April 25, 2010
Background Scripture: Luke 14:7-24
Devotional Reading: Psalms 65:1-8

Social conventions tell us in particular situations what is believed to be the “right” and “wrong” things to do or not do. But it’s not so much that some conventions are “right” and others “wrong,” just that they are simply different.

The background of the three segments of Luke 14:7-21 is a social occasion: A banquet, as announced in Luke 14:1, “One Sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him.” The “he” and “him are Jesus, the “they” are the Pharisees and “watching him” means they were there to critique how Jesus conducts himself.

A key element of Jesus’ message and mission was a radical reversal of values, as evidenced in the healing of a man with dropsy in 14:1-6. It was the Sabbath and, by Pharisaic interpretation, healing the man would be unlawful. But for Jesus, healing someone is of more value in God’s sight than a legalistic interpretation of this law.

In verse 7 Jesus presents them with a parable-like banquet setting. Any occasion for eating together was a barometer of social relationships. Jesus seems to accept the common social convention – best seats go to the most important – and warns his hearers against the embarrassment of being moved according to common custom from their seats at this imaginary banquet.

Actually, however, he is chiding both those who perpetuate that convention and those who would attempt to “beat it.” Thus, for both those high on the banquet list and those who aspire to be higher, Jesus turns upside-down the social convention of his day: “For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be humbled” (14:11).

Social barometer

Even more upsetting is: “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you.”
Many would just as soon skip that passage, assuming that a law is being laid down: Invite none who can repay you with an invitation. But Jesus was a teacher, not a lawgiver. Even when he seems to speak uncompromisingly, with typical Middle Eastern overstatement, he is simply pointing people to a higher level.

He is not saying we should never hold a banquet or dinner for family, friends and associates, but neither shall we forget to do as much for those in need – another radical reversal of common values.

Luke 14:15-24 is even more radical. The setting is not hard to grasp. A host (who may represent either Jesus or God) sends out servants with a banquet invitation to friends and associates who asked to be excused from attendance. Jesus tells us their excuses, but he does not tell us the real reason they decline the invitation.
Their responses seem valid enough, but nevertheless Jesus calls them “excuses.”

Excuses, excuses
Although this was to be “a great banquet” (verse 16), the invitees probably did not consider it “great” enough, or the host was of a life station they considered to be “unacceptable.” The terms “humble” and “exalted” are not mentioned here, but they seem implicit, particularly in that social rank has been explicit in 14:7-11 and 12-14.

The meaning of the parable is not hard to grasp: Because they failed to respond to the invitation, others who were regarded much less worthy would take their places at the great banquet. If those of the chosen race refused to respond to God’s invitation through his Messiah, they would be chagrined to find their places in God’s kingdom given to those they regarded as unworthy.

In the early churches this parable proposed that the Good News of God’s kingdom was not for the “chosen few” alone, but was open to all who would receive and respond to it. This elevated it from “Come” to, as my Texas friends would say, “Y’all come!”

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.