(Bible references from ESV unless otherwise noted)
“Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” —Luke 14:3
“Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” —Luke 14:5
Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor. —Luke 14:7
Our salvation is not determined by what we did, but we will get judged by what we have done.
He ties their dinner party with God’s future dinner party.
When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” —Luke 14:15
Assumption: They [Pharisees] will be the blessed at God’s banquet table.
“Once upon a time…”
But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.” —Luke 14:16
The Invitation Goes Out
And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. —Luke 14:17-18
The Excuses Come In
The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ —Luke 14:18-20
The Master is Indignant
So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ —Luke 14:21
The Master Provides a New Invitation
One can accept or reject the invitation, but the party is coming.
And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.’ —Luke 14:23
No one is forced to come.
The Pronouncement
“For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.” —Luke 14:24
“Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the Kingdom of God.” —Luke 14:15
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. —1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Sine nobilitate means “without nobility”
A snob is a person who believes that their tastes in a particular area are superior to those of other people.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. —John 1:12
Big Idea
God’s invitation is available to all. However, it’s the lowly and unlikely who come.
Study Guide Questions
Jesus loves to set captives free and demonstrates this by healing the man in this week’s parable in Luke 14. Jesus’ heart is immense for both sinners and sufferers. Where do you see Jesus have compassion for sinners? Where do you see Jesus have compassion for sufferers? Discuss the difference between a sinner and a sufferer.
What thoughts or feeling arise when you hear the word “deed or works?” What about the idea of God judging everyone according to what they have done? Share with your group and challenge the lies that may have crept in around this topic.
Think about the people you invite to your parties or want to spend time with. Are they the powerful, wealthy, sophisticated or the misfits, the unlikely, and the weak? Courageously share with your group.
In what areas or ways can you tend to be a snob (a person who believes their taste in a particular area is superior to those of other people)?
Where in your life are you currently struggling to see all people as God does? What are steps you can take this week to see sinners and sufferers as Jesus does?