Luke 14:1 – 11 Love vs. Law

Luke 14:1 – 11 Love vs. Law

On a Sabbath he went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, "Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath or not?" But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them, "Who among you, if your son or ox 3 falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?" But they were unable to answer his question. He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, 'Give your place to this man,' and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, 'My friend, move up to a higher position.' Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

Just in case you missed it earlier, Jesus reiterates his message of the previous chapter. By curing someone on a Sabbath Jesus confirms that an action of love and compassion is more favorable in God’s eyes and “keeping the Sabbath”. His audience here is specifically identified as Pharisees and lawyers, the religious and community leaders of the day. Not only is a loving action more favorable to God than rite and ritual and law, but those who seek status or see themselves as important in the current hierarchy are dangerously deluding themselves. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted”, says Jesus. Humility seems to be much valued in God’s kingdom. I am thinking of another favorite passage of min which lists the “fruits of the spirit” in Galations 6:22 which are love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness generosity, faith, mildness, charity and self-control. We must respond to God’s invitation with loving action and with humility.