Luke 14:1-6
The Lord Jesus was in the house of a chief Pharisee on a Sabbath day and broke with the tradition of the religious leaders in order to heal a man sick from something called "dropsy". The Lord Jesus challenged the religious leaders and asked them the question, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?" They did not answer him. He pointed out that common sense said if you can take care of your farm animals on the sabbath day then surely you can help a man on the sabbath day. The religious leaders would not answer him.
Here I believe the Lord Jesus was purposely doing good while at the same time he applied pressure to the religious leaders. He healed a man. This should be proof that he was from God and was doing the work of God. He challenged them specifically in regard to their religious traditions. I think the Lord still does this today. When God wants to deliver people he will challenge the religious traditions people have and especially religious traditions that are man-made. I think we would be amazed to know how many religious traditions we have which are man-made and are not from God at all.
We can easily see how many strange religious traditions the Pharisees held. But the Christian church has had 2,000 years to develop and accumulate man-made religious traditions. How do you know which religious traditions are from the Lord and what are simply man-made traditions?
We should pray and ask the Lord to help us let go of any religious traditions which are not of him, from him, or by him. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to set us free from man-made religion so we can truly be used by God to see souls saved, people healed, and lives changed for the glory and honor of God.
The Lord Jesus came into the world to seek and save those who were lost. He died upon the cross of Calvary for our sins. He was buried in a tomb, and three days later he rose from the dead. He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God by him, for he now lives forever to make intercession for us. There is no other mediator between God and man except for Christ Jesus. He is the priest and the mediator. He is the only way to God. Whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved.
Luke 14:7-11
The Lord Jesus noticed people took the chief rooms at a feast. They assumed their own importance and wanted to be over other people. This is the pride of life. The Lord Jesus taught the Pharisees that their attitude of taking the chief places for themselves would result in God opposing them. He taught them to humble themselves and take the low place so instead of being embarrassed when they were told to go lower they would instead be happy if they were asked to go up higher. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. This is repeated by Peter and also James in their letters. This is a fundamental teaching for Christians and the church. Do not exalt yourself.
When people claim to be "gods" they are exalting themselves. God calls us to humble ourselves. This is the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. Read Philippians chapter 2. The Lord Jesus humbled himself. The Lord Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and said he gave us an example of humility. We are to consider others better than ourselves (Romans 12:3, 10)
Nebuchadnezzar learned that God is able to abase those who walk in pride. Pride is the fountain of unbelief and disobedience to God. When we walk in pride we think we know better than the word of God. When we walk in pride then God opposes us. It is God's nature to hate pride and arrogance.
Proverbs 8:13, "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."
Instead, humble yourselves before the Lord.
James 4:10, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."
Listen to what the Lord Jesus said to these religious leaders. Search your heart and see if there is pride or arrogance in your heart. Ask the Lord to search you and show it to you. Determine that you will confess your sins to the Lord, and repent, and determine to walk with the Lord with a humble heart.
Luke 14:12-24
The Lord Jesus was invited to a meal with the religious leaders. He noticed the people who were invited to this feast were all people who could reciprocate the host. In other words, each person who was there could repay the invitation. This is how the world operates: scratch my back, and I will scratch your back. Give to me and I will give to you. But this is not how the Kingdom of God operates. In God's Kingdom we give and do not expect anything to be given back to us. The Lord Jesus taught them to have a supper and invite people who could not return the favor. He said to invite the poor, maimed, lame, and blind. If you act like this then God will reward you in his kingdom at the resurrection of the just.
What does this teach us? We see here a contrast between the principle of the world system and the kingdom of God. God does not view people by what they can do for him or how they can pay him back.
But how do men see one another? They create friendships with people with whom they think can add value back to themselves. People are viewed as "assets" instead of as people. As long as you serve a purpose these people will be your friend. As soon as they think you can no longer benefit them they drop you as their friend. I have personally experienced this and it is disheartening and discouraging, especially when the person who turns their back on you professes to be a Christian.
My goal is not to base my relationships with people on what they can do for me. Instead, I should have the attitude of someone in God's kingdom. What can I do for others? How can I serve? How can I be a blessing to others? I wish that I had lived like this in the past because it would have made a big difference. How many friends have I lost in the past because I looked at them as "assets" and not as people with intrinsic value to God?
The Lord Jesus went on to tell a parable about a feast which would take place in God's kingdom. Many people were invited but there were some who made excuses for why they could not come to the feast. These excuses were basically made because those who were invited were self-centered and worshiped themselves. They did not care about the person who made the invitation.
God help us to open our heart today and truly care about people. I do not want to make excuses to God as to why I cannot obey him.
Lord, help me to be obedient to you. Help me to love the truth, receive the truth, and to obey the truth when you speak to me today.
Luke 14:25-35
There is a cost in following the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus was upfront about how this would look to the world around us. Following the Lord Jesus would at times make the world think you don't love your family. You may find yourself in a situation where you have to choose between the Lord Jesus and your family. In that situation if love for your family stops you from obeying the Lord Jesus then you are really not a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes when we follow the Lord Jesus it may appear to the world that we don't even love our self. It might appear to others we are making decisions that are not in our own best interest. This confuses people in the world who do not know Jesus. They will think we are foolish when we make decisions that are not in our best interest because we love the Lord Jesus and want to be his disciple.
What happens if you start following the Lord Jesus but turn aside? What if you stop obeying the Lord after years of following him? The Lord Jesus said this is like salt which loses its flavor. Because you followed the Lord it changed you and the world doesn't like you anymore. However, because you stopped obeying the Lord then Christians are not comfortable around you either. What happens? The Lord Jesus said they were like salt which lost its flavor and was no longer good for anything but to be cast out.
Discipleship is serious. We must be prepared to follow the Lord Jesus no matter where that takes us, and no matter what the personal cost to ourselves or to our relationships with other people. We must put the Lord first.
If we truly know the Lord and love him then hopefully the memory of knowing him and loving him will bring us back to active obedience. Sometimes it does. But I've seen the danger in myself and in other people of going along with the world or living for self. I've seen the natural tendency to drift away from following the Lord and it is frightening. May God be faithful to reprove, rebuke, and correct me. And may I have such a love for the truth that I will be like King David and admit, "I have sinned against the Lord". The Lord does forgive and he does restore.
Don't let another moment go by without humbling yourself and crying out to God. Return once again to active obedience in your relationship with the Lord and his word.
Luke 14 KJV
Luke 14:1 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.
Luke 14:2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
Luke 14:3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
Luke 14:4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
Luke 14:5 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?
Luke 14:6 And they could not answer him again to these things.
Luke 14:7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,
Luke 14:8 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;
Luke 14:9 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.
Luke 14:10 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.
Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Luke 14:12 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.
Luke 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
Luke 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
Luke 14:15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
Luke 14:16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
Luke 14:17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
Luke 14:18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
Luke 14:19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
Luke 14:20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
Luke 14:21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
Luke 14:22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Luke 14:24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
Luke 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Luke 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Luke 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Luke 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Luke 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
Luke 14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
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