Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 14:14
And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
14. at the resurrection of the just ] The same duty is enforced with the same motive by St Paul, 1Ti 6:17-19. By the phrase “ the resurrection of the just,” our Lord possibly referred to the twofold resurrection, Luk 20:35; 1Co 15:23 ; 1Th 4:16, &c. But the allusion may be more general, Act 24:15.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Shalt be blessed – Blessed in the act of doing good, which furnishes more happiness than riches can give, and blessed or rewarded by God in the day of judgment.
They cannot recompense thee – They cannot invite you again, and thus pay you; and by inviting them you show that you have a disposition to do good.
The resurrection of the just – When the just or holy shall be raised from the dead. Then God shall reward those who have done good to the poor and needy from love to the Lord Jesus Christ, Mat 10:42; Mat 25:34-36.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 14. For they cannot recompense thee] Because you have done it for God’s sake only, and they cannot make you a recompense, therefore God will consider himself your debtor, and will recompense you in the resurrection of the righteous. There are many very excellent sayings among the rabbins on the excellence of charity. They produce both Job and Abraham as examples of a very merciful disposition. “Job, say they, had an open door on each of the four quarters of his house, that the poor, from whatever direction they might come, might find the door of hospitality open to receive them. But Abraham was more charitable than Job, for he travelled over the whole land in order to find out the poor, that he might conduct them to his house.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
14. blessedacting fromdisinterested, god-like compassion for the wretched.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And thou shalt be blessed,…. By God, with an increase of worldly substance, or with spiritual blessings, and with eternal glory and happiness; and by these poor objects, who will pray to God for a blessing upon such a kind benefactor:
for they cannot recompense thee; by inviting again to a like entertainment, as rich guests can do, and when they have done that there is nothing else to be expected; but such that entertain the poor can have no return from them, and yet a retaliation will be made:
for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just; when the just shall rise again, which will be the first resurrection; and happy is he that has part in it: for the righteous, or dead in Christ will rise first; and notice will be taken of the good works of the saints, particularly of their acts of beneficence to the poor members of Christ; and which they have done in faith, from a principle of love to Christ, and with a view to the glory of God, and the good of their fellow creatures and Christians.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
To recompense thee ( ). Second aorist active infinitive of this old and common double compound verb, to give back in return. The reward will come at the resurrection if not before and thou shalt be happy.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And thou shalt be blessed;” (kai makarios ese) “And you will be blessed,” be spiritually prospered, have Divine sanction in what you do, Mat 25:25; Mat 25:40. You will both have and promote more happiness in doing good to the needy than in throwing feasts for those with plenty.
2) “For they cannot recompense thee:” (hoti ouk echousin antapodounai) “Because they do not have (things) to recompense or repay you,” if you give expecting or hoping for nothing,” coveting nothing in return for your charity, else it is no charity, Luk 6:35.
3) “For thou shalt be recompensed,” (antapodothesetai gar soi) “For it will be recompensed to you,” or computed, calculated to you in rewards, at the judgment seat of Christ, Pro 19:17; 1Co 3:8; 2Co 5:10; Rev 22:12.
4) “At the resurrection of the just.” (en te anastasei ton dikaion) “In the resurrection of the just ones,” the resurrection of the righteous dead, Joh 5:11; when He comes to be “glorified in his saints,” meaning “His church,” 2Th 1:10, and in addition to be “admired in all them that believe,” those who are saved, but never become members of His body, which is the church, in the institutional sense, Eph 1:22-23; Act 24:15.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
14. And thou shalt be blessed. Christ pronounces those to be blessed who exercise liberality without any expectation of earthly reward; for they manifestly look to God. Those who constantly keep in view their own advantage, or who are driven by the gale of popularity, have no right to expect a reward from God.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(14) At the resurrection of the just.The passage has the interest of being the first occurrence of the word resurrection in our Lords teaching. On this point our Lord, while rebuking the pride and hypocrisy of the Pharisees, accepted the fundamental doctrine of their system, and so furnished a precedent for St. Pauls conduct in Act. 23:6.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. Be blessed; for they cannot recompense So that in fact the helpless poor are better recompensers than thy rich friends, since they have God to repay their entertainment for them.
At the resurrection of the just So that the act of benevolence is an act of faith. It is the evidence of high and noble trust in God in a soul that looks beyond the sordid present. Many Jews disbelieved that the wicked also will rise at the resurrection of the just; and others denied that they would rise at all. Our Lord does not, by using the phrase, endorse either view. He simply maintains that there will be a resurrection of the just, and that then will be the time of the full fruition of their reward. The Jew who spoke in the last verse in fact believed that he would be raised at the coming of the Messiah. Jesus used his phraseology, but in a truer sense.
The Parable of the Marriage Feast, 15-24.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Luk 14:14. At the resurrection of the just. These words afford a strong and awakening intimation, that none who neglect works of charity, if they have ability to do them, shall have their final lot among the righteous; which is evident from the many hundred scriptures, indispensably requiring mercy as well as justice.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
Ver. 14. At the resurrection of the just ] Called theirs, because they only shall have joy of that day. It were well for the wicked if they might never rise to judgment, or trot directly to hell, and not be brought before the Lamb to be sentenced.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
14. ] . . ., the first resurrection, here distinctly asserted by our Lord; otherwise . . would be vapid and unmeaning. See 1Co 15:22 f.: 1Th 4:16 ; Rev 20:4-5 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
And thou shalt be blessed. This is the climax.
blessed = happy, Figure of speech Beatitudo, not Benedictio.
cannot = have not [wherewith to]. App-105.
at = in. Greek. en. App-104.
resurrection. App-178.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
14.] . . ., the first resurrection, here distinctly asserted by our Lord; otherwise . . would be vapid and unmeaning. See 1Co 15:22 f.: 1Th 4:16; Rev 20:4-5.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Luk 14:14. , for) There is nothing left without retribution.-, to thee) as being a friend of the Saviour.-, the resurrection) Before the resurrection there is not a full retribution, but rather, whilst life lasts, an opportunity for further sowing against the final harvest of recompense; and after death, there is a state of rest [not of full recompense]. See Rev 14:13.- , of the just) Act 24:15 [Mat 25:46; Joh 5:29.]
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
for thou: Pro 19:17, Mat 6:4, Mat 10:41, Mat 10:42, Mat 25:34-40, Phi 4:18, Phi 4:19
the resurrection: Luk 20:35, Luk 20:36, Dan 12:2, Dan 12:3, Joh 5:29, Act 24:15
Reciprocal: Deu 23:20 – that the Deu 24:19 – may bless Psa 41:1 – Blessed Pro 3:9 – General Ecc 11:1 – for Luk 12:17 – shall Luk 16:9 – Make Joh 11:24 – I know Eph 6:8 – whatsoever Phi 3:11 – attain Phi 3:20 – our Col 3:24 – ye shall Heb 6:2 – resurrection Heb 10:35 – great Heb 11:26 – for he had Heb 11:35 – that they
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
THE GENERAL RESURRECTION
Thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
Luk 14:14
Most people expect to receive the reward of good service done to God, so soon as they leave this world and enter heaven. But our Lord says, Thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. The hope set before us is the hope of receiving the reward of dutiful service at the resurrection, and not before. The condition after death is one of expectancy and not one of fruition.
I. The great change.The resurrection body is:
(a) Sown in corruption; raised in incorruption.
(b) Sown in dishonour; raised in glory.
(c) Sown in weakness; raised in strength.
(d) Sown a natural body; raised a spiritual body.
It is idle to conjecture. Suffice it that we know that the risen body will be as unlike the natural body that was sown in corruption as the beautiful butterfly is unlike the mean grub, and that, nevertheless, identity will not be lost.
II. Difference of degrees.Each in eternal life receives more or less glory and honour and rule, according as he has deserved it. Some will be glorified as saints, others saved only with fear, as brands plucked out of the fire. God is just, and rewardeth every man justly.
III. What is it that infuses into our corruptible bodies the germ of the new resurrection life and glorification?The miracles of healing wrought by our Lord were figures of restoration from sin, but they were more than that, they were foretastes of the great healing of human nature of all its infirmities that He would effect as the great Physician of bodies as well as souls. It is noteworthy that many of these cures were wrought by His touch. And He instituted the Holy Eucharist as the means whereby we might sacramentally, yet really, touch His risen body.
Rev. S. Baring-Gould.
Illustration
The expression, Thou shalt be recompensed, is worthy of notice. It confirms the doctrine of a reward according to works, though not on account of works, in the judgment day. The similarity between the Lords language in this place, and that used in the description of the judgment day in Matthew 25, ought to be observed. It seems to contradict the opinion which some hold, that in Matthew our Lord is speaking only of the judgment of the heathen who never heard the Gospel. Some arguments by which this view is maintained would apply to the passage before us. Yet here it is plain that our Lord is speaking of His own hearers and disciples. It appears, more probable, that both here and in Matthew our Lord speaks of the general judgment, and that the importance of works as an evidence of faith is the truth which He desires to impress on our minds.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
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It is right to do good to the unfortunate with a view of reward after the resurrection, for that would mean one is expecting his reward from the Lord.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luk 14:14. And then shalt be blessed, because they have not wherewith to recompense thee. This implies that the benevolence has been done without hope of return, excluding the recompense from the praise of men. The proof that the blessing will come is added: for thou shalt be recompensed, etc. Earthly recompense amounts to nothing; it gives no blessing. All outlay with the hope of return is a mere squandering upon self. But providing for the poor, etc., is lending to the Lord; He will repay it, and His promise is the security for the blessedness referred to. Our Lord, of course, does not here encourage charity for the purpose of obtaining a future reward. The reward comes, but it is still of grace.
In the resurrection of the just. This refers to the first resurrection, and implies a second one (comp. 1Co 15:22; 1Th 4:16; Rev 20:4-5). Our Lord says nothing of an intervening millennium, but the guest who spoke next evidently alludes to it.