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GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER LUKE 14:1-24 AN INVITATION TO A FINE DINNER 1. FIRST, THE TABLE IS SPREAD by the religious lawyers! “They watched him.” v. 1 2. THEN THEIR TRAP WAS SPRUNG. v. 2-4 The trap was twofold: a. Could Jesus heal this man, and, if so, b. Would He do so on the Sabbath? They were lying in wait to attempt to find something that they could pin on Jesus to brand Him as a lawbreaker. 2
3. THEN THE TABLES WERE TURNED Luke 14:5-24 It is crazy what legalistic and law-filled arguments people can get into, especially those bound up in cults like JWs, LDS/Mormons, SDA, and Christian Science. Yet they, like the Pharisees, would not hesitate to break their absurd rule to rescue a beloved child or a valuable piece of property. The Lord had unceremoniously thrown out of their own court their most respected biblical authorities. They were tongue-tied and befuddled . . . now what do we do, they must have thought. 3
A Biblical Triclinium Carved from Olive Wood 4
WHO SITS WHERE At this kind of a social function, the couches would be placed in a U shape—each table with its accompanying set of three seats/cushions— and was called a triclinium. The host generally would take seat number nine, the lowest place at any table of the three. The guest of honor at each of the three tables would occupy the center seat. The guest seated in the center seat of the middle table would be the special guest of honor. Much like witnessing a child’s game of musical chairs, the Lord had seen these guests pushing and shoving in a “rugby scrum” for the best seats. 5
YOU GUYS JUST DON’T GET IT, DO YOU? Everyone had been scrambling for the “best seats.” Jewish doctors of the Law were notorious for their pride. The Pharisees had set a trap . . . Jesus now turns the trap back on them. Taking advantage of the continuing silence, the Lord proceeded to expose the selfishness of the Pharisees just as He had exposed their arrogance and pride. The man had invited the man suffering from dropsy . . . not to be a guest, but to be the bait in a trap. 6
ACTUALLY, JESUS IS AT EVERY MEAL Invited or not, as the familiar D.L. Moody saying goes, “Jesus is the Head of this house, the unseen Guest at every meal, the silent Listener to every conversation.” He notes everything. He weighs all of our actions. Listens to every word we say at every table. Every scrap and scrape He sees and hears. One day everything is going to be revealed, even the motivation behind why we said and did what we did! Matt. 6:18; 2 Cor. 5:9-10 7
THE GREATEST BLESSING The Lord’s desire for all of us is that we would do as He says and reap an eternal reward. The short path to blessing is always the path of obedience to what the Lord asks of us. It’s about being a doer, not simply a hearer. James 1:22-25 The man needed a sharp lesson, and the Lord saw that he received it by telling him a story. The gospel feast was spread, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb guest list was announced. The invitation was sent out to have your name on the list. The hour was come. BUT THE EXCUSES BEGAN TO FLY 8
THREE EXCUSES THE LORD PICKS OUT THREE COMMON reasons people refuse the love of God, the grace of God, the plans of God—the free gift of Salvation offered in Jesus Christ the Lord through faith in Him. Eph. 2:8-9 1. The first man was TOO BIG FOR HIS BRITCHES to come. v. 18 2. The second man was TOO BUSY BUYING to come. v. 19 3. The third man was TOO BEAUTIFULLY BLISSFUL to come. v. 20 No matter what the excuse, there is still room if you will simply choose to come! v. 21-24 The Gospel: God’s free grace gift of new life, forgiveness of sin, a heavenly home. Jesus is still the only way ( John 14:6 ), there is still room! 9
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