Luke Chapter 14.

Luke Chapter 14.

The Sabbath controversy.  14:1-6.   Note how in this chapter the thought of eating or feasting continually re-appears.

           

Dropsy was regarded by law as a curse from God. (Num.5:22-23).  In the first question the Lord approaches them on their own grounds.  Their unwillingness to reply came from an awareness of their narrow interpretation of the law.  In the second question the Lord approaches them on the ground of that instinct for kindness and common sense.  It suggests that the true interpretation of the law is not in a narrow holding to the letter, but the spirit of human kindness and goodness.  Their unwillingness to be kind, was a sign of their impotence.

           

On Rank.  14:7-11.  God alone can grant honourable rank and this He will do in His Kingdom, to those who now humble themselves in repentance before Him.

           

On choice of guests.  14:12-14.  Jesus does not mean that we cannot entertain our relatives and friends, but he insists that in view of the resurrection of the just, we must have no limits in the exercise of  love.  Only the humble before God can love in this manner.

           

The ungracious guests.  14:15-24. 

  *  The supper was a great one.  It involved much labour, was costly, and it pictured the Messianic banquet of the Gospel.

  *   It was ready.  Suggests the Messianic freeness of Salvation, and also suggests the immediacy of the Kingdom of God.

  *   The excuses of those invited.   The first pleaded an urgent necessity; the second, something more important to do, and the third, an inability, because of a binding obligation. All pleaded something more important than the invitation to the supper.

  *   Those who had not been invited, are now brought into the supper, these need help and encouragement to come to the supper.  Those (the Jews) who should have been ready for the Kingdom, reject it, so the more despised among them, are brought into it.

  *   The room must be filled, so the servant is sent again - to compel by persuasion - insistently welcome - those whom the religious (i.e. Jews), would never have welcomed.  This may be the mission to the Gentiles.

           

Discipleship and its cost.  14:25-35.

  *   The crisis at hand.   Jesus, the Servant Messiah, who must suffer, was on the way to Jerusalem, where his decease was to be accomplished.  Those who would be with him, must share the dangers and disappointments.  The occasion called for special moral preparedness.

  *   Conditions of discipleship.  The disciples may be called upon to suffer.  Therefore, they must be willing to suffer.  They must treat the claims of Christ as absolute.  The word, "hate" is here used in a comparative sense, "to love less".  All must have second place to Christ.  The commitment to Christ, must be complete.

           

The parable of  the tower - Counting the cost. 

           

The parable of  the King   - Considering His capabilities.

  *   The consequence of half-heartedness.  The parable of the salt.  Salt was used for :

            a.  Purification.

            b.  Preservation.

            c.  Flavour and sweetening.

            d.  Hold heat.  A layer of salt was put beneath the tiles of ovens.

            e.  Fertilisation.

           

When the salt around the oven, through constant heat, lost its saltiness, it was thrown on to the slippery parts of the paths.  It had become worthless, even as a fertiliser. The half-hearted disciple does not gain in strength by frequent trials, but loses his hasty enthusiasm and becomes insipid.  Such a disciple is worse than useless.