John Gill Commentary Luke 14:35

"It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill: [men] cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." — Luke 14:35 (ASV)

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 , ``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 external profession of religion, and professors of it, and ministers of the word, without the grace of God; they are of no use, but hurtful to the church, and to the world; these phrases are left out in the Persic and Ethiopic versions:

but men cast it out ; into the streets, as entirely useless: and so such graceless professors and ministers, are to be cast out of the churches of Christ now, and will be excluded the kingdom of heaven hereafter:

he that has ears to hear, let him hear ; this being a point of great importance and consequence; (See Gill on Matthew 11:15).

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FOOTNOTES:

• F15: Nat. Hist. l. 31. c. 7.