He Dined with a Pharisee
Verses 1 thru 6 tell us five things about Jesus.
- That He was sociable. He went around eating and drinking and
was friendly with all sorts of people. Even Publicans, though
they had a bad reputation and Pharisees, though they sought to
kill Him. He went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees,
probably a Magistrate, to eat bread on the Sabbath Day. Notice
their invitation was not out of compassion for His needs, it
was done in hopes of finding something with which to charge Him.
He went only to eat bread, to take such refreshment as was
necessary to maintain strength.
- That He went around doing good, when ever and whatever the
opportunity, to help those along the way. There was at the
Pharisees' house, a man who had "dropsy", a disease where
the patient retains fluids and appears swollen. He probably
was a relative of the Pharisee. But before Jesus healed the
man, who it appears had not even asked to be healed, He, knowing
the evil that was in the heart of His guest, asked a question.
"Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath Day?"
- That He endured the deception of sinners. They had invited Him
into their home on the pretence of hospitality to watch Him and
try to catch Him in some disobedience of the Law. How did these
Lawyers and Pharisees answer Jesus? They said nothing. They
could not say that it was lawful, for this would appear that they
were with Him. They could not say that it was unlawful, because
the deed was so kind that to disapprove of it would put them to
shame.
- That Jesus would not be hindered from doing good even if He was in
the presence of sinners who sought to entrap Him. Notice Jesus
took the man into His arms and he was immediately healed. The
cure, which normally would have taken a considerable time, was
done in a moment. Jesus then let the man go for fear that the
Pharisee' would accuse him of some evil because he was healed.
- That our Lord Jesus did nothing that He could not justify. Even
though these sinners said nothing, Jesus knew their thoughts
and sought to justify the healing of the man by reminding
them of a practice that they had done for years. "If one of
your animals fall into a pit on the Sabbath, do you not go
immediately and pull him out, not waiting until the Sabbath
is over?" Notice that it was not out of compassion for the
animal that they did this, they just did not want to loose the
investment they had in the animal. Again the sinners were
silent. They could not answer His question for they knew that
they did just as He had said.
Verses 7 thru 14 are a lesson on humility. Seek for yourself a lesser place, if
there is any exalting to be done, let it be done by someone else. Notice the
example that Jesus sets about talking at the table. When He was in the company of
His friends, He sought to teach them. Here, in the company of the wicked, He
sought to instruct them on what He saw wrong with them. Notice:
- He observed how these lawyers and Pharisees sought out the
best seats close to the head of the table, seeking to exalt
themselves and get for themselves, the best, whatever that
might be.
- He also observed that occasionally these people were asked to
move to a lesser place when a more honored guest came in.
This certainly would be embarrassing. He suggests that it
would be better to take a lesser seat, then if the host chose
to move you to a better seat, it would be an honor and not an
embarrassment. "Whoever exalts himself, shall be abased and
whoever humbles himself, shall be exalted." The story is told
of three men who were invited by the king to dinner. The first
came and took the best seat for he said he was a Prince. the next
man took the second seat because he was a wise man. The third came
and took the lowest seat, for he was a humble man. When the king
came in, he seated the first, last, and the last first.
- Jesus then applied this lesson to other things, teaching that we should
be content with lesser things because pride and ambition can lead
to a persons downfall.
Then He takes the host to task for inviting so many rich people to the feast,
people who could well afford to eat at home, and leaving out poor people who were
in need of a good meal. Jesus teaches that works of charity are better than works
of generosity. Notice:
- Do not make a practice of feeding those who can feed themselves.
One feast for the rich will make many meals for the poor. Prov.
22:16 says, "He that gives to the rich shall surly come to want."
Many do this solely to make a show. He warns that we are not to
do anything for anybody and then expect the same from them.
- Instead of furnishing your table with rare and expensive food spread
it with plain and wholesome meat that is not so costly and invite
the poor. Works, perhaps, may not be rewarded in this world, but
you shall in no wise loose your reward.
Verses 15 thru 24, respond to a saying that was often used in those days by the
pious who take occasion to do so at this feast, "Blessed is he that shall eat
bread in the Kingdom of God." Notice:
- For what purpose does this man bring up this saying at this time?
Perhaps, noting that Jesus had taken the host to task, and finding
a lull in the conversation, he quoted the saying to change the
subject. Or, perhaps, observing all that Jesus had said and believing
it to be true, and having pangs of conscience, he longed for the
Kingdom of God where all these laws of life would be over.
- Jesus had just mentioned the resurrection of the just as recompense
for acts of charity to the poor, this man quickly agrees and adds,
"Yes Lord, and that is a greater accomplishment than being invited
to the table of the richest man in the world."
- Now what the man had said was a plain and acknowledged truth
and was often quoted and was well spoken because they were
sitting at a table to eat. It is good when we are partaking
of God's providence to also consider the gifts of His Grace.
Then Jesus joins with the good man by saying, "What you said was very true."
"Blessed are they that will be a part of the Messiah's Kingdom." But who are they
that shall enjoy this privilege? The Jews, at that time, thought they had a
monopoly on it, but most of them rejected it. The Gentiles, it would seem, will
have the greatest share of it. This He indicates by the following parable.
- "A certain man had a great supper." This was a parallel to the
great feast that we call the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- He sent out invitations to some to come and partake of the
great meal. This was a parallel to God's choosing the
Jews as His chosen people.
- As it neared the time for the great supper, the man sent out
servants to remind those that had been invited so that they
would not forget. This was a parallel to God's sending of
the prophets to remind the Jews that they were God's chosen
people.
- He reminded them to come, for everything was ready. "Now is
the accepted time." Do not delay, accept this gracious
invitation, come friends, eat and drink abundantly.
- The invited guests declined. They did not say flatly that
they would not come, but they hesitated and made excuses.
We would have thought that anyone would have jumped at an
opportunity to attend such a supper as this, but on the
contrary, they all found some personal reason for not
attending. This was a parallel of the neglect of the Jews
to listen to the prophets, not the least of which was John.
Neglecting to repent and to recognize Jesus as the promised
Messiah.
- Notice their excuses. One bought a piece of ground and he had
to go and see it. He must have bought it sight unseen. He
was so intent on the enlarging of his estate that he could
not be civil to his friend. Another had bought some oxen
that were broke to plow and he needed to go try them out.
Another had just gotten married and begged to be excused.
All of these things in and of themselves, were understandable,
had it not been that they were invited and given enough time
to have taken care of these things prior to coming, had they
truly wanted to come. Adams wife "caused" him to eat while
this man's caused him not to eat. We sometimes use our spouses
as an excuse to keep form doing something we don't want to do.
- The servant returned and told his master that the guests that he
had invited were not coming and that he would likely have to
eat alone. The man was confused. Had he not invited according
to the ethics of the day? Had he not given them plenty of
time to get their affairs in order so that they could come?
We may very well have to give an account on the day of
Judgment as to how we made our invitations to the Lord's
Supper.
- No, he had done all that he could and the more he thought about
it, the more angry he become. "None of the men who were invited
shall taste of my supper." This was like the doom that was
passed on to an ungrateful Israel. God swore, in His wrath,
that they would not enter into His rest. Grace spurned is
Grace forfeited.
- But the supper would not be wasted. To the servant, the host
commanded, "Go first into the lanes and streets of the city
and invite, not the merchants or the tradesmen for they will
all have excuses why they can't come, but rather invite the
poor, the handicapped, the mentally retarded and the blind.
Pick up the common beggars, and the servant said, "Lord, it
shall be done as you have commanded." Then He ordered them
to go to the highways and pick up the vagrants for there was
room at the master's table. "These people will be shy and will
hardly believe that they will be welcomed, but we will make
them feel important."
This parable refers to the refusal of the Jews to accept the Gospel and the calling
of the Gentiles, with them, the church would be filled. Notice here:
- The provision made for precious souls in the Gospel of Christ,
shall not be wasted for if some reject it, others will thankfully
receive it. God will have a Church in this world.
- Those who are very poor in this world will find a welcomed place
in that Church. Many times the Gospel has its greatest success
among the handicapped, the mentally retarded and the blind of
this world. The success of the Gospel is often where it is
least expected. The publicans and harlots went into the Kingdom
before the Scribes and Pharisees.
- We are urged to be very expeditious in inviting people to the
Gospel feast. "Go out quickly and compel them to come in.
Drawing them in with compassion and the bonds of love.
Arguments and condemnations will not work.
- Though many will be brought in there will always be room for more.
For the riches of Christ are inexhaustible, there is enough for
all. This invitation will remain until all the number of the
elect is completed and as many as were given Him are brought in.
Previous Chapter |
Return to Outline |
Ask Questions |
Next Chapter |