1. Two Parables For A Potluck Sunday
Always The Servant
Two Parables For A Potluck Sunday

2. At Times Jesus Taught While He Ate
Today is our Fifth Sunday Potluck
We eat often here at Southside
Got me to thinking about how often Jesus taught at functions that involved eating
Today we’ll consider two of those times – with similar/complementary themes
Luke 7: and Luke 14:7-14

3. The Meal With A Miserable Host
Luke 7:36-50
Invitation by Simon the Pharisee
Shows an interesting relationship between Jesus and the Pharisees
Though they were enemies, they still had interactions sometimes on the social level. Sometimes so the Pharisees had opportunity to challenge Jesus.

4. Enter A Sinful Woman…
v. 37 – “And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.”

5. Picture The Awkwardness…
She was weeping
She was pouring perfume on His feet
She was wiping His feet with her hair
She was a SINNER?
This is socially wrong on every single level. Why does Jesus not recoil in horror?

6. Perceive the whispering judgment…
v. 39 – “Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”
Assumptions:
Prophets don’t consort with sinful women.
This man isn’t a prophet

7. Parable from the Master…
A moneylender had two debtors: One owed 500 denarii; the other 50.
Lender graciously forgives both debts.
Who loves him more?
Masterful question with only one possible answer. “I suppose the one who he forgave more.”
Can we argue? Jesus affirms his answer.

8. Application of the parable…
Jesus points out the “sinful” woman and her behavior as compared to the “righteous” Pharisee and his.
You gave me no water for my feet, but she washed them with her tears.
You gave me no kiss, but she’s continuing even now to kiss my feet.
You gave me no oil for my head, but she has anointed my feet with perfume.

9. Who loved the more?
“For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little. Then He said to her, ‘Your sins have been forgiven.’”
What should Simon have heard?
Who there was free from sin?
Why did Simon fail?

10. Totally missing the point…
v. 49 – “Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this man who even forgives sins?’”
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Her faith, coupled with humility, resulted in eternal salvation and this deed recounted for thousands of years.

11. The Meal With Miserable Manners
Luke 14:7-14
Again Jesus in the home of a Pharisee, this one a leader.
A man is there with HUDROPIKOS – often translated as DROPSY. Term for modern EDEMA, excess water in the cavities and tissues of the body. Causes the body to be very swollen.
Jesus heals him on the Sabbath.
For once the Pharisees ignore it.

12. Jesus the rude? guest notices others…
Notices them jockeying for the best places at the table. The places of honor.
Does NOT remain silent. Instead, relates their “social manners” to a parable pointing out their “bad” manners.
PARABLE here means a piece of advice supposing a different setting with different outcomes.

13. Social posturing prevents kingdom behavior…
Jesus increases the importance of the meal to a “wedding feast” for His parable.
A HIGH social event.
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him….”
If so, you’ll be disgraced in front of everyone as you have to yield your seat and move down the line.

14. Instead, choose the lowliest seat….
Vs. 10 – “…so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you.”
The zinger: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Don’t be presumptious!

15. And now for the host…
V. 12 – “…When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment.”
What’s wrong with this? Jesus elevates parties from SOCIAL to MORAL or ETERNAL.

16. Storing up in heaven….
V – “But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Does this mean every time?
How do we fulfill the spirit of these verses?

17. True Test of Heaven Worthiness…
Something occurs to me in both the parables considered today…
In the first – BOTH could love the gracious debt holder evenly. If they chose to both be humble.
In the second – only a truly humble guest would be content taking the last place – because he MIGHT be left there. Would be angry if really thought he belonged higher.

18. What’s the real message here?
God loves those who are grateful, humble, and servant-minded.
God is opposed to those who are selfish, greedy, and proud.
Matthew 25:31-46
Those welcomed into heaven were servants. They helped others as a matter of course.
Those rejected from heaven were selfish. They didn’t see needs around them. They only saw themselves.
What am I?