Being Salt and Light in Ocean View, HI

Luke 14:7-14

hello I’m Alan and I want to welcome you to Ocean View Baptist Church let’s open with prayer Almighty God we raised our parts to you shelter us in your love and fill us with your spirit quench our thirst with your words grant us your mercy and surround us in your wondrous grace in the name of Christ Jesus amen today we’re going to continue in the Book of Luke chapter 14 verses 7 to 14 but first let’s quickly recall Nate’s sermon on Luke chapter 14 verses 1 through 6 we’re on a particular Sabbath Jesus had gone to the house of a Pharisee to eat bread and on that Sabbath jesus healed a man who suffered from dropsy it was within our Lord’s authority to do so and he proved it then he asked the Pharisees there if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not but they kept sited keep in mind that the Pharisees were members of a sect of Judaism that practiced strict faith according to Mosaic law they were also the ones who despised our Lord and were trying to bait him and catch him in violation of their laws they especially wanted to get rid of him and so they wanted to catch him on the charge of blasphemy which eventually they did now in verses 7 to 14 while they’re at the table of the Pharisee that was hosting the Meno the Bible says that Jesus tells them all the parable of the guests let’s take a look at verses 7 & 9 and he began speaking a parable to the invited guests when he noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table saying to them when you were invited by someone to a wedding
feast did not take the place of honor for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him and he who invited you both will come and say to you give your place to this man and then in disgrace you proceeded to occupy the last place so my friends the parable opens and Jesus is watching them all jockey for the best seat in the house now the places of honor at the table were those closest to the host and most visible and it was after all common in their culture to maneuver themselves into a prime spot at the table so they didn’t even give it a second thought this practice was mentioned in Scripture several times for example in Matthew chapter 23 verse 6 where Jesus says they loved the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogue’s another example would be from earlier in this very book Liu in chapter 11 where
Jesus states in the first part of verse 43 woe to you Pharisees for you love the chief seats in the synagogue’s we’re now going to continue by reading verses 10 and 11 when you were invited go and recline at the last place so that when the one who has invited you comes he may say to you friend move up tired then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and He Who humbles himself will be exalted then as they are all shuffling into their places our Lord looks at them and tells them that is not a disgrace to offer up their place of honor so that someone else can have it that being gracious is better than being embarrassed and disgraced Jesus wants them to realize that one who has chosen a lesser place may also be honoured by the host and moved to a more distinguished place at the table and spiritually by the very act of being humble one can be exalted by our Father in Heaven here verse 11 embodies one of the favorite techniques Jesus uses in his teachings and that is to show contrast in this verse you can see the contrast between being humble and being exalted demonstrating a reversal of expectations in Matthew chapter 23 verse 12 Jesus uses the same contrast when he says whoever exalts himself shall be humbled and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted we’re going to finish today by reading verses 12 to 14 and he also went on to say to the one who had invited him 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 payment but when you give a recession 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 in these final verses we see that Jesus is speaking directly to the Pharisee that had invited him he is telling his hosts that if he is going to have a dinner or lunch with close friends and relatives not to expect repayment other than to be invited to their luncheon or dinner but it’s going to hold a reception then invite all those who are disabled and less fortunate the social outcasts of their time and whose conditions it was said because principal behavior Jesus is focusing our attention on how we are to act towards others and furthermore that by seeking repayment for our acts of good in the natural world that is all the repayment we will get we will not be rewarded with the eternal gifts promised by our loving God brothers and sisters here and the verses we’ve touched on is a special lesson spoken from our Lord very lips to all of us a lesson about humility and it goes to the heart is teaching so relevant today that those who are in real need of our help should be given a without the expectation of repayment that our reward for acting in humble service to them is repaid at the time of the resurrection of the righteous into glorious eternal life my dear friends in Philippians chapter 2 verse 3 scripture says do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit but with humility in mind regard one another as more important than yourselves and so in closing I want to ask each of you to deliberately demonstrate the teachings of our Lord Jesus by serving others with humility try starting out by thoughtfully and selflessly serving those closest to you like your family and loved ones remember however it might not be easy at first but with time and practice you’ll find yourself feeling better about your actions towards others and they will be amazed at the new you let’s close in word prayer let me father thank you for allowing us to serve others and if it will be your will keep us humble that we may prove worthy of your gracious gifts help us to strengthen our faith by treating others so closely and we asked his things in the name of our Lord Jesus amen

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