Luke 14:23 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Compel them— Press them. "Use the most earnest intreaties with those who shew any unwillingness." The word αναγχασον, rendered compel, does not imply that any external violence was to be used with these persons; a single servant was sent out to them, who surely was not capable of forcing so great a multitude to come in, as was necessary to fill his lord's house. The proper meaning of the expression is, "Use the most powerful persuasion with them;" and so it fitly denotes the great efficacy of the apostle's preaching to the idolatrous Gentiles, whereby vast numbers of them were prevailed with through divine grace to embrace the gospel. See Proverbs 7:21 in the LXX. for the same word, only used in a bad sense; and Luke 24:29. Indeed, force has no manner of influence to enlighten men's consciences; so that though one should pretend to believe, and should actually practise a worship contrary to his opinion, it could never please God, being mere hypocrisy; wherefore St. Austin and others, who suppose that this passage of the parable justifies the use of external violence in matters of religion, are grossly mistaken. The author of the Observations, describing the hospitality maintained in the Arab villages, tells us, from La Roque, that as soon as the cheikh,—who is as the lord of the village,—is informed that strangers are coming, he goes to meet them, and, having saluted them, marches at their head to the place set apart for their reception, if they are disposed to dine or lodge in the village: but La Roque gives us to understand, that frequently those travellers only just stop to take a bit and then go on; in which case they are generally inclined to stay out of the village, under some tree. Upon this the cheikh goes or sends his people to the village to bring them a collation; which, as there is not time to dress meat for them, consists of eggs, butter, curds, honey, olives and other fruit. After they have eaten, they thankfully take leave of the cheikh, who commonly eats with them; and then pursue their journey. This may serve to explain the passage before us. Those in the highways were strangers passing on without any intention of stopping; and these under the hedges, where travellers frequently sat down, were such as had declared themselves averse to stay, and only just sat down to take a little refreshment. The sheltering themselves under trees and hedges, does not import, as someeminentcommentatorshaveimagined,theirbeingthepoorestandmost helpless of travellers, which does not at all agree with the pressing them to come in, for such must be supposed ready enough to come;—but it points out their being strangers, by no means inclined to receive such a favour, as it would so retard them, as to break in upon their measures. See Observat. p. 220.