti cha nyuma; na mwenyeji wako akikuona atakuja akuambie, ‘Rafiki yangu, njoo kwe nye nafasi ya mbele zaidi.’ Kwa jinsi hii utakuwa umepewa heshima mbele ya wageni wote. 11 Kwa maana kila mtu anayejitukuza atash ushwa naye ajishushaye atatukuzwa.”

12 Kisha Yesu akamwambia yule aliyewaalika, “Uandaapo kar amu ya chakula cha mchana au jioni, usialike rafiki zako au ndugu zako au jamaa zako au majirani zako tajiri; ukifanya hivyo wao nao watakualika kwao na hivyo utakuwa umelipwa kwa kuwaalika. 13 Bali ufanyapo karamu, waalike maskini, vilema na vipofu; 14 nawe utapata baraka kwa sababu hawa hawana uwezo wa kukulipa.

Mfano Wa Karamu Ya Ufalme Wa Mbinguni

15 Mmoja wa wale waliokuwa mezani pamoja naye aliposikia maneno haya akamwambia, “Ana heri mtu atakayepata nafasi ya kula katika karamu ya Ufalme wa Mbinguni!” 16 Yesu akamjibu, ‘ ‘Mtu mmoja alikuwa anaandaa karamu kubwa, akaalika watu wengi. 17 Wakati wa sherehe ulipofika, akamtuma mtumishi wake akawaam bie walioalikwa, ‘Karibuni, kila kitu ni tayari sasa.’ 18 Lakini wote, mmoja mmoja, wakaanza kutoa udhuru. Wa kwanza akasema, ‘ Nimenunua shamba, lazima niende kuliona. Tafadhali niwie radhi.’ 19 Mwingine akasema, ‘Nimenunua ng’ombe wa kulimia, jozi tano; nimo njiani kwenda kuwajaribu, tafadhali niwie radhi.’ 20 Na mwingine akasema, ‘Nimeoa mke, kwa hiyo siwezi kuja.’

21 “Yule mtumishi akarudi, akampa bwana wake taarifa. Ndipo yule mwenye nyumba akakasirika, akamwambia mtumishi wake, ‘Nenda upesi kwenye mitaa na vichochoro vya mjini uwalete maskini, vilema, vipofu na viwete.’

22 “Baadaye yule mtumishi akamwambia ‘Bwana, yale uliyon iagiza nimefanya, lakini bado ipo nafasi.’ 23 Ndipo yule bwana akamwambia mtumishi wake, ‘Nenda kwenye barabara na njia zilizoko nje ya mji uwalazimishe watu waje mpaka nafasi zote zijae. 24 Ninawaambia, hakuna hata mmoja wa wale niliowapelekea mwaliko rasmi atakayeionja karamu yangu.”

Gharama Ya Kuwa Mfuasi Wa Yesu

25 Wakati mmoja umati mkubwa wa watu ulipokuwa ukifuatana na Yesu, yeye aligeuka, akawaambia, 26 “Mtu ye yote anayekuja kwangu hawezi kuwa mfuasi wangu kama hatanipenda mimi zaidi ya baba yake na mama yake, mke wake na watoto, kaka zake na dada zake; naam, hata maisha yake mwenyewe. 27 Na ye yote asiyebeba msalaba wake na kunifuata hawezi kuwa mfuasi wangu.

28 “Ni nani kati yenu ambaye kama anataka kujenga, hatakaa kwanza na kufanya makisio ya gharama aone kama ana fedha za kutosha kukamilisha ujenzi? 29 Kwa maana ikiwa atajenga msingi halafu ashindwe kuendelea, wote watakaouona watamcheka 30 wakisema, ‘Mtu huyu alianza kujenga lakini ameshindwa kumal iza!’

31 “Au tuseme mfalme mmoja anataka kwenda vitani kupigana na mfalme mwingine: si atakaa kwanza ajishauri kama yeye na jeshi lake lenye watu elfu kumi ataweza kupigana na yule anayekuja na watu elfu ishirini? 32 Kama hawezi, basi itambidi apeleke wajumbe wakati yule mfalme mwingine bado yuko mbali na kuomba masharti ya amani. 33 Hali kadhalika, hakuna mtu atakayeweza kuwa mfuasi wangu kama hataacha vyote alivyo navyo.”

Chumvi Isiyofaa

34 “Chumvi ni kitu kizuri. Lakini chumvi ikiwa imepoteza ladha yake, haiwezi kuwa chumvi tena. 35 Haifai kuwa udongo wala kuwa mbolea; watu huitupa nje. Mwenye nia ya kusikia na asikie!” Mfano Wa Kondoo Aliyepotea

Jesus at a Pharisee’s House(A)

14 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee,(B) he was being carefully watched.(C) There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law,(D) “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”(E) But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way.

Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child[a] or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?”(F) And they had nothing to say.

When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table,(G) he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”(H)

12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,(I) 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”(J)

The Parable of the Great Banquet(K)

15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast(L) in the kingdom of God.”(M)

16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’(N)

22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”(O)

The Cost of Being a Disciple

25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.(P) 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.(Q)

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.(R)

34 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?(S) 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.(T)

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”(U)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 14:5 Some manuscripts donkey

A Man with Dropsy Healed on the Sabbath

14 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. And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, (A)“Is it lawful to heal on the [a]Sabbath?”

But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. Then He answered them, saying, (B)“Which of you, having a [b]donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” And they could not answer Him regarding these things.

Take the Lowly Place

So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 (C)But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 (D)For whoever exalts himself will be [c]humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

12 Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite (E)the poor, the [d]maimed, the lame, the blind. 14 And you will be (F)blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

The Parable of the Great Supper(G)

15 Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, (H)“Blessed is he who shall eat [e]bread in the kingdom of God!”

16 (I)Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17 and (J)sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ 18 But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ 20 Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the [f]maimed and the lame and the blind.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ 23 Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say to you (K)that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”

Leaving All to Follow Christ(L)

25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 (M)“If anyone comes to Me (N)and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, (O)yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And (P)whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For (Q)which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you (R)does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Tasteless Salt Is Worthless(S)

34 (T)“Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land nor for the [g]dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Footnotes

  1. Luke 14:3 NU adds or not
  2. Luke 14:5 NU, M son
  3. Luke 14:11 put down
  4. Luke 14:13 crippled
  5. Luke 14:15 M dinner
  6. Luke 14:21 crippled
  7. Luke 14:35 rubbish heap