I am an invite-aholic. It’s a disease I caught from my mother who also wanted to make sure that everyone felt included. I have often included more people on my dinner guest list than my little house can safely hold. Who gets on the list? Back when I was single I liked to invite hot guys first, and then other people to serve as buffers. Obviously, I had to invite Amy, she was my wing-woman. I’m mostly kidding. But like you, I usually started with the people I liked the best.
Check out what Jesus says: “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors.” I can’t decide if this scene reads more like “Mean Girls” or the Discovery Channel where the Coyotes circle the little bunny rabbit. At first it seems like a nice lunch among friends. Quickly you realize that these Pharisees are no fan of Jesus and they are hoping to catch him in a trap! First there is a man with a disease. Jesus asks his crowd, “Is it permitted in the law to heal people on the Sabbath day, or not?” His question has just turned the tables, because really, they can’t answer. These people who interpret the Sabbath law for their life’s work can’t answer. They can’t say no, because hello, the crowds would turn on them. They can’t answer yes, because they are trying to trap Jesus in blaspheme and haul him off to jail. Next Jesus takes aim at those who liked to elbow their way to the front of the line. The guys who were determined to sit at the cool table, no matter what it takes. His listeners probably snickered a little as Jesus describes being asked to scoot down a little further for someone more important. Oh yeah, they knew that guy. The heart of this passage is twofold. Your interpretation of the rules should always be guided by compassion. Jesus said don’t invite your friends over first, they are going to return the favor. Instead, give to those in need expecting to receive nothing in return. This isn’t to say give when you’re asked or when the opportunity presents itself. Rather, get up off your behind and find someone who needs compassion and do it. Go Jesus! Second, the Jewish idea of the kingdom was elite and exclusive. Jesus is about to turn that upside down. That’s what you have to look forward to tomorrow. Luke 14.1-14 [NLT] 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[b] 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.”
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AuthorThe Pastors of Cornerstone Wesleyan Church Archives
July 2017
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