Advent Readings: Luke 14

 Luke 14

The chapter begins with a story of Jesus healing of a person with dropsy on Shabbat. This is not the first time when He attempts to heal someone on the Sabbath. The first ones were met with hostility and resistance (Lk. 6:6-11). This time the scenery is a bit different – Jesus addresses the lawyers (the specialists in Torah) and Pharisees with a question: is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath? His question was met with silence. They were thinking… Thinking about the question, thinking about a chance to get upset the crowds, thinking about Jesus’ status (I hope…).

To help them Jesus shares two parables: the parable of the wedding feast (Lk. 14:7-11) and the parable of the great banquet (Lk. 14:12-24). The first one addresses the issue of status. People of Greko-Roman culture would sit at the table according to the level of their relationship with the host. The most honorable guest would have a seat right next to him on the right side. Then – let’s say A- guest – would sit closest to the host on the left. And so on and so forth…

Jesus didn’t go against the custom of the day, but he presents a parabolic commentary on Proverbs 25:6-7. The place at the table should not be taken based on self-assessment of a person (or high self-esteem) but based on one’s humility. And if a host would desire to elevate one to another position – so, be it. If not, not – the humility prevails, and the guest ends up in a win-win situation. But there is more to the lesson than a mere promotion of practical psychology skills. What Jesus teaches his listeners is the fact that in the presence of God we all should exercise humility but not pride (cp. James 4:10).

The second parable is even more to the point, building up the tension to another level. If the first one leaves any sense of worthiness on a part of a man in the presence of God, the second one leave no foundational stone for a human pride. For the man who set great banquet is the Son of Man – Jesus. He is the One who invites the people, while they decline shielding themselves with excuses (many of these excuses are compatible to being excused of a military draft, cp. Deuteronomy 24:5). Again, Jesus presents his parable in front of “lawyers” and Pharisees – they know Torah, and they totally understand catch “His drift” so to speak, when he brings up these examples.

The worst thing for his immediate listeners is the final statement of the Lord: “For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet’ (Lk. 14:24). Unlike those who didn’t see themselves worthy and jump on the opportunity to be at the Great Banquet, the listeners of Jesus ended up outside of the fellowship with the LORD. How sad… Being raised in the tradition instituted by God Himself, being knowledgeable of the statutes and rulings of God, being the attentive listeners of the Messiah, and yet, ending up outside of the Banquet…

May His grace continue in us, delivering us safely to the heavenly realms (Philippians 1:6).

Overview of the Bible: Proverbs

 Proverbs   

Title: Proverbs, in Hebrew Mishley – from the verb to make alike, to assimilate – sayings, based on similar properties of things or events.  

Date of writing: Depending on the dating of 25:1, 30:1, and 31:1 the time might stretch from about 1000 BC to 707 BC (Times of king Hezekiah)    

Structure: Seven parts can easily be identified

A. 1 – 9, Proverbs (of Solomon) as speeches to “my son(s)”

B. 10:1 – 22:16, Proverbs of Solomon

C. 22:17 – 24:22, words of the wise

D. 24:23-34, more saying of the wise

E. 25 – 29, Proverbs (of Solomon) gathered by the men of king Hezekiah

F. 30, Words of Agur son of Jakeh (“gatherer, the obedient one”)

G. 31, Words of king Lemuel (Devoted to God) [what his mother – Bathsheba – taught him]

Main themes:

God and man

Wisdom and folly

Labor and laziness

Friend(s)

Rule and leadership

Words and tongue

Family: husband and wife, parents and children

Life and death 

Reflection in other parts of the Bible:

There are parallels between the Book of Proverbs and Deuteronomy: Both begin with a long exhortation, then there are many particular rules (Deut.) or “suggestions” (Prov.). Both books end up with a poetic conclusion – a song – that sums up the whole book: Deut. 32 and Prov. 31    

There are also parallels with Psalms:

19:10 – the Word is more desirable than gold and honey, Pr. 25:16,27

111:10 the fear of the LORD, Pr. 1:7

Jesus uses proverbs for His parables, see. Lk. 14:7-11 (Pr. 25:6-7)   

Lutheran teaching: The Book of Concord uses a few verses from Proverbs. 

17:15 “he who justifies the wicked…” is found in both Epitome and Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord discussing the Righteousness of faith (FC, Epitome III:7 and SD III:17).

22:6 “train up a child…” it is used in the Large Catechism I:75, 168 207 to establish the foundation of godly parenting raising up the faithful children.   

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 750 – If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee (3:5-6)

LSB 618 – I come, O Savior, to Thy Table (25:6-7)   

Relevancy of the Book:

Unlike the Books of the Law, Proverbs do not give a commandment – they present the observations of life. “Most of the time it works like this”. So, the sayings of Proverbs should be taken as the Divine suggestions of the wise person to the one who wants to be successful in life. Yet, it is not about earthy wealth first and foremost. The Proverbs begin with the fear of the LORD and they end with the description of Lady Wisdom that is teaching faithfulness (to God) and shares His gifts of bread and wine (:16, 26).      

Memory verses:  

1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

30:5,6 Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar.