Bible Study - Hospitility (Standalone Lesson) - Luke 14:12-24 - August 30, 2015

Bible Study – Hospitality (Standalone Lesson) – August 30, 2015

This is a standalone lesson entitled ‘Hospitality: How Ordinary People Can Live on Mission.”

Our focus scripture is Luke 14:12-24.

Hospitality is a practical way to share CHRIST with others.

A huge field of opportunity for Christians is for us to show hospitality. We have class and church functions – luncheons and socials – we could invite others to attend. We can reach out to our neighbors and friends and the lists go on.

It is vital that Christians build a relationship with those to whom they are led to minister. As we build relationships, GOD is preparing the hearts of those to whom we are witnessing to receive JESUS at some point in their lives.   

Often, when those with whom we are building a relationship start asking questions it is a sign that GOD is opening their hearts to receive CHRIST as their Savior. Make sure that you pray for that person and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you minister.

The Holy Spirit will lead you to and reveal the right entry point. Christians need to wait upon the LORD and go through the door of opportunity, when it opens ever so slight, as GOD gives it. It may be very subtle and will likely be just a brief moment to plant a seed. Scripture is vital in seed planting because GOD’S Word does not return void. The person may not pray to receive CHRIST but seeds have been planted which can come forth later as a child of GOD. Satan often plants seeds of doubt in your mind when a person does not receive CHRIST as their Savior

First of all, GOD wants the person to whom you are witnessing to accept JESUS as his or her Savior more that you do. After all, JESUS gave HIS life just for him or her to have the opportunity to experience the miracle of rebirth and become the Son or Daughter of GOD. Timing is important. When the opportunity opens, take it. If it hits a snag, then let the Holy Spirit guide you regarding your next steps, which may be to back off. You may be sowing Spiritual seeds that will germinate and bring forth a beautiful life for CHRIST. Some Christian’s may plant, some may water, some may do a little weeding, some may fertilize and the list goes on. Our role is to trust GOD however HE leads us with the results. We are instruments in GOD’S hands and HE works where you and I cannot and that is in the person’s heart or eyes of his or her heart.

Hospitality is a gift. Hospitality is about building relationships. GOD is in the hospitality business. Leading a person to CHRIST is important but continuing a relationship with that person is important as he or she grows and matures in CHRIST.

The teaching and parable in our lesson reveals GOD’S great love for all people. HE offers salvation to everyone but it is up to each person to either accept or reject HIS invitation.

JESUS was speaking to a group of Jewish religious leaders on the Sabbath. Let’s read Luke 14:1-11 to set the stage for our lesson scripture:

A Sabbath Controversy

1 One Sabbath, when He went to eat at the house of one of the leading Pharisees, they were watching Him closely.

2 There in front of Him was a man whose body was swollen with fluid.

3 In response, Jesus asked the law experts and the Pharisees, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?"

4 But they kept silent. He took the man, healed him, and sent him away.

5 And to them, He said, "Which of you whose son or ox falls into a well, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?"

6 To this they could find no answer.

Teachings on Humility

7 He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves:

8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don't recline at the best place, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host.

9 The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give your place to this man,' and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place.

10 "But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests.

11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

JESUS had been invited to the home of a leading Pharisee. JESUS accepted the invitation and used the opportunity to teach. There was a man who had dropsy, which is a condition where the human body collects fluid. JESUS used the man’s condition to get a Spiritual discussion started by healing the man on the Sabbath. Then JESUS addressed the attitude of some of the Jews who took the seats of honor at an important event such as a wedding. Doing so reflected the attitude of their heart.

Because of an arrogant heart many religious people cannot humble themselves to receive CHRIST as their Savior. This is true today with those who live very moral lives and depend upon their own goodness as their opportunity to go to heaven when the leave this earth. Each of us must see the need for salvation because even in the best of us none are justified to enter heaven. GOD demands perfection and only through the shed blood o CHRIST and placing our faith in HIM are we justified (just-as-if-I-never-sinned) or made righteous in the sight of GOD. I am sure if you have lived long enough you have heard someone say, “I don’t need salvation because I lived a better life than so-and-so who is a (fill-in the blank) at a certain church.

Christians sin and must confess their sins, repent (stop) and keep going in the power and strength of GOD’S grace.

Let’s explore!

Let’s read Luke 14:12-14:

12 He also said to the one who had invited Him, "When you give a lunch or a dinner, don't invite your friends, your brothers, your relatives, or your rich neighbors, because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid.

13 On the contrary, when you host a banquet, invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind.

14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

JESUS was teaching. These verses were an introduction to the parable HE was about to tell. HE set the stage by going outside HIS audience’s comfort zone. As we learned in our scripture, JESUS was dining with Pharisees. Normally, you think of inviting your closest family, friends and relatives but JESUS was saying to go outside those you know.

JESUS was NOT saying not to invite your friends, family or relatives. HIS reference was to fellow Jews who knew what the prophets had revealed through the scriptures regarding the coming of the Messiah. The Jews knew that they were GOD’S chosen people and that the Messiah would come to them first and, in fact, was already in their midst. But they did not recognize HIM because they were looking for a military leader who would deliver them from Roman rule. They were looking for physical deliverance and not eternal deliverance from sin and eternal death. Yet the scriptures revealed the purpose of the promised Messiah and the religious were charged with the responsibility to know the attributes of the promised Messiah.

Often, when we have preconceived notions about certain things, we miss the obvious. Those present at this meal were missing the opportunity to dialogue with the promised Messiah.

JESUS was, in essence, telling them to go beyond those with whom you are comfortable and know their relationship with GOD. Go to those who are in need of eternal salvation, regardless of their status in life, with the Spiritual food which has already been prepared by GOD and is ready for the taking.

Recall the verse from last week’s lesson in Acts 14:36:

36 For David, after serving his own generation in God's plan, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and decayed. 

Our presence upon earth was chosen by GOD to minister to our generation according to HIS will and purpose. Father, open our eyes to the opportunities around us each day and give us the strength to act upon them according to your will and purpose. Help us never to think more highly of ourselves because we know the truth. We are all sinners saved by GOD’S Grace. Amen!

Let’s read Luke 14:15-24:

The Parable of the Large Banquet

15 When one of those who reclined at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, "The one who will eat bread in the kingdom of God is blessed!"

This person had the right idea but the kingdom of GOD is for everyone and not just for the Jews. So JESUS gave them a parable to drive this idea home.

16 Then He told him: "A man was giving a large banquet and invited many.

17 At the time of the banquet, he sent his slave to tell those who were invited, 'Come, because everything is now ready.'

18 "But without exception they all began to make excuses. The first one said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. I ask you to excuse me.'

19 "Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm going to try them out. I ask you to excuse me.'

20 "And another said, 'I just got married, and therefore I'm unable to come.'

21 "So the slave came back and reported these things to his master. Then in anger, the master of the house told his slave, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in here the poor, maimed, blind, and lame!'

22 " 'Master,' the slave said, 'what you ordered has been done, and there's still room.'

23 "Then the master told the slave, 'Go out into the highways and lanes and make them come in, so that my house may be filled.

24 For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will enjoy my banquet!' "

I understand that it was customary for a host to send two invitations to their invited guests. The first invitation was a heads up that an event was being planned and they were invited. The specific date had not been set. When the second invitation was given, it was party time. But in this parable, all of the invited guests who received the first invitation refused to attend for various excuses.

What was the message JESUS wanted to convey?  

The banquet has being prepared by GOD before HE created the world. The scriptures had revealed GOD’S plan over the ages through the prophets. GOD knew that man would sin and lose eternal life. HE already had HIS redemptive plan in place, which is salvation through faith in HIS only Son, JESUS. HIS only Son would come to earth, live as a human, yet without sin, and willingly give HIS perfect, sinless life to pay the eternal death penalty for sin upon the cross. As proof that JESUS accomplished HIS appointed task, GOD raised HIM from the dead as the scriptures had revealed. All who will accept CHRIST as their Savior will receive eternal life through the miracle of rebirth.

JESUS, the promised Messiah, was living in the flesh upon earth and was speaking to these head knowledgeable religious experts. HE was right there with them and next to them in the flesh. JESUS, GOD’S slave/servant was announcing that GOD had issued HIS invitation through Moses and now the banquet was ready. The invitations had already been sent out for those selected, the Jews, to attend but there was a problem. Those invited had excuses for not attending, although they had agreed to attend and were looking for the coming of the Messiah.

The scriptures have been clear that the Messiah would first come to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. JESUS’ parable highlighted that point but the chosen had rejected HIM.

The Master’s slave reported that those invited were not coming. The Master (GOD) was angry and instructed the slave (JESUS) to go where ever there was human life, regardless of their Spiritual condition and compel them to come to the banquet. The servant was obedient and returned to HIS Master and reported there was still room in the banquet area.

The Master instructed HIS servant to go to the uttermost and most unlikely places and make/compel them to come to the banquet.

This reveals the extent GOD will go to reach those in need for Spiritual food, salvation. Truth is truth.

JESUS said it best in Matthew 7:21-23:

²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ ²³ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’

The Jews were GOD’S chosen people but they must accept CHRIST as their Savior. The Jews are still looking for the coming of the promised Messiah. There are some Jews who do accept CHRIST as their Savior. They are called completed Jews and worship as Messianic Jews.

Hospitality is a gift that can be used to reach those in need of salvation or words of encouragement. Seek to serve! Blessings!!!