Trinity/After Pentecost · The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity
Luke 14:1-11
Jesus at a Pharisee’s House
September 27, 2026
Overview & Insights
“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)
This is the third time Luke has depicted Jesus as an invited guest at a Pharisee’s table (see also 7:36–50; 11:37–54), and on each occasion Jesus makes things uncomfortable, challenging the social conventions and the moral values of his hosts and fellow guests. In this case, the meal setting continues into 14:15–24, in which Jesus will use the motif of a special meal as the basis for a parable about the kingdom of God that picks up the theme of 14:12–14. But Jesus was equally at home in less respectable company, and the great parables of chapter 15 will be prompted by the objections that Pharisees raised to his eating with “sinners.” So the Pharisees, despite their occasional hospitality to Jesus, are finding themselves increasingly at odds with his teaching and his style of ministry.
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Commentary
Enduring Word Bible Commentary Luke Chapter 14 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik on the Sabbath healing and the teaching to take the lowest place at the table.
Luke 14:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators from the start of the reading on the dinner at the Pharisee's house.
Luke 14:1,7-14 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary on humility as the currency of God's great reversal.
Luke 14 Commentary Precept Austin
A verse by verse study with word notes on the wedding feast teaching about seats of honor.
Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C Loyola Press · Sunday Connection
Catholic Sunday Connection with reflection questions and activities on this Gospel.
Background & Word Study
Luke Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on Luke's Gospel and its recurring meal scenes.
Overview: Gospel of Luke (Chapters 10-24) BibleProject
An animated overview of the second half of Luke, where the table teaching in chapter 14 falls.
Luke 14:1 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek word by word, useful for the place of honor (protoklisia) in verse 8.
The Church Fathers
Sermons & Reflections
Questions preachers ask
What does Jesus teach at the feast?
Healing a man on the sabbath, Jesus then tells the guests not to take the place of honor but the lowest place, for the humble will be exalted (Luke 14:1–11).
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