Saturday, June 14, 2008

JESUS: O to Be Like Thee

By Samuel E. Ward

 

Part 3:  Jesus' Journey to Heaven by Way of Jerusalem

Luke  14

 

Introduction

 

Have you gone to dinner at someone's house and got the feeling you were being watched, maybe even evaluated or "sized-up?"  In this case in Luke 14 there is no need to wonder.  Jesus knew that He was being watched.  Not only that, He knew what they were watching for.  The Pharisees at this last stage of Jesus' ministry on earth were looking for ways to discredit Him.  What would be especially fulfilling for them would be to catch Him teaching some blasphemous doctrine or treasonous words against the Romans who occupied Palestine.  Jesus confronts the issue head-on and raises it before the Pharisees do.  

 

XVII. A Dinner with Large Servings of Teaching, Luke 14:1-24

 

A. Leftovers:  The Controversy over Healing on the Sabbath, Luke 14:1-6

 

1. The opportunity for grace before Jesus, Luke 14:1-2

 

Luke 14:1-2 (NIV) (1) One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.  (2) There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy. 

 

2. The opportunity for grace before the Pharisees, Luke 14:3


Luke 14:3 (NIV) (3) Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" 

 

3. The withholding of grace by the Pharisees, Luke 14:4a


Luke 14:4a (NIV) (4a) But they remained silent.

 

4. The ministering of grace by Jesus, Luke 14:4b


Luke 14:4b (NIV) (4b) So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away.

 

5. The incisive question to the Pharisees, Luke 14:5


Luke 14:5 (NIV) (5) Then he asked them, "If one of you has a son£ or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?" 

 

6. The condemning silence of the Pharisees, Luke 14:6


Luke 14:6 (NIV) (6) And they had nothing to say.

 

Jesus' message to the Pharisees:  Grace is greater than the Law.

 

B. Etiquette:  The Placement of Guests Belongs to the Host, Luke 14:7-11.

 

1. What not to do, Luke 14:7-8a


Luke 14:7-8a (NIV) (7) When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable:  (8a) "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor."

 

2. The rationale, Luke 14:8b-9


Luke 14:8b-9 (NIV) (8b)  "for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.   (9) If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place." 

 

3. What to do, Luke 14:10a


Luke 14:10a (NIV) (10a) "But when you are invited, take the lowest place."

 

4. The rationale, Luke 14:10b-c


Luke 14:10b-c (NIV) (10b-c) "But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests."

 

5. The greater spiritual truth, Luke 14:11.


Luke 14:11 (NIV) (11)  "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

 

Jesus' message to the Pharisees:  Your arrogance and pride will be judged.

 

C. The Invitation List:  The Opportunity to Show Grace, Luke 14:12-14.

 

Luke 14:12-14 (NIV) (12) Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.  (13) But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,  (14) and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

 

Jesus' message to the Pharisees:  Seek the blessing of God by giving to those who cannot pay back , rather obligating others to yourself for your personal ends.

 

D. What to Do about Last-Minute Cancellations:  Invite those who might most appreciate the meal, Luke 14:15-23.

 

1. The conversational "ice-breaker", Luke 14:15


Luke 14:15 (NIV) (15) When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."

 

2. The parable about divided-loyalty, Luke 14:16-18a

 

Luke 14:16-18a (NIV) (16) Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.  (17) At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' (18a) "But they all alike began to make excuses.

 

a. The invitations went first to his friends but it revealed their true regard for  their host. "I have other things that are more important to do,"  was the force of their excuses, Luke 14:18b-20

 

i. Some had more regard for acquisitions, Luke 14:18b


Luke 14:18b (NIV) (18b) "The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'"

 

ii. Some had more regard for business, Luke 14:19.


Luke 14:19 (NIV) (19) "Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.'"

 

iii. Some had more regard for other relationships, Luke 14:20


Luke 14:20 (NIV) (20) "Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'"

 

2. The rejection of the invitation was seen as a rejection of the host, as well, Luke 14:21a.


Luke 14:21a (NIV) (21a) "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry."

 

Evidently the banquet had been planned well enough in advance for his guests to clear their calendars.  The occasion of the banquet was also great enough that one having any regard for their host would have kept the date open.  However, when they were told it was ready, they did not come in favor of activities that could have been easily re-scheduled.

 

3. The dispatch of the servant was to those who would more readily accept the invitation to the grand banquet, Luke 14:21b-23.


Luke 14:21b-24 (NIV) (21b)  "[The owner] ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' (22) 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' (23) Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full." 

 

The ones who gathered into the banquet would not have the burden of previous engagements to keep them from coming.  In fact, coming to the banquet may have been the end of several days of hunger.  How fulfilling it must have been to the host to be able to serve the needs of those who could not pay him back.  His "friends" missed the blessing.

 

E. Revise the Guest List:  Include Those Most Likely to Appreciate the Invitation, Luke 14:24.


Luke 14:24 (NIV) (24)  "I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'"

 

There may be a subtle reference here to the fact that Israel had been invited to the kingdom of God but by their own choice refused it.  Hence, it was to the Gentiles, those undeserving heathen outcasts with whom they would not  mingle, that the opportunity was presented and gladly accepted.

 

XVIII.  A Discussion on Discipleship, Luke 14:25-35

 

A. Jesus Addressed a Large Crowd Who Traveled as Disciples, Luke 14:25.

 

Luke 14:25a (NIV) (25a) Large crowds were traveling with Jesus.

 

You may be traveling with the group but going to a different destination.  All we need is to be reminded of the parable of The Seed and The Sower to know people can receive the words of Jesus at various levels of acceptance short of full commitment.  That is why Jesus turns the discussion to the subject of the cost of discipleship.

 

B. Jesus Addressed the Matter of Allegiance, Luke 14:25b-27.


Luke 14:25b-27 (NIV) (25b) And turning to them he said:  (26) "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.  (27) And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."

 

Though the word hate is a strong word, it is still meant in a relative sense (no pun intended).  It is possible for one to be placed in the position of choosing Christ over one's own father, mother, wife and children.  The resulting choice of Christ over one's family is like hate by comparison.

 

C. Jesus Addressed the Matter of Investment, Luke 14:28-33.


Luke 14:28-33 (NIV) (28) "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?  (29) For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,  (30)  saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' (31) Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?  (32) If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.  (33) In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."

 

Remember the account of the rich your ruler who came to Jesus asking what one must do in order to inherit eternal life?  For that person, his riches were his source of security and worth—his god.  Unless he was willing to follow Christ without them, he could not follow Him at all,

 

D. Jesus Addressed the Matter of Usefulness, Luke 14:34-35a-b.


Luke 14:34-35a-b (NIV) (34) "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  (35a-b) It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out."

 

As for as being a Christian is concerned, there is no value to having a mouth and never speaking of Christ to unbelievers.  There is no value to having feet and hands  if they do not take you to minister to someone's need in the name of Christ. 

 

E. Jesus Addressed the Matter of Attentiveness, Luke 14: 35c.

 

Luke 14:35c (NIV) (35c)  "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

 

Simply put, pay attention to what Jesus is saying, do not let its message escape your understanding.

 

To be like Jesus . . .

 

1. We must at times expose the hypocrisy of the world and their double standards.  In the name of freedom they accept what they ought to be condemning.  Doesn't anyone know when art becomes pornography or legitimate sex become perversion.  Or when does killing become murder and usury become robbery?  Jesus knew and so do we!

2. We must know that there is nothing more worthy of our faith, devotion, resources, time and talents than the kingdom of God.  To "put God off" is like trading gold for stones, a mansion for a sod hut.

3. We must be ready to invest our whole lives and all of our resources in following Christ.  To hold in reserve anything is to hold it all in reserve. 

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