Lessons from Feasts & Banquets Luke 14:1-24

5 Then he asked them, "If one of you has a son Luke 14:1-6 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 & 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 & 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.

9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come Luke 14:7-11 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 & 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, & he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Luke 14:12-14 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 & so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 & you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

the feast in the kingdom of God." Luke 14:15-24 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." 16 Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet & 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.' 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, & I must go & see it. Please excuse me.' 19 Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, & I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' 20 Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

What does life in God’s kingdom look like? Context Jesus was correcting the Jewish leaders Main Idea What does life in God’s kingdom look like? Lessons… a. from an uninvited guest at a Sabbatical meal (14:1-6) b. for invited guests at a wedding feast (14:7-11) c. for the host who throws a social dinner (14:12-14) d. from invitations to the Great Banquet (14:15-24)

5 Then he asked them, "If one of you has a son Luke 14:1-6 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 & 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 & 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.

They focus on conformity, instead of sympathy a. From an uninvited guest at a Sabbatical meal (14:1-6) They focus on conformity, instead of sympathy What are the norms What are the needs vs Luke 14:3 Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?

Luke 14:7-11 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 & 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, & he who humbles himself will be exalted."

They focus on self-glory, instead of humility b. For invited guests at a wedding feast (14:7-11) They focus on self-glory, instead of humility How I am valued How God views me vs Luke 14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, & he who humbles himself will be exalted.

repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Luke 14:12-14 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 & so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 & you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

They focus on profitability, instead of generosity c. For the host who throws a social dinner (14:12-14) They focus on profitability, instead of generosity What do I gain How can I give vs Luke 14:14 you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous

Thank you for giving to the Lord (Ray Boltz) I dreamed I went to heaven  And you were there with me;  We walked upon the streets of gold  Beside the crystal sea.  We heard the angels singing  Then someone called your name.  We turned & saw a young man running  And he was smiling as he came. And he said, "Friend you may not know me now." And then he said, "But wait,  You used to teach my Sunday School  When I was only eight. 

And every week you would say a prayer Before the class would start And every week you would say a prayer  Before the class would start.  And one day when you said that prayer,  I asked Jesus in my heart." Then another man stood before you  And said, "Remember the time  A missionary came to your church  And his pictures made you cry.  You didn't have much money,  But you gave it anyway.  Jesus took the gift you gave  And that's why I'm here today."

Far as the eye could see. Each life somehow touched, One by one they came, Far as the eye could see.  Each life somehow touched, By your generosity.  Little things that you had done,  Sacrifices made,  Unnoticed on the earth  In heaven, now proclaimed. And I know up in heaven You're not supposed to cry  But I am almost sure  There were tears in your eyes.

And you stood before the Lord. He said, "My child, look around you. As Jesus took your hand  And you stood before the Lord.  He said, "My child, look around you.  Great is your reward." Thank you for giving to the Lord.  I am a life that was changed.  Thank you for giving to the Lord.  I am so glad you gave

the feast in the kingdom of God." Luke 14:15-24 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." 16 Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet & 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.' 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, & I must go & see it. Please excuse me.' 19 Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, & I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' 20 Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

Everyone generally wants to be accepted into God’s glorious kingdom d. From invitations to the Great Banquet (14:15-24) Everyone generally wants to be accepted into God’s glorious kingdom Luke 14:15 "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."

While everyone generally wants to be d. From invitations to the Great Banquet (14:15-24) While everyone generally wants to be accepted into God’s glorious kingdom, yet, when God invites all through Christ, not many accept the invitation pursuits possessions pleasures Luke 14:16-18 A certain man was preparing a great banquet & invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses.

The problem doesn’t lie in God or the invitation, d. From invitations to the Great Banquet (14:15-24) The problem doesn’t lie in God or the invitation, but with people who show no regard for God & his invitation Luke 14:21, 23 The servant came back & reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry….Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads & country lanes & make (compel) them come in, so that my house will be full.

The problem doesn’t lie in God or the invitation, d. From invitations to the Great Banquet (14:15-24) The problem doesn’t lie in God or the invitation, but with people who show no regard for God & his invitation They will not be accepted in God’s kingdom Luke 14:24 I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.

They focus on conformity, instead of sympathy (14:1-6) They focus on conformity, instead of sympathy (14:7-11) They focus on self-glory, instead of humility (14:12-14) They focus on profitability, instead of generosity God’s people have a proper regard for God & what He says & will exercise sympathy, humility & generosity (14:15-24) They show no disregard for God & his invitation; they will not be accepted in God’s kingdom