Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

January 25
Friday


GUEST LIST

READ:
Luke 14:7-14
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When you give a feast,
invite the poor, the
maimed, the lame,
the blind. And you will
be blessed.
__Luke 14:13-14
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Qumran was a first-century Jewish community that had isolated itself from outside influences to prepare for the arrival of the Messiah. They took great care in devotional life, ceremonial washings, and strict adherence to rules of conduct. Surviving documents show that they would not allow the lame, the blind, or the crippled into their communities. This was based on their conviction that anyone with a physical "blemish" was ceremonially unclean During their table fellowship, disabled people were never on their guest lists.

Ironically, at that same time the Messiah of Israel was at work in the cities and villages of Judea and Galilee. Jesus proclaimed His Father's kingdom, brought teaching and comfort, and worked mighty miracles. Strikingly, He proclaims: "When you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed" (Luke 14:13-14).

The contrast between Jesus' words and the guest list of the Qumran "spiritual elite" is instructive to us. Often we like to fellowship with people who look, think, and act like us. But our Lord exhorts us to be like Him and open our doors to everyone. __Dennis Fisher
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The gospel must be shared with all,
Not just those like you and me;
For God embraces everyone
Who turns to Him to set them free. __Sper
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The inclusive gospel cannot be shared
by an exclusive people. __George Sweeting

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Today's Bible Reading __ Luke 14:7-14~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

7 So He told a parable to
those who were invited,
when He noted how they
chose the best places,
saying to them: 8 "When
you are invited by anyone
to a wedding feast, do not
sit down in the best place,
lest one more honorable
than you be invited by him;

9 and he who invited you
and him come and say to
you, 'Give place to this
man,' and then you begin
with shame to take the
lowest place. 10 But when
you are invited, go and sit
down in the lowest place, so
that when he who invited
you comes he may say to
you, 'Friend, go up higher.'
Then you will have glory in
the presence of those who
sit at the table with you.

11 For whoever exalts
himself will be humbled,
and he who humbles
himself will be exalted."

12 Then He also said to
him who invited Him,
"When you give a dinner or
a supper, do not ask your
friends, your relatives, nor rich
neighbors, lest they also
invite you back, and you be
repaid. 13 But when you
give a feast, invite the poor,
the maimed, the lame, the
blind. 14 And you will be
blessed, because they
cannot repay you; for you
shall be repaid at the
resurrection of the just."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Every parable had a trigger event that made Jesus tell it (e.g.; Luke
12:13-16; 15:1-3; 18:9; 19:11). Jesus told the parable in today's
reading because "He noted how [the invited guests] chose the best
places" (v.7). The two places of highest honor were on the right and
left hand of the host (cf. Matt. 20:21). This parable teaches proper
self-appraisal--it is better to be humble than humiliated (Luke14:11),
the same lesson of Proverbs 25:6-7.