Luke VII: Count the Cost
9.6.09
Luke 14
1-6
eating with Pharisees and experts of the law
the leadership on a Sabbath, day of rest
this is who he is speaking with
7-11
this relates to a cultural practice at that time that we no longer have
Jesus is not simply giving them advice about how to behave at parties
he is saying that they should humble themselves before others (not just God)
or they will be humbled at the judgment
for us?
we are used to thinking that Christians are disciples and Jews are Pharisees
but I think we can only learn from this if we see that Christians call fall into the sin of the Pharisees
they were the religious people
do we act superior to other people who are not Christians? do we put ourselves above others because of our religion?
12-14
this is not just about parties
or forbidding people to have their own friends over for dinner
he was criticizing the way the leaders only socialized with their own level of society
and ignored those underneath them
he tells them to eat with those beneath them
eating meant acceptance
and hosting was generosity
in the next parable he uses this image to show us God’s grace and generosity
Us? we who are prosperous
should not cut ourselves off from the needy
and just live at our level of society
entertaining and hanging out with people like us, helping out our friends at our level
we must socialize with and be generous with those society (not God) tells us are beneath us
verse 15
responds to Jesus’ mention of resurrection
The man makes a theological statement
a statement that is true
he is talking about the future kingdom
Jesus then tells a parable to make the point
that not all of those who think they will be at the feast will be at the feast
16-17
Jesus has come to issue invitations to the feast of the kingdom of God
the generous table of God
invitations that they must respond to now
if they reject Jesus they are rejecting the feast
18-20
the people are disinterested in the feast
distracted by other things going on in their lives, immediate concerns,
legitimate excuses
Jewish law provided for new grooms to be free of community responsibility
the Pharisees, religious leaders
were not accepting his invitation
21-22
Jesus is inviting the Jewish poor, the sinners, the outcasts
23
this is the invitation of outsiders, Gentiles
24
here is Jesus pronouncement
those who have been invited by Jesus
the Pharisees, leaders, scribes
have refused Jesus’ invitation
and will not taste the feast of the resurrection and kingdom of God
for us:
have you accepted the invitation to the feast?
or are you still making excuses?
are you still eating at your own table and doing what you want to do with your life?
are you distracted from Jesus by your daily concerns?
verses 25-26
these crowds are traveling with Jesus to Jerusalem
he is on his way to Jerusalem to face the leaders and be killed by them
Jesus is telling those crowds, who are not disciples, what it means to be a disciple
hate does not mean hate, loathe, despise
but it means to love less
the statement seems to be aimed at young men (suggesting young men were attracted to Jesus’ ministry)
parents and wife mentioned
many of these men had to choose Christ over their parents, obedience to parents
both Jewish and Greco-Roman culture preached a morality of obedience to parents
so Jesus is undercutting that
demanding obedience to him
obligation to Jesus
was even to be placed over obligation to your bride and little children
Us: is your life for your family?
or is your life for Jesus?
27
Cross meant death by the Romans
price of death for following Christ
this is a warning of the price of association
28-33
he is warning them what it will cost them to be his disciple
do not make a hasty decision to follow me
not a normal strategy: usually people pressure others, but he tells them to wait
for us?
at the present we are not being killed for allegiance to Christ,
but obeying Christ will always result in the loss of many things
some of you signed up for this
but your never gave it consideration that it would demand all of your life
and you have gone back to your old life
not willing to lose anything
like the giant hotel that sits unfinished because they don’t have the money
like the couple getting married in Las Vegas on a whim and divorced a few months later
come back to Christ
and seek his grace to surrender your whole life in obedience to him
