Luke 14:34-35

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 14:25-35

See how Christ in his doctrine suited himself to those to whom he spoke, and gave every one his portion of meat. To Pharisees he preached humility and charity. He is in these verses directing his discourse to the multitudes that crowded after him, and seemed zealous in following him; and his exhortation to them is to understand the terms of discipleship, before they undertook the profession of it, and to consider what they did. See here, I. How zealous people were in their attendance on Christ... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 14:34-35

14:34-35 Jesus said, "Salt is a fine thing; but if salt has become insipid, by what means shall its taste be restored? It is fit neither for the land nor the dunghill. Men throw it out. He who has an ear to hear, let him hear." Just sometimes Jesus speaks with a threat in his voice. When a person is always carping and criticizing and complaining, his irritable anger ceases to have any significance or any effect. But when someone whose accent is the accent of love suddenly speaks with a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 14:34

Salt is good ,.... See Gill on Matthew 5:13 , Mark 10:50 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 14:35

It is neither fit for the land ,.... For the manuring of it, when it has lost its savour and spirit; otherwise it makes land fruitful, if too much is not used, and especially fixed salts have this use; though Pliny says F15 Nat. Hist. l. 31. c. 7. , "every place in which salt is found, it is barren and brings forth nothing.' Nor yet for the dunghill ; to mix with dung, and help it, that it may be the more serviceable for the earth; and just such useless things, are a mere... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 14:34

Salt is good - See on Matthew 5:13 ; (note), and Mark 9:50 ; (note). On the subject referred to this place from Luke 14:23 , Compel them to come in, which has been adduced to favor religious persecution, I find the following sensible and just observations in Dr. Dodd's notes. "1st. Persecution for conscience' sake, that is, inflicting penalty upon men merely for their religious principles or worship, is plainly founded on a supposition that one man has a right to judge for another... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 14:25-35

The qualifications of his real disciples. Two short parables illustrative of the high pries such a real disciple must pay if he would indeed be his. The halfhearted disciple is compared to flavourless salt. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 14:25-35

The cost of discipleship. The Pharisee's banquet being over, our Lord continues his journey towards Jerusalem, and, as a crisis is evidently at hand, he has a goodly multitude of expectant followers. Have they any notion of the cost of discipleship? Are they prepared for all which it involves? Jesus determines to make this unmistakable, and so he gives them the admonition contained in the present section. He gives point to his advice by mentioning the folly of beginning to build a tower... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 14:34-35

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned! It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. Here "salt" stands for the spirit of self-sacrifice, self-renunciation. When in a man, or in a nation, or in a Church, that salt is savourless, then that spirit is dead; there is no hope remaining for the man, for the people, or the Church. The lesson was a general one—it was meant to sink into each listener's heart; but the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 14:34-35

Ourselves as salt. It is hardly possible to mistake the meaning of Christ here. We know that salt is the great preservative of animal nature, the antidote of putrefaction and decay. We know also that the great Teacher intended that his disciples should be the salt of the earth, doing in the human the same purifying work which salt does in the animal world. I. THE PRESERVING POWER OF THE GOOD IN THE SOCIETY IN WHICH THEY ARE FOUND . 1 . As those who act... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 14:34-35

See the Matthew 5:13 note; Mark 9:49-50 notes.Salt is good - It is useful. It is good to preserve life and health, and to keep from putrefaction.His savour - Its saltness. It becomes tasteless or insipid.Be seasoned - Be salted again.Fit for the land - Rather, it is not fit “for land,” that is, it will not bear fruit of itself. You cannot sow or plant on it.Nor for the dunghill - It is not good for manure. It will not enrich the land,Cast it out - They throw it away as useless.He that hath ears... read more

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