sunday, august 4, 2013 speaker: doug virgint

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Three Banquets: Three Banquets: Three lessons about going to Three lessons about going to

heavenheavenLuke 14:1-24Luke 14:1-24

Message 6 in our 9-part series called Message 6 in our 9-part series called Table Talk with Jesus.Table Talk with Jesus.

Sunday, August 4, 2013Sunday, August 4, 2013Speaker: Doug VirgintSpeaker: Doug Virgint

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OutlineIntroductionIntroduction

1.1. The Sabbath mealThe Sabbath meal

2.2. The wedding banquetThe wedding banquet

3.3. The great banquetThe great banquet

TransitionTransition

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Introduction• Luke 14 follows Luke 13Luke 14 follows Luke 13• The last paragraph of Luke 13 The last paragraph of Luke 13

anticipates our Lord’s rejection and anticipates our Lord’s rejection and crucifixion in Jerusalemcrucifixion in Jerusalem

• Why did the Jewish people reject JesusWhy did the Jewish people reject Jesus• Because their leaders rejected himBecause their leaders rejected him• And this chapter helps explain why …And this chapter helps explain why …

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The Sabbath mealWe have three characters :

• The PhariseesThe Pharisees• The sick manThe sick man• Our Lord Jesus ChristOur Lord Jesus Christ

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The Sabbath mealThe Pharisees:•Their origin 160 BC (period of Their origin 160 BC (period of

Maccabees)Maccabees)•A lay movement in synagoguesA lay movement in synagogues•Reaction against Greco-Roman idolatryReaction against Greco-Roman idolatry•Respect of the Scriptures and LawRespect of the Scriptures and Law•Popular and respectedPopular and respected•About 6000 membersAbout 6000 members•Strongly legalisticStrongly legalistic

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The Sabbath mealThe sick man:•Dropsy – Dropsy – hydropikoshydropikos - edema - edema•A somewhat technical medical termA somewhat technical medical term•Considered to be ceremonially impureConsidered to be ceremonially impure•Why was he at a meal in Pharisees Why was he at a meal in Pharisees

home? home?

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The Sabbath mealOur Lord:•Took hold of him (see Acts 16)Took hold of him (see Acts 16)•Healed him – on the SabbathHealed him – on the Sabbath•Sent him awaySent him away•Confronted the Pharisees hypocritical Confronted the Pharisees hypocritical

legalismlegalism•The Pharisees were more interested in The Pharisees were more interested in

saving an ox drowning in a well than a saving an ox drowning in a well than a man drowning in his own fluidsman drowning in his own fluids

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The Sabbath mealThe lesson:

Legalistic people Legalistic people • tend to be so inconsistenttend to be so inconsistent• lack compassion to the point of crueltylack compassion to the point of cruelty•do not understand the reason for the do not understand the reason for the

lawlaw•apply the Scriptures wronglyapply the Scriptures wrongly

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The Sabbath mealThe lesson:

You can be devout, dutiful, outwardly You can be devout, dutiful, outwardly good, serious about God, a defender good, serious about God, a defender of your religion, a good person …of your religion, a good person …

… … and still not be invited to heaven!and still not be invited to heaven!

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The wedding banquet

• The illustrationThe illustration• The scrambleThe scramble• The lessonThe lesson

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The wedding banquetThe illustration• A parable is not an allegory with A parable is not an allegory with

details we should attempt to details we should attempt to interpretinterpret

• It is a story that makes one main It is a story that makes one main pointpoint

• It is a story that illustratesIt is a story that illustrates

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The wedding banquetThe scramble:• Keeping up appearances Keeping up appearances (Hyacinthe (Hyacinthe

Bucket)Bucket)• A U-shaped table with 3-person couchesA U-shaped table with 3-person couches• People scrambling to sit next to the People scrambling to sit next to the

hosthost• Think about James’s and John’s mother Think about James’s and John’s mother

making her request!making her request!

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The wedding banquetThe scramble:

““They do all their deeds to be seen by They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of long, and they love the place of honour at feasts and the best seats in honour at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.”called rabbi by others.” (Matthew (Matthew 23:5-7)23:5-7)

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““Woe to you Pharisees! For you love Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.” greetings in the marketplaces.”

(Luke (Luke 11:43)11:43)

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““Beware of the scribes, who like to Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at feasts”and the places of honour at feasts”

(Luke 20:46)(Luke 20:46)

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The wedding banquetThe lesson:• The seating arrangements were just The seating arrangements were just

external evidence of a heart-problemexternal evidence of a heart-problem• The narrow way is not for those who The narrow way is not for those who

are swollen with the dropsy of prideare swollen with the dropsy of pride• ““Blessed are the meek”!Blessed are the meek”!• Salvation is for the humble in heart Salvation is for the humble in heart

““God opposes the proud, but gives God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) (James 4:6)

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The wedding banquetThe lesson:• The Pharisees believed in the The Pharisees believed in the

resurrectionresurrection• This story is all about preparation for This story is all about preparation for

the resurrection of the just.the resurrection of the just.• Jesus was identifying the outward Jesus was identifying the outward

expression of a humble heartexpression of a humble heartWorks, merit, external religion, Works, merit, external religion, pride will shut us out of heaven!pride will shut us out of heaven!

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The wedding banquetThe lesson:• The Pharisees invited those who had The Pharisees invited those who had

influence – today we call that influence – today we call that “networking”“networking”

• They invited those who could invite They invited those who could invite them in returnthem in return

• They had their reward on earth – our They had their reward on earth – our Lord invites them to invite those who Lord invites them to invite those who could not return the favour – and to could not return the favour – and to be rewarded in heaven!be rewarded in heaven!

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The great banquet

• The invitationThe invitation• The excusesThe excuses• The inclusionsThe inclusions• The exclusionsThe exclusions

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The great banquetThe invitation:•A great feast was the pinnacle of social A great feast was the pinnacle of social

lifelife•Being invited was a great privilegeBeing invited was a great privilege• Invitations were in two stagesInvitations were in two stages•A preliminary invitation – you are A preliminary invitation – you are

invited – details will come laterinvited – details will come later•A final invitation – details, when, whereA final invitation – details, when, where•Great feasts could last for daysGreat feasts could last for days

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The great banquetThe invitation:•The Pharisees understood the parableThe Pharisees understood the parable•See verse 15:See verse 15:

• ““When one of those who reclined at When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he table with him heard these things, he said to him, ’Blessed is everyone who said to him, ’Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’” God!’” (Luke 24:15)(Luke 24:15)

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The great banquetThe invitation:

•This concept finds its roots in the Old This concept finds its roots in the Old TestamentTestament

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The great banquet““On this mountain the Lord of hosts will On this mountain the Lord of hosts will

make for all peoples make for all peoples a feast of rich fooda feast of rich food, , a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.of marrow, of aged wine well refined.And he will swallow up on this mountainAnd he will swallow up on this mountainthe covering that is cast over all peoples,the covering that is cast over all peoples,the veil that is spread over all nations.the veil that is spread over all nations.He will swallow up death forever;He will swallow up death forever;and the Lord God will wipe away tears and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces”from all faces” (Isaiah 25:6-8)(Isaiah 25:6-8)

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The great banquetThe invitation:• Look at how much room there is at the Look at how much room there is at the

banquet (verses 22, 23)banquet (verses 22, 23)

““and still there is room ….” “that my and still there is room ….” “that my house may be filled”house may be filled” (Luke (Luke 24:22, 23)24:22, 23)

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The great banquetThe excuses:•bad, bad excuses!bad, bad excuses!• two concerned possessions, one two concerned possessions, one

concerned relationshipsconcerned relationships

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The great banquetThe excuses:•a fielda field•do you think a Jew would buy a field do you think a Jew would buy a field

without first checking it out!without first checking it out!•what was the hurry?what was the hurry?

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The great banquetThe excuses:•5 yoke of oxen 5 yoke of oxen •Only a very rich man could afford thatOnly a very rich man could afford that•Do you think a Jew would buy them Do you think a Jew would buy them

without being sure of what he was without being sure of what he was buying!buying!

•Do you think that a rich man would be Do you think that a rich man would be ploughing or driving his oxen himself?ploughing or driving his oxen himself?

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The great banquetThe excuses:•A new wife A new wife • I couldn’t keep my wife away from a I couldn’t keep my wife away from a

wedding reception!wedding reception!•Would a man in that era admit Would a man in that era admit

publically that his agenda was publically that his agenda was controlled by his wife?controlled by his wife?

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The great banquetThe excuses:• In those days and in that culture, refusing In those days and in that culture, refusing

an invitation to a feast was tantamount to an invitation to a feast was tantamount to a declaration of war.a declaration of war.

•Are possessions or relationships stopping Are possessions or relationships stopping you from accepting Christ’s invitation to you from accepting Christ’s invitation to you?you?

•Are you declaring war on the Sovereign of Are you declaring war on the Sovereign of the universe? The Lord was very angry!the universe? The Lord was very angry!

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The great banquetThe inclusions:• The Pharisees would have laughed at the The Pharisees would have laughed at the

idea that the poor, crippled, blind and idea that the poor, crippled, blind and lame might be invited to the final great lame might be invited to the final great banquet.banquet.

•But that is the way our God acts – he gives But that is the way our God acts – he gives pardon and an invitation to those who can pardon and an invitation to those who can give nothing in return.give nothing in return.

•And so everyone in this room is included in And so everyone in this room is included in his invitation.his invitation.

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The great banquetThe exclusions:•Religious people who looked down on Religious people who looked down on

our Lord were excluded.our Lord were excluded.•People who refused the invitation were People who refused the invitation were

excluded.excluded.

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The great banquetThe lesson:• It is so very perilous to refuse to accept It is so very perilous to refuse to accept

our Lord’s invitation when he calls us to our Lord’s invitation when he calls us to himself.himself.

•No one is too poor or too wicked or has No one is too poor or too wicked or has made too many mistakes to receive the made too many mistakes to receive the invitation to heaven.invitation to heaven.

• If people do not make it to heaven, it If people do not make it to heaven, it will because they refused the invitation. will because they refused the invitation.

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The transitionFather, we thank You now as we come to this table that You have humbled us, that You have brought us to this place of humility. This is not some human virtue, but You have broken us by Your spirit and Your word. And You have drawn us to an awareness of our own sin and hopelessness and then You have lifted us to look at the cross and see there the sacrifice for our sins.

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The transitionWe thank You for the Lord Jesus Christ who responds to our humiliation our shame, our sorrow with grace and salvation. Father, we now thank You for the wondrous time we've had in Your word. It's glories are endless and may we apply its truth. Would You humble us before You, the great and Almighty God?

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The transitionShow us the folly of human pride and religious merit and efforts and ceremony and ritual. May we fall on our faces humbling ourselves pleading for mercy that You will always give the penitent believer in Christ and know that one day having been humbled we will be by You exalted in the glory of Your eternal kingdom. Work Your work in every heart.

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Three Three banquetsbanquetsThree lessons Three lessons about going to about going to

heavenheavenLuke 14:1-24Luke 14:1-24

sunday, august 4, 2013 speaker: doug virgint

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