Luke 14:1-6 - The Lament For Those Who "would Not"
Our Lord was at that time in Perea, in the jurisdiction of Herod, who probably desired to get rid of Him, lest His presence should introduce political complications. Our Lord saw through and exposed his stratagem. How awful to be read by the light of divine purity! He also kept His eye on heaven's dial-plate, and knew that He was immortal till His work was done.
Jerusalem was clearly indicated as the scene of His death; and the city was already so deeply dyed with martyr blood that it would hardly have been congruous for Him to suffer anywhere else. Note that pathetic wail of disappointed love. God's brooding love desires to interpose between us and the hovering peril; but we have the awful power to neglect or reject the covering wings of the Shechinah. See Ruth 2:12 and Psalms 91:4.
In Luke 14:1-6 we have a specimen of Christ's table-talk, which He continues through the Luke 14:24. Though He knew that He was being watched, nothing could stanch His power and love. If men care for their beasts, how much more will Christ care for men! [source]
Chapter Summary: Luke 14
1Jesus heals the dropsy on the Sabbath; 7teaches humility; 12to feast the poor; 15under the parable of the great supper, 23shows how worldly minded men shall be shut out of heaven 25Those who will be his disciples, to bear their cross must make their accounts beforehand, 31lest with shame they revolt from him afterward; 34and become altogether unprofitable, like salt that has lost its flavor
Greek Commentary for Luke 14:4
Took him [επιλαβομενος] Second aorist middle participle of επιλαμβανω epilambanō an old verb, only in the middle in the N.T. It is not redundant use, “took and healed,” but “took hold of him and healed him.” Only instance in the N.T. of its use in a case of healing. [source]
Let him go [απελυσεν] Probably, dismissed from the company to get him away from these critics. [source]
Acts 22:2They were the more quiet [μαλλον παρεσχον ησυχιαν] Literally, The more Precisely this idiom occurs in Plutarch and the lxx (Job 34:29). Knowling notes the fondness of Luke for words of silence (σιγη σιγαω ησυχαζω sigēsigaōhēsuchazō) as in Luke 14:4; Luke 15:26; Acts 11:18; Acts 12:17; Acts 15:12; Acts 21:14,Acts 21:40. It is a vivid picture of the sudden hush that swept over the vast mob under the spell of the Aramaic. They would have understood Paul‘s Koiné{[28928]}š Greek, but they much preferred the Aramaic. It was a masterstroke. [source]
What do the individual words in Luke 14:4 mean?
-Butthey were silentAndhaving taken hold [of him]He healedhimlet [him] go
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐπιλαμβάνομαι
Sense: to take in addition, to lay hold of, take possession of, overtake, attain, attain to.
Greek Commentary for Luke 14:4
Second aorist middle participle of επιλαμβανω epilambanō an old verb, only in the middle in the N.T. It is not redundant use, “took and healed,” but “took hold of him and healed him.” Only instance in the N.T. of its use in a case of healing. [source]
Probably, dismissed from the company to get him away from these critics. [source]
Took hold of him. Luke 20:20; 1 Timothy 6:12. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 14:4
Literally, The more Precisely this idiom occurs in Plutarch and the lxx (Job 34:29). Knowling notes the fondness of Luke for words of silence (σιγη σιγαω ησυχαζω sigēsigaōhēsuchazō) as in Luke 14:4; Luke 15:26; Acts 11:18; Acts 12:17; Acts 15:12; Acts 21:14, Acts 21:40. It is a vivid picture of the sudden hush that swept over the vast mob under the spell of the Aramaic. They would have understood Paul‘s Koiné{[28928]}š Greek, but they much preferred the Aramaic. It was a masterstroke. [source]