Luke
14:1–14—Sunday’s Gospel speaks of
Jesus healing a man on the Sabbath, but first challenging the puffed-up
Pharisees to show Him why this would be wrong. They could give no answer.
Jesus then tells a parable which exhorts those
puffed-up Pharisees—and us!-–to humble ourselves. One who has the mind of
Christ will not seek to exalt himself over others, but will put himself in
their service, as Christ did for us when he bore our sins to Calvary. When we
bow in humble submission to the Lord, He shall exalt us. Indeed, He has
already, by making us His children through the washing of Holy Baptism and
giving us a seat at His heavenly banquet.
Some thoughts on Sunday’s Gospel lesson…
V. 1 Meals on the Sabbath were often luxurious and costly.
Only cold dishes were permitted. “They
watched Him” explains the reason for the invitation. Jesus had just bitterly
denounced the Pharisees. (See Luke 11:39-52) In this lesson Jesus talks about
seeking the lowest places at these feasts and about who ought to be the guests.
V. 7 “Chief
rooms;” The first places were places of respect and honor. How the LORD –
the essence of whose teaching is self-surrender and self-sacrifice must have
been disturbed by the self-seeking pride of the Pharisees.
V. 11 This is the rule in Christ’s Kingdom. Whoever
takes pride in his own work and merit will be abased by being excluded from the
Kingdom. Whoever humbles himself. Acknowledging his own unworthiness and
trusting alone in Christ, will be exalted by God’s grace. (See Matthew 23:12;
Luke 18:14)
V. 12 The remark occurred some time later in the
feast. Those attending the feast were from the upper ranks of Jewish society. “Not Thy friends;” Jesus did not mean to
forbid our entertaining of those we love; He meant simply that, because of the
life to come, we can do better. (See Nehemiah 8:10) “Lest they also bid thee;” this is manifestly a selfish motive. This
section of the lesson is a lesson in selfless service. The Law required service
to the poor. (See Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 26:11-13)
V. 14 Where there is not love, faith is mission.
Hence, no recompense on the Last Day. The recompense is one of grace. The LORD
gives rewards to those who seek no rewards.
For those
outside the Church: Almighty and everlasting God, You desire not the death
of a sinner but that all would repent and live. Hear our prayers for those outside
the Church. Take away their iniquity, and turn them from their false gods to
You, the living and true God. Gather them into Your holy Church to the glory of
Your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. [2]
Collect for
Friday of the week of Pentecost 11: O God, who in Thy Son didst come among
us, and in him wilt come again, of Thy mercy grant us not to shrink from Thy
presence, but to rejoice in it. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen [3] -26 August
2022
[1] Lift High the Cross © Copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2] Collect for those outside the Church, Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. St. Louis
[3] Collect for Friday of the week of Pentecost 11, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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