A Consequential Dinner Conversation With Jesus Series

Conversations over meals can be consequential in variety of ways.

slow down and be together

Share stories

Get to know one another (Tell me something about you that will help me understand or truly know you better- Dobson)

Teach and learn biblical truths

Influence

CG meals

Family meals

Wedding or funeral meals

Social

Luke 14 begins by noting the Jesus is at those of a Pharisee for a meal.

This dinner conversation is filled with topics that rubbed against their culture - healing (on the sabbath), humility, hospitality, and honor (as in honoring your word). We addressed the healing portion last week as Jesus healed the man with dropsy or edema. This week, we get to consider the next three as Jesus uses this meal as the storyboard upon which to tell a tale with earthly application and eternal significance.

Jesus teaches that we should seek the honor that comes from God by living humbly with generous hospitality while prioritizing fellowship with Him.

So, as Jesus observes the maneuverings around this meal, He notices how the people are jockeying for the best seats. In response, he urges them and us to…

Act with humility (7-11)

We may be inclined to imagine a table like many of ours - long and narrow-ish. For these first century Jews, their tables were not likely long and narrow, but rather low and shaped like a U. The host or the guest of honor would sit in the center of the bottom of the U and everyone else would fan out on either side. (Bock)

Jesus’ encouragement here to take a lower seat is a matter of practicality and even common wisdom.

Proverbs 25:6–7 ESV

Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence

or stand in the place of the great,

for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”

than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

Another proverb notes:

Proverbs 29:23 ESV

One’s pride will bring him low,

but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

So on one hand, Jesus’ instruction is a matter of practical prudence. But His instruction also begins to get to matters of the heart.

comparison -

sizing each other up

make judgments on value of each other

seeing self importance based on the sliding scale of whose in the room, rather than on what God says

Pride - self importance, significance

In relation to each other, humility should be our default attitude for our interactions.

As it pertains to our relationship with Jesus, we should have a similar outlook of humility. Not taking salvation for granted. Seeing our salvation as a humble gift rather than a position of pride. When we get an opportunity to share the gospel with others, it will come across - not that we are better, but that we are merely “one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread” - as DT Niles has said.

Philippians 2:5–11 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus humbled himself and the Father exalted him!

Luke 14:11 ESV

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

So Jesus urges that we have an attitude of humility, when relating to each other.

where are we tempted to think that we deserve honor or recognition because of - status, title, abilities, …?

Where are we more concerned with what people think about us than what God thinks about us?

As the dinner progresses, Jesus makes a comment to the host of the party, essentially urging that we should…

Express generous hospitality (12-14)

Jesus says:

Luke 14:12–14 ESV

…“When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

For the last few years, the Fair Access committee has hosted a VIP breakfast on the morning of Poolesville Day. This breakfast is made up of the commissioners, local organization leaders, pastors and church leaders, school officials, and periodically some students. There are also County, state, and national politicians. This is an opportunity for local leaders to meet with county, state, and national leaders to advocate for policies and programs that benefit Poolesville and the Ag Reserve. In many ways, it’s been a quite effective program as the High School construction, private/public partnerships for Crossvines, and other programs have been funded. The couple of times that I’ve been able to attend, I’ve found it quite interesting. In attending, I feel a bit like a fish out of water - I understand why I’m there, but also feel out of place. At the same time, there are people dropping names, would be politicians garnering votes, and more. It’s is a generous and likely costly meal, but I think the organizers are also trying to get something in return. I guess in some circles, that’s just how things are done - at least in political circles. But what about religious circles?