Eating with Sinners
Part 2
26th July 2007
Last week, we looked at Luke 5v27-32. Jesus was eating with the tax collector, Levi, and his friends. The Pharisees and the scribes criticised Him, saying "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" They'd forgotten that they were sinners, too.
This week, we move on to Luke Chapter 14.
Luke 14v1-6
One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully
watched.
There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy.
Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?"
But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away.
Then he asked them, "If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath
day, will you not immediately pull him out?"
And they had nothing to say.
Not only had the Pharisees forgotten they were sinners, they were so busy trying to interpret scripture and make up rules for each other, they'd forgotten what the Law was about. Remember:
Matthew 22v37-40
Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
your mind.'
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
If you love your neighbour, you will obey the Law. The Law reminds us what it is to love our neighbour.
They didn't have the courage to say so, but the Pharisees were far more interested in their religious rules than they were in God's Law - love your neighbour. They imagined that their regulation about not working on the Sabbath was more important than seeing a fellow human set free from his suffering.
Oh church! Can you see something of yourself in this example?
Who are we to make up rules for others? The Bible contains all the Law we need.
Jesus asked, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" Of course it is; it's ALWAYS lawful to love your neighbour!
Jesus pointed out to them that they'd break their regulation for their own children, or their own cattle, but they wouldn't for a stranger. They only loved those who loved them, or were of value to them. They had no love for other people.
Jesus is our example. He healed the man, and ignored the religious rules.
Luke 14v7-11
When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honour at the table, he told them this parable:
"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honour, for a person more
distinguished than you may have been invited.
If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then,
humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.
But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to
you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honoured in the presence of all your fellow guests.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
The Scribes and Pharisees loved to be in the place of honour. But Jesus taught them to take the lowest place. As He gave up His place in Heaven to live among men, and gave up His life to redeem us.
Did they believe Him when He said:
"Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted"
Do we?