THE RUDE GUEST
Text: Luke 14, 1, 7 – 14
John Wesley had no intention of founding a denomination. He was a clergyman in the church of England. He boldly reached out to those whom society and the church of his day had marginalized. John Wesley saw the church mission of evangelism and how it was being slighted. John Wesley “… felt the Church of England did not sufficiently provide for the fellowship of the Christian people, which he sensed to have been a unique characteristic of the early church. ….Wesley wrote, “look east or west, north or south; name what parish you please: is this Christian fellowship there? Rather, are we not the bulk of parishioners a mere rope of sand? What Christian connection is there between them? What intercourse in spiritual things? What watching over each other’s souls? What bearing of one another’s burdens?” (Lovett H. Weems, Jr. John Wesley’s Message Today. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1991, p. 47). It is obvious to those of us who hear John Wesley’s critique of the church of his day that there were a lot of people who were being marginalized. There were obviously those on the inside who did not invite those on the outside.
What John Wesley observed was not a new observation. Jesus told this parable to illustrate God’s will and how there were seat-seekers who were excluding those who were in need of a seat. It is a sad commentary to point out that we have not changed. We still live in a world where there are the seat –seekers as well as those in need of a seat! In telling this parable, Jesus reveals how God’s reversals bring needed revolution!
THE REVERSAL
Jesus was having lunch with a celebrity Pharisee. 1) Suspicion: While Jesus is in the house of this prominent Pharisee, he knows that He is being watched. 2) Bounty hunters with bait? Why were they watching Jesus? Did they set Jesus up? Had word about Jesus healing the woman who was bent over for eighteen years (Luke 13:11) leaked from the synagogue leader to this prominent Pharisee who had Jesus over for a meal?
Do you see a problem here in both the event and its host? 1) Impostors: They were conspirators who were posing as friends. Why can we draw that conclusion? 2) Bating the trap: We can draw that conclusion because there was a man who suffered with dropsy at that house. Why was that out of place? It was out of place because it was the Sabbath. They went to challenge Jesus only to find themselves being challenged. Jesus made a similar point about animals in the last chapter as He does in this chapter (Luke 13:15 -16 cf. Luke 14:5).
Do you believe that silence can speak louder than words? 1) Cutting to the chase: Jesus had turned the table on them with His question: “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” (Luke 14:3). 2) Divine defiance: In spite of their silence, Jesus healed a man the man suffering from dropsy in front of them and sent him on his way. 3) The rude guest: The Pharisees might have said that Jesus’s question was rude, and that His action was a lawbreaking insult. It has been said, that “In the New Testament, a meal is symbolic of the reign of God’s kingdom here on earth”. (David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting On The Word. Year C, Volume 4. Ronald P. Byars. “Homiletical Perspective. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010, p. 25). If that is indeed the case and it is, then what can be said for those who were the hosts of such dinners that excluded others? Were they not the ones who were really being rude? 4) A healing on the Sabbath: I remember how a man had a seizure in church when I was in the seventh grade. There was an EMT present in the worship service who came to him. He was ok after the seizure was over. I think people would have been surprised if the EMT said, “I cannot do anything because it is Sunday”.
Did they invite Jesus in hopes to make Him someone in their debt? Someone (Warren Wiersbe) makes the point that invitations were used to return favors and also put someone in your debt because of the invitation that you once gave them---a quid pro quo if you will. (Warren Wiersbe. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1989, pp. 229 – 230). 2) Quid pro quo: The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Quid pro quo as Latin for “something given or received for something else; also: a deal arranging a quid pro quo”. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quid%20pro%20quo). Jesus mentioned this cultural practice of invitations and indebtedness in the parable that he told them. 2) It was expected that those who were invited were supposed to return the invitation because they were expected return the favor (Luke 14:12). Their reason for inviting Jesus was not without the hint Jesus was expected to return a favor.
THE REVOLUTION
Jesus did not come to break the law but to fulfill the law. Why does the part about the man suffering with dropsy prompt Jesus to tell this parable?
Jesus points out to them that their “quid pro quo” game is nothing but a fake show of hospitality that is about conditional love. Real love is unconditional because it is about giving without expecting anything in return. Giving a banquet for the poor, the crippled, lame and blind is something that God will reward with treasure in heaven (compare Matthew 6:21and Luke 14:14).
Jesus came to start a revolution! 3) There is the story of a symphony orchestra in Louisville, Kentucky that had an agreement with the Baptist seminary students. The seminary students who would come an hour early could usher other guests to their seats and in exchange for their service they could take any vacant seats that were available once the performance started. It was even admissible for the student ushers to bring a date who take also take a vacant seat once the performance started. Once cocky student had a crush on an incoming student and invited her as his date. However, he did not explain the process, making it appear as though he had bought tickets. He seated her up front and center, she had to move four times. Can you imagine her embarrassment? (Gary Kingsporn. Gen. ed. Th e Library of Distinctive Sermons. Volume 8. Rev. Dr. John R. Claypool. “Humility And Hospitality.” Sister: Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 1998, 20). It is very doubtful that there was a second date!
Who are we inviting to come join us? As mentioned before, “In the New Testament, a meal is symbolic of the reign of God’s kingdom here on earth”. Does that qualify us as being rude when we exclude those whom Jesus would have included? Do we come to church looking for our seats? Or do we come to God’s house having invited others who did not have a seat and cannot pay us back? Like, John Wesley we need to see those who are without seats, invite them and help them to find seats. Jesus wants us to do that as well! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
