What I Noticed Today (Luke 14-16)
Luke 14
Luke shifts from focusing on those excluded from the kingdom (Luke 13) to focusing on those who are included in the kingdom in Luke 14.
In verses 1-6, Jesus was eating in the house of a Pharisee. There was a man there with dropsy (swollen limbs). Jesus asked the scribes and Pharisees if it was legal to heal on the Sabbath. When they had no answer, He healed the man.
Note: The scribes and Pharisees may have remained silent because of the similar previous incident in which Jesus humiliated them (Luke 13:10-17).
In verses 7-11, Jesus noticed how the guests chose the best places around the table for themselves (seats closest to the host were places of honor). Jesus said when invited to a banquet, do not take the best place or someone more important than you may come, and you may be moved to the lowest place. Rather, take the lowest place so that the host will invite you to move to a better place.
Jesus summarizes the teaching saying everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who is humble will be exalted.
Note: The point of the parable is the prideful Pharisees thought they would have positions of great importance in heaven. In fact, they may be pushed aside for someone more highly honored.
In verses 12-14, Jesus said to the host when you throw a banquet, do not invite those who may pay you back but invite those who cannot pay you back and then you will be blessed at the resurrection of the righteous.
Note: True hospitality is when you minister to those who cannot pay you back. This brings blessings in heaven.
In verses 15-24, Jesus taught the parable of the Great banquet. Someone at the banquet told Jesus the one who would eat at the banquet in heaven would be blessed.
Note: The man who made this remark likely thought the scribes and Pharisees in the room would receive this blessing.
In the parable, a man gives a large banquet and sends his servant to inform the invited guests it was time to come. But one after another had excuses for why they could not come. So the master sent the servant back out with instructions to invite the poor, lame, maimed, and blind. Then to go further and invite everyone on the highways until the house is filled because none of those invited will enjoy the banquet.
Note: The reference to the poor, maimed, lame, and blind is to the disadvantaged Jews. The reference to the people on the highways is likely to the Gentiles.
In verses 25-27, the setting changed. Jesus is now out traveling with large crowds following Him. Jesus turned to them and said if anyone desires to follow Him and does not hate his own family and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross cannot be My disciple.
Note: “Hating” one’s family or even one’s life would be a violation of Mosaic Law. Jesus' reference is hyperbole. Jesus is saying the priority is to love Him.
Note: In Roman culture, “bearing one’s own cross” was an admission of guilt. So the reference Jesus made means His disciples will be admitting they follow Him.
In verses 28-33, Jesus uses two illustrations to emphasize the need for planning and sacrifice.
- (vv. 28-30) A person plans to build a tower, but before he begins, he calculates the cost to see if he has enough to complete the task.
- (vv. 31-33) A king plans to go to war, but before he goes, he decides if his army is large enough to win, and if not, he sends a delegation to seek peace.
Note: In the first example, the believer must calculate and understand the cost of following Jesus. In the second example, the believer must be willing to give up what they desire.
In verses 34-35, Jesus concludes the teaching saying if the salt loses its saltiness, it is good for nothing and is thrown on the manure pile.
Note: Salt came largely from the Dead Sea. It was full of impurities that, over time, made it loses its saltiness.
Luke 15
In verses 1-2, Jesus was eating with tax collectors and sinners. The scribes and Pharisees were complaining about this.
Note: Taking a meal with someone generally meant that you accepted them. That’s why the scribes and Pharisees took issue with Jesus eating with them.
In verses 3-7, Jesus teaches the parable of the Lost Sheep. A man loses one sheep, goes looking for it, and rejoices when he finds it.
Note: The lesson of the parable is that God rejoices when every sinner repents and turns to Him.
In verses 8-10, Jesus teaches the parable of the Lost Coin. A woman who loses a coin, lights a lamp, sweeps her house and looks until she finds the coin. When she does, she calls her neighbors together, and they rejoice at finding the coin.
Note: The lesson of the parable is the coin was valuable to the woman, and the individual sinner is valuable to God. There is rejoicing in heaven when a sinner repents. A silver coin (a drachma) was about a day’s wages.
In verses 11-31, Jesus teaches the parable of the Lost Son. A man has two sons. One son asks for his inheritance, which the father gives him. This son then goes out and spends his inheritance foolishly. When a famine comes, he has no money and has to work for a foreigner feeding pigs. He finally realizes he was better off with his father, so he returns to him to work for his father. When the father sees him returning, he rejoices and orders a banquet to celebrate. The other son was upset and jealous that the father celebrated the brother’s return and refused to go to the banquet. The father responds you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
Note: Working for a foreigner feeding unclean animals like pigs would be a low and humiliating position for a Jew. The younger son represents sinners. The older son represents the Pharisees and scribes. The father represents God. The lesson of the parable is the Pharisees and scribes (like the older son) were angry and objected to Jesus’ message. The younger son, though wayward, had repented and returned to the father. In returning, the father accepted and restored the son.
Luke 16
Luke 16 includes two parables about wealth. The first is directed to the disciples, and the second is directed to the Pharisees because of their response to the first parable.
In verses 1-8a, Jesus teaches the parable of the Unjust (Dishonest) Manager. A rich man was told that his manager was squandering his possessions, so he called the manager in to provide and accounting. The manager panicked, realizing he was about to lose his position and that he was not fit for regular labor. So in an attempt to curry favor with debtors, he went around reducing their bills, collecting as much money as he could. The rich man praised the unrighteous manager for acting shrewdly.
In verses 8b-13, Jesus says the sons of this age (unbelievers) act shrewdly with each other in order to win friends, while the sons of light (believers) often fail to use their money righteously. Jesus says if we are not faithful with what belongs to another who will trust you with what is your own. A slave cannot serve two masters; you cannot love God and money.
Note: The lesson of the parable is believers should utilize their resources to win more believers. If one is faithful and trustworthy in handling earthly resources, we will be trusted and rewarded with heavenly riches.
In verses 14-18, the Pharisees who loved money were scoffing at Jesus’ teaching about money. They justify themselves to others, but God knows their hearts.
Note: The Pharisees were prideful, wanting recognition from man, more than being right with God.
The Law and the Prophets is a reference to the Old Testament. John the Baptist represented the beginnings of the New Covenant of the Gospel brought by Jesus. It is easier for heaven to pass away than one stroke of a letter to drop out (Matthew 5:17-20).
Jesus then gives the example of a man divorcing his wife to marry another or every man who marries a divorced woman is committing adultery.
Note: The only generally accepted reason for divorce was sexual immorality. Many of the Pharisees allowed divorce for any reason, so they were not upholding the Law. Jesus provided this example to show one case of how they justified their actions before men that were contrary to God’s Law.
In verses 19-31, Jesus taught the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. A poor man died and was carried away to be at Abraham’s side. The rich man died and was taken to Hades to be tormented. The rich man could see Lazarus in the distance and begged Abraham to send Lazarus to bring him some water. Abraham reminded the rich man he had everything while he was alive, and the poor man had nothing. Then the rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus to his father’s house to warn his brothers lest they also end up in Hades. Abraham said they have Moses, and the prophets and should listen to them.
Note: Lazarus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name that means “God, the Helper.” Hades (often translated hell) is the place where the unsaved dead go prior to the great white throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). The lesson of the parable is the rich man represents the Pharisees who were first in this life but would be last in the life to come. Lazarus had been last in this life but was first in the afterlife.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
