December 13, 2015
Morning Service

Luke 14:1-14

 

            It has always been important that we know what our Lord expects of us.  Jesus said, “why call Me Lord, and do not the things I say?”  In other words He doesn’t recognize you as His disciple if you are not trying to do the things He teaches.  So we can see how important it is to read for ourselves His expectations.  Don’t take someone else’s word for it, read it yourself.  So, as we study His parables, we will be learning what he expects of His disciples.  This morning, and this evening we will be in chapter 14 of the book of Luke.

Let’s begin:

 

Luk 14:1-15  And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. 

·         That they watched Him.  They always were watching Him.  They will also watch you.  The world thinks they know exactly how you should act, and the way you should live.  They only know what satan has led them to believe.  They are under the power of the prince of this world, who is satan.  However, sometimes they are right, and we are doing something that doesn’t bring honor, and glory to our Lord.  We should constantly be trying to improve our walk with the Lord.

(2)  And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. 

·         Dropsy = Probably a liver disease.

(3)  And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?                              There are many questions concerning the Sabbath. 

·         Exo 20:8  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Exo 20:9  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: Exo 20:10  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:               Dealing solely with the Israelites.

·         Exo 35:2  Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.

·         Exo 35:3  Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.

·         Num 15:32-36  And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.  (33)  And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.  (34)  And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.  (35)  And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.  (36)  And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

·         Exo 31:16-17  Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.  (17)  It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

·         So, we can see that this question Jesus ask these men, was an important question. “Is it okay to heal on the Sabbath?”

Luke 6;  Plucking corn to eat on the Sabbath, and healing on the Sabbath;  Jesus told them;  That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Scriptures to read:  Matt. 5:17;  Col.2:16-17; Rom. 14:5-6; Col. 2:9-10;  Heb. 4; Jesus is our rest.

(4)  And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;  (5)  And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?  (6)  And they could not answer him again to these things. 

·         Then comes a parable.

(7)  And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, 

·         He not only is watched, but He also watches.  He noticed how they picked out the best seats.

(8)  When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;  (9)  And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.  (10)  But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.  (11)  For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

·         This parable is simply about being humble, and exalted.

·         Always try, and take the most humble stance on any situation.  You will start out in a humble position, but may be exalted  to a higher one in the end.

·         Jesus says it very clearly when He says, “whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

God’s attitude toward pride, and humility.

·         Pro 15:33  The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

·         Pro 18:12  Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

 

Then again on humility:

(12)  Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.  (13)  But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:  (14)  And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. 

·         This is something we don’t do.  I don’t believe this is talking about family dinners, and get togethers.  DO YOUR GOOD DEEDS WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHIG IN RETURN.

·         Probably the closest thing we could relate too in this kind of situation is the Thanksgiving dinner that the Wesleyans have.  It is an invitation to whosoever wants to come, and enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.  Just so you know, a small part of your offering here, goes for that.

·         The Methodist church also has free meals, as does the Church of God.  So there are those that are doing this in our community, and they are to be commended.

·         They should expect nothing in return.

The admonition is that they will be rewarded at the resurrection of the just.  A very good work.

 

So what have we seen this morning?

1.       Always seek the way of humility.

2.      When helping people, expect nothing in return, and you will rewarded at the resurrection of the just.

 

ALMIGHTY GOD, YOUR WORD IS CLEAR, AND SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND.  HELP US TO PRACTICE WHAT YOU ARE TEACHING US.  AMEN.