1. CHAPTER FOURTEEN

2. Jim Book Matt Chandler Tim Keller C.S. Lewis Tim Zingle

3. 14:1 One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. 2 And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy.

4. 3 And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” 4 But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. 5 And he said to them, “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?” 6 And they could not reply to these things.

5. 14:1 One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. 2 And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy.

7. (edema- swelling of tissues due to fluid build-up)

8. Leviticus 13:9-11 “When anyone has a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to the priest. The priest is to examine them, and if there is a white swelling in the skin that has turned the hair white and if there is raw flesh in the swelling, it is a chronic skin disease and the priest shall pronounce them unclean. He is not to isolate them, because they are already unclean.”

10. 3 And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” 4 But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. 5 And he said to them, “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?” 6 And they could not reply to these things.

11. 3 And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” 4 But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. 5 And he said to them, “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?” 6 And they could not Either Jesus heals & disregards the law OR He can heal but lacks compassion to do so

12. 3 And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” 4 But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away.

13. 5 And he said to them, “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?” 6 And they could not reply to these things.

15. This section: vv7-11 guests (inner ring) vv12-14 host (open home) vv15- us (feast of the poor)

16. 7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.

17. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

18. 12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

19. 7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor,

20. 7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.

21. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

22. 7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.

23. Jockey for position: Maneuver or manipulate for one's own benefit, as in “The singers are always jockeying for position on stage.” This expression, dating from about 1900, originally meant maneuvering a race horse into a better position for winning.

24. Philippians 2:5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature [of] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

27. 7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor,

28. WE DON’T THINK HE’S TALKING TO US.

29. Do you see people? Do other people that you see have souls?

30. Do you see people? Do other people that you see have souls? Or do they exist to make you happy?

32. The Pharisees would take social status by where you sat at dinner.

33. We take something that’s just a necessity for life and we stylize it. $400?

34. Buy $400 shoes, and let’s feel better about ourselves over others because we can afford to.

35. (OPEN DOOR) 12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, This is an idiom (hate your father, mother, brothers, etc.)

36. (OPEN DOOR) 12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

37. OPEN DOOR. This was a class stratified structure. You build alliances, open doors, etc. by inviting people into you home. People who can add value to your network– the patronage system. Jesus completely trashes this system. You invite people just to love them, NOT because they can “add some value” to your life.

38. What do you think of when you hear the word “hospitality?”

39. > Welcoming people into your living space > treating strangers as family > so that God can change some of them into friends

40. What do you think of when you hear the word “hospitality?” > Welcoming people into your living space Home is the place you recharge your batteries. Where you are nourished, where you rest. A place where you refresh yourself. Where things are somewhat how you like them to be. a

41. “Hospitality is bringing people in and welcoming them into this living space and refresh them and welcome them.”

42. Hospitality=Love of strangers

44. > Other Christians. Who is around you that you don’t know? Even the people you don’t want to know- invite them! Not just those that benefit you emotionally or socially.

45. Hospitality=Love of strangers > Neighbors/coworkers. Jesus was always eating with the wrong kind of person. > People get LOVED towards belief, not ARGUED towards belief.

46. Sinners and Tax collectors? Or “good, upright citizens?” Who do you practice hospitality with? > Neighbors/coworkers. Jesus was always eating with the wrong kind of person. > People get LOVED towards belief, not ARGUED towards belief.

47. Hospitality=Love of strangers > Neighbors/coworkers. Jesus was always eating with the wrong kind of person. > People get LOVED towards belief, not ARGUED towards belief.

48. Hospitality=Love of strangers > The Poor. This is an idiomatic expression, to say that we can entertain friends, but we give preference to the poor. It is INSTINCITIVE to invite people you want to get to know.

49. Hospitality=Love of strangers > We want some of these strangers to become friends. “We have a tendency to chose our own friends. Don’t trust yourself. Hospitality is to practice love towards the strange. GOD is actually the host in this. Some of the strangers you treat as family will become friends.” Hebrews 2- Some have entertained angels unaware (Gen 18- Abraham)

50. Hospitality=Love of strangers > Some of these strangers to become friends. Because God invites all sorts of people in, so should you. And God will turn some of them into friends, some people you never would have chosen otherwise.

51. “But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking, no chances. A secret Master of the Ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," can truly say to every group of Christian friends "You have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another." The Friendship is not a reward for our discrimination and good taste in finding one another out. …”

52. … It is the instrument by which God reveals to each the beauties of all the others. They are no greater than the beauties of a thousand other men; by Friendship God opens our eyes to them. …

53. … They are, like all beauties, derived from Him through the Friendship itself, so that it is His instrument for creating as well as for revealing. At this feast it is He who has spread the board and it is He who has chosen the guests. It is He, we may dare to hope, who sometimes does, and always should, preside. Let us not reckon without our Host.”

54. Application:

55. Start inviting your neighbors and coworkers into your home space. If you find God creating some unusual connection between you, invite them to church. Don’t treat them as your “project” but as your friend. Love them.

56. Start inviting other Christians If you have more space, invite those in who have less space.

57. Start inviting other Christians If you have been a Christian for while, invite those who are young in their faith.

58. Start inviting other Christians If you have been at Levy longer, invite those who are new.

60. 15 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!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 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.’

61. 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’

62. 21 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.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’

63. 23 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. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

64. 15 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!” –So Jesus talks about who will be there

65. 16 But he said to him, “A man (GOD) once gave a great banquet and invited many. (The people who are happy, well-off and accomplished—look at their excuses) 17 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.’

66. 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’

67. When it came time to come, they all made excuses. They all had “busy work” to do.

68. When it came time to come, they all made excuses. They all had “busy work” to do. Memorize scripture Serve in the church Help the poor These are all good things! But Jesus asks for more— your heart

69. “And so what we do is busy ourselves with religious, right moral action in an attempt to run from God penetrating the heart. And this is why you get a weak, retarded version of Christianity. Because you’ve got people who are all busy doing things but don’t have a heart transformed. …

70. … So you don’t have worship, you don’t have joy. You just have things to do. And if you do them well, then you get to look at other people who aren’t doing those things well and feel superior. All the while Jesus goes after the heart. Isn’t it funny that you can use religion to run from Him?”

71. “God presses on your heart that what was is in your heart is wicked. Where did we often run to? Church. And we get super busy in all these Christian activities, but they don’t bring life. …

72. … Pray that Jesus won’t let your heart alone. That’s the thing about the Holy Spirit - once you let Him in, you’re in a whole lot of trouble--That’s when healing and transformation take place! In that moment where God reveals how wicked your heart really is you’re so, so, so close to the banquet table.” > Poor in Spirit

73. 21 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.’ He doesn’t say invite them-He says bring them. They could not have accepted an invitation. Why? They could not reciprocate! This was the patronage system.

74. Jesus was saying: -There is nothing in this world that will every fulfill the idea of “home.”-- Where all of your hurts are healed. Where all of your hunger is totally sated.

75. Jesus was saying: -That only the poor of spirit get in. > middle class in spirit: I’ll be good and help God save me. A 90/10 proposition (boarder?) > poor in spirit: (even my best is not good) Middle class people tend to be middle-class in spirit. Poor people tend to be poor in spirit.

76. Jesus was saying: How could God give this banquet for free? Hospitality is expensive! Jesus came not as an oxen owner, a field buyer, but a homeless person, born in a manger. The only way we could be brought to God’s table is if Jesus was thrown out so that you could be brought in.

78. 25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

79. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

80. 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

81. Discipleship:

83. 34 “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

84. Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.