Luke 14:23 Meaning and Explanation
“And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The host sends the servant beyond the city, to the highways and hedges, to press travelers and outsiders to come in until his house is filled.
What Does Luke 14:23 Mean?
A third sending goes out, past the city limits now, to the open roads and the hedgerows where travelers and the homeless take shelter. These strangers have no claim on the host and would hardly believe the invitation meant them — so the servant must 'compel' them, urging until they yield and come in.
The compelling is the insistence of love: outsiders are not argued into the feast but warmly pressed, assured that the welcome is real. The motive is stated in five words — that my house may be filled. God is not willing for empty places at his table, and the reach of his servant lengthens until the farthest stranger is seated.
Luke 14:23 in the Original Language
anankazo (ἀναγκάζω), 'compel' -- to press or strongly urge; the insistence of an earnest invitation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 14:23
What does Luke 14:23 mean?
The host sends the servant beyond the city, to the highways and hedges, to press travelers and outsiders to come in until his house is filled.