Day 71

Luke 14:1–14 (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. ³ Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” ⁴ But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away. 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 And they had nothing to say. ⁷

When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: ⁸ “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, 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. ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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.”

Helpful Information

vs 2 -From a biomedical point of view, “dropsy,” an almost obsolete term for generalized edema, refers to bodily swelling due to an excess of fluid; not a disease itself, dropsy is an indication of malfunction in the body, especially congestive heart failure or kidney disease. Green, J. B. (1997). The Gospel of Luke. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

Why does Jesus keep eating with the Pharisees when he sees how they have it in for him? What does that say for the way we live?

In verses 7-11 what is Jesus trying to say about how to live life?

The big question to the Pharisees in verses 7-14 is also the big question to us. Do we think we deserve a place at God's table or are we grateful for the opportunity just to be there? Do we live to get from others or do we live to give to others?

Notes

vs 1 - Jesus again invited to Pharisee house, the purpose is not hospitality as much as trying to catch Him doing something that could discredit Him. Why does Jesus go? Still willing to talk to the Pharisees and try to get them to see the true way.

Only healing to save a life allowed on the Sabbath is Pharisee's view.

vs 1-5 is almost a repeat of 13:10-16. The difference is in the response. In Chap 13 the leader came after Jesus' view. In this Chapter the Pharisees remain silent. Why?

Do they know their answer will sound too harsh? Remember how the people reacted in 13:17. Or is it a sign that they have nothing else to say about Jesus and his stance.

The diseased man coming to the meal could make it unclean if he were where the food was served or prepared. This event probably happens outside the house before the guest are seated for the meal.

vs 7-11

As the guest sat down Jesus noticed the jockeying for position closest to the host. Closer the more importance you were.

He then uses what he has seen to make a point of humility. A humble person isn't eager to take the best seat. He is content to be there at the banquet. If the Host wants to move him up then that is fine but he doesn't look for recognition or honor.

True humility doesn't look at this as a game. "I will sit at the least place so everyone will see how important I am when the host comes and gets me to sit next to Him. " That is not the intent of this parable.

We all know people who try to force their way into positions of honor. Jesus point is they will also get moved. The humble is who Jesus is going to honor. (see 13: 30, John 13:3-5, Luke 22:24-27)

vs 12-14 (remember Mary's Song 1:52-54, Jesus' purpose statement 4;18-19 , the complaint of the Pharisees about who Jesus ate with 5:30)

The normal for them is also the normal for us. Hang out with the people who are like us. Do things for people who will do things for you. Jesus now throws such an approach out as of little value. The better is to help those who need it and who cannot repay you.

Throughout Jesus' ministry Jesus has demonstrated what he now says. Through his healing, his associations, his teaching to the regular people Jesus clearly is not interested in hobnobbing with the elite. When he does he denounces their attitude towards God and the people they consider lesser. (see treatment of enemies see 6:32-36)

The big question to the Pharisee is also the big question to us. Do we think we deserve a place at God's table or are we grateful for the opportunity just to be there? Do we live to get from others or do we live to give to others?

vs 14 -Again the point isn't to do the things to get the reward, the point is to do it because it is an honor to be able to help those God places in our path to be able to help.