Lesson 20

STUDY NOTES on previous study

The Narrow Door and Hard Hearts (Luke 13:22-14:6)

The horizon continues to darken. It is clear that Jesus is heading toward Jerusalem with a deep sense of sorrow in His heart. While the people continue to rejoice at the wonderful miracles that Jesus performs, His spirit is increasingly troubled. And those around Him take note. His teaching now leads them to ask, “Lord, is it true that only a few will be saved?” This section is clearly to be compared with the parable which we will study next week (14:15-24). We know it as the parable of the Great Feast. Who will sit and dine at the messianic banquet table? We must understand Luke’s use of the word “saved”. We too often limit this to what happens after our death. While salvation in God’s kingdom will be fully realized at that point, if we have responded to God with active faith, salvation is about living for God - NOW. Salvation is available to those who will enter the narrow door of authentic discipleship. You get the idea that Jesus is challenging them, and each of us, to strive to enter the door while it is open. There will be a time when it will be closed, and no matter what we say, it will not be reopened. The emphasis is entering NOW. Why is the door narrow? Because so few are willing to embrace the difficult life of discipleship. This is not about the narrowness of our doctrine, this is about the challenging nature of authentically following Jesus through self-death into life. Do not misunderstand. The emphasis is not a “works -righteousness.” We still enter by the gracious invitation of God (see the upcoming parable mentioned above). However, there is a costly response on our part. It is not just a matter of having “been around” when Jesus taught. It is the acceptance of the message and the appropriate response of obedience that allows us to embrace God’s wonderful invitation to sit at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

What was understood as the natural birth rite of an Israelite – that is, to sit at the table of God in the end-time messianic kingdom – will be opened to people from all over the world. Those who were called to be children of God will be deeply anguished over not being “let in” while the Gentiles enter freely. The great inversion principle is expressed once again - “some of the last will be first, the first will be last.”

What does all of this mean? Once again, Jesus unambiguously attacks the conventional thinking of the Jews. They believed they were privileged by birth to enter God’s kingdom. But they missed the fact that God’s call was indeed a gracious invitation that called for an appropriate faith response. So few were hearing and understanding the message Jesus came to bring. As He called people to repentance from their self-centered lives, they continued to assume they would be the first to enter the kingdom merely because of their identification as God’s children. To some extent, they were obeying the ritual observances of the Law. But they were not friends of God. They did not walk with Him. They were not concerned about justice and love. They were only concerned with their own standing before God. Instead of calling the nations to God, they were keeping Him from being known. Rather than submitting themselves to His will and entering His kingdom, they were evildoers. They heard the gospel, but refused to allow it to change their lives. The Jews view of status would be tragically reversed.

In the next paragraph, we see Jesus being warned by the Pharisees to flee, for Herod wants to kill Him. Whether it was a sincere warning or not, what Jesus demonstrates in His answer is His complete faith in God. Had Jesus not already told the people not to fear those who could kill the body? Jesus shows his lack of fear by actually giving a message to be taken to Herod - “you don’t control my destiny, God does.” Herod is referred to as a “fox” likely because of his reputation for being a cunning manipulator. But no matter what he plans, it will be thwarted unless it is God’s plan. Because God’s plan involves Jesus dying in the area of Jerusalem, that is exactly what will happen.

Jesus then delivers His lament for the city. It was intended in God’s plan to be Zion, that place where all the nations would come for deliverance and wisdom. But those of Jerusalem refused to be gathered under the protective wing of God. The tender picture of a mother hen gathering her chicks under her wing reminds us of the tender, loving compassion of God. Over and over again, God made His appeal to Jerusalem. Oh, what she might have been! But because of her refusal, Jesus says “your house is left to you”. This is another way of saying, “you made your bed, now you must rest in it.” She will be held accountable for her refusal. Likely, Jesus’ words about Jerusalem not seeing Him until He is accepted as the blessed one coming in the name of the Lord, refers to His imminent arrival in the city. It demonstrates His full knowledge of what is about to happen. But, there will be another arrival of Jesus as well – when He returns in glory and all will acknowledge Him as blessed.

Chapter fourteen begins with an event that is almost annoyingly predictable. Luke continues to include these stories to point out the hard hearts of those claiming to be God’s children. Dropsy was a very painful problem of fluid retention. But the Pharisees could not see the pain of the man who was likely serving at the meal. Why? They were too busy keeping an eye on Jesus to see if He would violate any of their traditions. Their view of God was pathetic, wasn’t it? A God with no concern for anything but the defense of their self-made rules of religion. Luke makes it clear that Jesus knew exactly what was going on. He is a man in obvious pain and great difficulty. But all the Pharisees’ attention was on Jesus, for all the wrong reasons. This time, Jesus asks the question “is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath or not?” You get the idea that Jesus’ former experiences had actually started a debate among them on this issue. It is almost as if Jesus is saying, “Ok, make up your mind. Can I heal or not? What is your view of God and the Sabbath?” But they had learned their lesson and remained silent. So Jesus healed the man and sent him away. Then He asked those who were likely condemning Him for what He had done, “You will help a child or an ox, why would you refuse anyone help on the Sabbath?” They had no answer. They were morally bankrupt. Their hearts were so wrapped up in their form of ritual religion, they had no capacity to acknowledge the truth of Jesus’ words and actions.

A child had no real value in their sight. An ox was a valuable possession, but all knew it had no ultimate value in God’s sight. These things they held valueless would be candidates for their help on the Sabbath, but a man in trouble and pain would not? Have we not done similar things in creating a narrow view of “religious behavior” that allows us to help those whom might be of value to us, while excluding those who are in desperate need? They are all around us. Will we walk through the narrow door of discipleship and serve all, or will we, with hardened hearts, turn away from God’s banquet table? Listen carefully. The message is becoming more and more focused. You will sit at God’s table at His calling, at His invitation, but His invitation is issued to those who love all His children and humbly submit to His will. We cannot force ourselves into the banquet hall of God – no matter who we think we are.

The Narrow Door and Hard Hearts (Luke 13:22-14:6)

1. What makes the door into the kingdom narrow?

2. Why did the Jews listening to Jesus just take for granted their entrance into God’s kingdom? What can we learn from their mistaken ideas?

3. Why did Jesus lament over Jerusalem rather than other cities?

4. What does our focus on being right often keep us from seeing?

Table Behavior and a Dinner Invitation (Luke 14:7-24)

Read Luke 14:7-11

1. What did Jesus notice that caused Him to tell a parable?

2. Why do you think Jesus called the idea of “table status” to task?

3. Do you think Jesus was really trying to give the people a strategy for getting more attention?

4. If He wasn’t doing this, what do you think He was doing?

Read 14:12-14

1. Was Jesus saying it is wrong to invite friends and relatives over for a meal?

2. If not, what is Jesus teaching us with these words?

3. Why should we invite those who have nothing to give to our tables?

4. Do we do this? Why or why not?

Read 14:15-20

1. What do you think the one who shouted out a blessing was trying to say? (v. 15)

2. What was Jesus referring to (as the great dinner) in his parable?

3. Are any of these excuses valid? Why or why not?

Read 14:21-24

1. What did the slave report to his master?

2. What was the master’s reaction?

3. What was Jesus telling us with this parable?