Day 29: Luke 14:1-24

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 abnormal swelling of his body. 3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and 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 and sent him on his way.

5 Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” 6 And they had nothing to say.

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 and say to you, ‘Give this person 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 the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

As Jesus’ ministry and popularity spread, the religious leaders of His day watched Him more closely. And repeatedly Jesus defied their expectations by challenging their own understanding of the Law and societal order.

Here, Jesus challenges several commonly held practices. He shows that caring for others, rather than rigid legalistic prohibitions, is the true heart of the Sabbath. He challenges the human desire for exaltation, inviting His listeners to a posture of humility instead. Finally, Jesus challenges His listeners to invite those who are considered outcasts in society, caring for them regardless of the benefits in this life.

Jesus shows once again that God’s Kingdom is upside down from the way they viewed their world.

As you sit with the Spirit now, take a moment to ask, “Are there expectations or understandings I hold that Jesus wants to turn upside down?”

Invite the Spirit to show you how to view them in the upside down kingdom of God.

The scripture continues…

15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and 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, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and 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.’

21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

In this parable, Jesus likens the Kingdom of God to be like a great banquet; prepared for the community to enjoy and partake in. Surely, this parable was difficult for the religious leaders to hear. They considered themselves elite among God’s people, and felt their place in God’s kingdom secure. Yet through this parable, Jesus is giving a warning- if you are not willing to enter the banquet, it will be filled by those ready to join in the feast. And you will find yourself on the outside.

Perhaps you resonate with the religious leaders in this scripture. Are you also preoccupied to enter into the banquet of God’s grace today? Do you have excuses from giving yourself to Jesus and His kingdom today?

The outcasts end up filling the banquet hall of the kingdom of God, not because of their high standing or their righteous deeds, but because of the open welcome of the banquet host Himself.

Perhaps you feel drawn to identify with those unexpected guests invited into the feast. Take some time to thank God for His open welcome to all who would come into the Kingdom of God.