Proverbs 25:2–10
Hebrews 13:1–17
Luke 14:1–14
We Are Humbled and Exalted by the Cross of Christ
O Lord of grace and majesty, teach us by Your Holy Spirit to follow the example of Your Son in true humility, that we may withstand the temptations of the devil and with pure hearts and minds avoid ungodly pride;
“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,” Jesus proclaims, but “he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). For your hope is in the name of the Lord, who humbled Himself unto death on the cross and was exalted in His resurrection. So are you humbled by His cross, and “at the resurrection of the just,” He will say to you, “Friend, move up higher” (Luke 14:10; 13–14).
By His grace, the King will honor you “in the presence of a noble,” where your eyes will gaze upon the Prince, His dearly beloved Son.” (Proverbs 25:7).
As He has dealt so graciously with you, “do not neglect to do good and to share what you have” (Heb. 13:16) and “do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers” (Hebrews 13:2). Humble yourself and exalt your neighbor.
Healing of a Man on the Sabbath
Luke 14.1-14
Luke 14.1
Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἐλθεῖν αὐτὸν εἰς οἶκόν τινος τῶν ἀρχόντων τῶν Φαρισαίων σαββάτῳ φαγεῖν ἄρτον καὶ αὐτοὶ ἦσαν παρατηρούμενοι αὐτόν.
One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully.
:1 - they are watching because it was the Sabbath. 6:1, 13:10ff
Luke 14.2
καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνθρωπός τις ἦν ὑδρωπικὸς ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ.
And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy.
:2 - right then, in time and space, right there, right here, right now. A man with dropsy (edema) was in front of him.
Luke 14.3
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν πρὸς τοὺς νομικοὺς καὶ Φαρισαίους λέγων· Ἔξεστιν τῷ σαββάτῳ θεραπεῦσαι ἢ οὔ;
And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?”
:3 - Jesus addresses the teachers of the Law and the experts, "is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" Is this a set up? If so, whom?
Luke 14.4
οἱ δὲ ἡσύχασαν. καὶ ἐπιλαβόμενος ἰάσατο αὐτὸν καὶ ἀπέλυσεν.
But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away.
:4 - Silence is their answer. Taking hold of him He healed him and sent him away. The answer is Jesus. He heals on the Sabbath as the Lord of the Sabbath.
Luke 14.5
αὶ πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἶπεν· Τίνος ὑμῶν υἱὸς ἢ βοῦς εἰς φρέαρ πεσεῖται, καὶ οὐκ εὐθέως ἀνασπάσει αὐτὸν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ σαββάτου;
And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son[a] or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?”
:5 - which one of you, having a son or ox into a well falling will not immediately raise him up on the Sabbath. How many of the Pharisees would leave a son? He condemns them. They turned the Sabbath into a work and a law. Jesus was left in the well (grave) on a Sabbath. His father left him there.
Luke 14.6
καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυσαν ἀνταποκριθῆναι πρὸς ταῦτα.
And they could not reply to these things.
:6 - they were not able to speak back to Him concerning these things. They are not strong enough. They are still striving. They have not despaired of themselves.
The Parable of the Wedding Feast
Luke 14.7
Ἔλεγεν δὲ πρὸς τοὺς κεκλημένους παραβολήν, ἐπέχων πῶς τὰς πρωτοκλισίας ἐξελέγοντο, λέγων πρὸς αὐτούς·
Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them,
:7 - noticing how they chose the first places he told them this parable.
Luke 14.8
Ὅταν κληθῇς ὑπό τινος εἰς γάμους, μὴ κατακλιθῇς εἰς τὴν πρωτοκλισίαν, μήποτε ἐντιμότερός σου ᾖ κεκλημένος ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him,
:8 - when someone invites you to a wedding feast, don't sit in the place of honor in case someone with more honor is invited.
Luke 14.9
καὶ ἐλθὼν ὁ σὲ καὶ αὐτὸν καλέσας ἐρεῖ σοι· Δὸς τούτῳ τόπον, καὶ τότε ἄρξῃ μετὰ αἰσχύνης τὸν ἔσχατον τόπον κατέχειν.
and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.
:9 - if so, the host who invited both of you will say to you give this place and you will begin to have shame.
Luke 14.10
ἀλλ’ ὅταν κληθῇς πορευθεὶς ἀνάπεσε εἰς τὸν ἔσχατον τόπον, ἵνα ὅταν ἔλθῃ ὁ κεκληκώς σε ἐρεῖ σοι· Φίλε, προσανάβηθι ἀνώτερον· τότε ἔσται σοι δόξα ἐνώπιον πάντων τῶν συνανακειμένων σοι.
But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you.
:10 - when you are invited, take the lowest place, in order that when the one who invited you will say, 'beloved, come up higher' then you will have honor among all the others. Remember it's about Jesus. Continuation from last Sunday. You are unworthy you are the least. He makes you first and greatest.
Luke 14.11
ὅτι πᾶς ὁ ὑψῶν ἑαυτὸν ταπεινωθήσεται καὶ ὁ ταπεινῶν ἑαυτὸν ὑψωθήσεται. ὅτι πᾶς ὁ ὑψῶν ἑαυτὸν ταπεινωθήσεται καὶ ὁ ταπεινῶν ἑαυτὸν ὑψωθήσεται.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The Parable of the Great Banquet
Luke 14.12
Ἔλεγεν δὲ καὶ τῷ κεκληκότι αὐτόν· Ὅταν ποιῇς ἄριστον ἢ δεῖπνον, μὴ φώνει τοὺς φίλους σου μηδὲ τοὺς ἀδελφούς σου μηδὲ τοὺς συγγενεῖς σου μηδὲ γείτονας πλουσίους, μήποτε καὶ αὐτοὶ [i]ἀντικαλέσωσίν σε καὶ γένηται ἀνταπόδομά σοι.
He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers[b] or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid.
:12 -14 - this is what righteousness looks like. It must be about Christ. Being called up is all grace. It is Christ who exalts.
Walther, "Faith is a synonym for Christ."
Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and all who are humbled will be exalted. There is only one who has entered through the narrow door only one who has been humbled - Christ. See Philippians 2, " Let This mind be among you..."
Don't give a checklist... proclaim the humility and exaltation of Christ.
Note: Now Jesus is host. Notice whom He invites. You will be blessed in the resurrection of the righteous.
Luke 14.13
ἀλλ’ ὅταν δοχὴν ποιῇς, κάλει πτωχούς, ἀναπείρους, χωλούς, τυφλούς·
But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
Luke 14.14
καὶ μακάριος ἔσῃ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἀνταποδοῦναί σοι, ἀνταποδοθήσεται γάρ σοι ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει τῶν δικαίων.
and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
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What does it take to invite the lowly? It takes humility and grace.
1. Humility - To invite those who bring us no advantage.
2. Grace - To invite people because they are unworthy and cannot help us.
Make no mistake. This is more than mere manners. Christ humbled Himself To the point of death. He bore your sin and took your misery to Himself. In exchange for your sin you receive the righteousness of God in Christ. If this is how the Savior deliberately choose to treat you how much more should we demonstrate the same hospitality to your neighbor.
Sources:
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software
ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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Proper 17
Jesus Teaches True Humility
Luke 14:1-14
Law/Gospel Theme: Pride goes before a great fall. In teaching us to avoid all sorts of pride Jesus teaches true humility. Not only as an example. But in His life, death and resurrection the Savior deliberately chose to treat you. Having received mercy. How much more should we show the same kindness to others.
Prayer: Lord of grace and majesty. Teachy us by Your Spirit to follow the example of Your Son Jesus in all humility. That we might withstand all the temptations of the devil and with pure joy avoid ungodly pride.
Luke has been telling us that Jesus is making His way to Jerusalem. Now He is has finally arrived.
And Jesus will demonstrate true humility and grace by healing a man on the Sabbath and then teaching us the way of His cross.
Jesus teaches all those who exalt themselves will be humbled. And those who humble themselves will be exalted.
What does it take to invite the lowly? It takes humility and grace.
It takes humility – To invite those who bring us no advantage. And no gain. No benefit. And certainly no profit.
It takes grace. To invite people who cannot help.
Showing compassion. Especially to those who are wanting. - Helps us to be gracious. And practice true hospitality.
It’s one this to entertain someone who can repay in kind. It is yet another to demonstrate the compassion of Christ. Especially to those who are unable to return the favor.
Make no mistake. This is more than mere manners. Christ humbled Himself. By going to the cross. He bore our sin and took our misery to Himself. He took our sins and shortcomings and exchanged them with his love and grace.
This is how the Savior deliberately chose to treat you. How much more should you demonstrate the same hospitality to your neighbor.
Jesus is not simply giving good advice. He’s giving us a picture of grace. And the Father’s love.
We have no claim on God. Rather. He has claimed us. And He invites us to love others as we’ve loved. Still deeper. Consider how the Savior chooses to deal with you.
Jesus became human. He breaks into time and space to be your Savior. He gave up the glories of heaven. And takes on human flesh. He takes on flesh. To be a man. To become your substitute.
He takes your sin. Jesus. The innocent victim. Who had committed no treachery – He dies for people. He becomes your substitute. When Jesus died all sin was drowned and killed. When Jesus took your sin to Himself. He took each one to Himself.
He did not wait to be asked to save humanity. He decided before time dawned. Or before there was a thing as time. Or a sun, moon, or stars to mark time. Jesus came to set us free from any ill that might hurt you.
Jesus obeyed His Father’s will. Willingly took our hurt and buried them all; for the last time. In his tomb.
And when He rose from that tomb on that first Easter, on the third day – He offers forgiveness and life to all who receive Him by faith.
You now trust in your Savior as you look to Him for forgiveness and life. Faith clings to Jesus Christ alone. Who did for all the world atone. He is your own redeemer.
Thus we proudly proclaim this day: “We are rich or He was poor. Is this not a wonder? Therefore, praise God evermore. Here on earth and yonder.”
Prayer: Thank you, LORD for your love and care. Thank you for Your words and promises. Help us. To show compassion to others. As you have loved us.
Lutheran Senior Care Reflection
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