Luke 14:1-14 (New Living Translation)
14:1 One Sabbath day Jesus went to eat dinner in the home of a leader of the Pharisees, and the people were watching him closely. 2 There was a man there whose arms and legs were swollen. 3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in religious law, “Is it permitted in the law to heal people on the Sabbath day, or not?” 4 When they refused to answer, Jesus touched the sick man and healed him and sent him away. 5 Then he turned to them and said, “Which of you doesn’t work on the Sabbath? If your son or your cow falls into a pit, don’t you rush to get him out?” 6 Again they could not answer.
7 When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: 8 “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? 9 The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!
10 “Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. 11 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
12 Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. 13 Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”
I. Have we lost our children? (vv. 1-6)
•
•
• If Jesus is our Savior, then the
• Jesus
• Christian faith equally values
• Compliance to God’s laws and ordinances is
• People are not authorized to
II. Have we lost our place? (vv. 7-14)
•
• Self-worship
• Parents have the
• Christians do not pre-judge, but temper expectation with
• Christians can be guilty of
• Telling a person they are
• God is unimpressed with our social
• God will judge us according to his
1. Read Luke 14:1-6. Whose home is Jesus dining in and on what day (v. 1)? In what ways does Sabbath heal a person?
2. How did the synagogue leader respond the last time Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath (refer to Luke 13:10-17)? Why, then, do you think the Pharisees, as social authorities, watched Jesus closely and did not answer his questions? Who is watching you closely regarding family, church, and vocational callings?
3. How does Jesus reject cultural interpretations and social structures (vv. 4 and 5)? How do we know when we should act in the same manner? Give examples.
4. Read Luke 14:7-14. Why did Jesus tell a parable about a wedding in a situation focused on authority in society? What institution is the foundation of society according to God as seen in this story? What does Deuteronomy 6:5-9 teach about parents’ roles in their children’s lives?
5. What does it look like to stay in our lanes regarding professions that work with children? In what ways can well-intentioned people in necessary professions overstep their place “at the table” in a child’s life? How do verses 10 and 11 show that we will be held accountable for usurping another person’s position in any capacity?
6. What else stood out to you in the sermon that you have questions about in this passage of Scripture?