Study 33. Luke 14:1-35. 28/7/23

 5. The religious men were willing to set aside their rules about Sabbath work for the sake of one of their sons or animals (see 14:4). If they would do this and disallow the healing of strangers, what was wrong with their practice?

The passage has similarities to 13:10ff

 It showed double standards - hypocrisy. They refused to commit to an answer, because they knew they were wrong. This refusal to face their own wrong in the light of what they should have known.disqualified them from Jesus' regard. (cf. John 5:43-45: ⁴³ I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. ⁴⁴ How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? ⁴⁵ Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope.)

Jesus did not exclude himself from the company of His enemies - He still went where He knew they would try to entrap Him. Perhaps the man with 'dropsy' (Gk hydropikos) was planted (he 'responded' fits with this) His concern for principle as well as His compassion was still preeminent, not His own safety.

"lawful" did not contradict the law of Moses, although the Pharisees had their own 'laws'

6. Luke 14:7-11 is probably not meant for advice for how to seek worldly status more cleverly. What do you think is Jesus' point in that passage?

Don't seek your own honour - you may lose what you are trying to gain. If you let others honour you, you will potentially gain more.

He reminds us that the truly humble person will finish up where he ought to be and receive the honour that is due. (Morris)

• Humillity: "the feeling or attitude that you have no special importance that makes you better than others; lack of pride" (Cambridge) "Freedom from pride or arrogance" (Merriam-Webster)
  
• Humility is not thinking of yourself more highly than you ought but with sober judgment, according to what God says in his word (Rom 12:3)
• True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less”  (C S Lewis)
  

7. Why is is better to give hospitality to the poor and handicapped than to your friends and relatives (14:12-14)?

Because in the former case God rewards you eternally, whereas in the latter case they invitees reward you temporally. Our view should always be towards eternity.

N.B. "do not invite" is hyperbolic

 

8. What is the point of the parable in 14:16-24? What response does it call for us to make?

The invitees had accepted the initial invitation. This second invitation was a reminder.

 The parable is an example of responses to the exterior, resistable call of God. The parable is also again about the Jewish-Gentile sequence when the 'first shall be last' (14:30). We are those who cannot offer anything to God.

This story of a banquet emphasizes the truth that people are saved by responding to God’s invitation, not by their own effort, whereas if they are lost it is by their own fault. (Morris)

9. In 14 :25-35 Jesus addresses the crowds who want to travel with Him (14:25). What does He tell those crowds to do in the two parables of 14:28-33?

A. M. Hunter, ‘In the first parable Jesus says, “Sit down and reckon whether you can afford to follow me.” In the second he says, “Sit down and reckon whether you can afford to refuse my demands.” 

1. Consider if you can complete your committment to Christ: sustainability
   
2. Consider if you have the capacity to win the battle: extent
   

 3 conditions for disopleship:

1. hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life
2. bear his own cross and come after me .
3. renounce all that he has.

There is no place in Jesus’ teaching for literal hatred. He commanded his followers to love even their enemies (6:27), so it is impossible to hold that he is here telling them literally to hate their earthly nearest (cf. 8:20f.). But hating can mean something like loving less (Gen. 29:31, 33; Deut. 21:15, where the Hebrew means ‘hated’ and not ‘disliked’, as rsv). Jesus’ meaning is surely that the love the disciple has for him must be so great that the best of earthly loves is hatred by comparison (cf. Matt. 10:37)(Morris).

The point about salt is that a supposed disciple is useless the character of the disciple is established by the above.

 

Why does the kingdom of God operate on the principle of 14:11?

Because God is himself humble. This is the pattern of the stable and the Cross. Discipleship requires humility.

The principle that should govern our conduct occurs a number of times in slightly different forms (18:14; Matt. 23:12; cf. Matt. 18:4; 1 Pet. 5:6). To exalt oneself means ultimate abasement. The way to true exaltation is humility.

Human sin, says Qin, is like Adam and Eve wanting to exalt ourselves above God. In Christ this desire is reversed.