WEBVTT

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 I'll be reading verses 1 through 24 this morning.

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 If you're looking in a pew Bible, it is page 820.

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 Luke chapter 14, let me read beginning at verse 1.

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 One Sabbath, when he, that is Jesus, when Jesus went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees,

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 they were watching him carefully.

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 And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy.

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 And Jesus responded to the lawyers and the Pharisees saying,

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 Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?

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 But they remained silent.

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 Then he took him and healed him and sent him away.

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 And he said to them,

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 Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day,

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 will not immediately pull him out?

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 And they could not reply to these things.

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 Now he told a parable to those who were invited

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 when he noticed how they chose the places of honor,

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 saying to them,

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 When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast,

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 don't sit down in a place of honor,

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 lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him.

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 And he who invited you both will come and say to you,

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 Give your place to this person.

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 And then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.

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 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place,

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 so that when your host comes, he may say to you,

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 Friend, move up higher.

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 Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you.

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 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled.

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 And he who humbles himself will be exalted.

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 He said also to the man who had invited him,

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 When you give a dinner or a banquet,

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 don't invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors,

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 lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid.

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 But when you give a feast,

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 invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,

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 and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you.

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 For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.

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 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things,

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 he said to him,

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 Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God.

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 But he said to him,

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 A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.

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 And at the time for the banquet,

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 he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited,

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 Come, for everything is now ready.

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 But they all alike.

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 Began to make excuses.

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 The first said to him,

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 I have bought a field and I must go out and see it.

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 Please have me excused.

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 And another said,

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 I have bought five yoke of oxen and I go to examine them.

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 Please have me excused.

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 And another said,

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 I have married a wife and therefore I cannot come.

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 So the servant came and reported these things to his master.

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 Then the master of the house became angry.

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 And he said to his servant,

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 Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.

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 And the servant said,

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 Sir,

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 what you've commanded has been done.

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 And still there is room.

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 And the master said to the servant,

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 Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in that my house may be filled.

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 For I tell you,

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 none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.

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 What's your vision of the Christian life?

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 Some Christians emphasize studying and learning,

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 growing in knowledge of God.

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 Other Christians emphasize praying and worshiping,

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 growing in intimacy with God.

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 Other Christians emphasize serving,

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 sharing Christ with the world,

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 carrying out the mission of God.

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 Now all of those visions are valid and important.

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 We've been looking at this middle section of the Gospel of Luke.

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 And we've seen that Luke depicts the Christian life as a journey.

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 A journey of learning and praying and serving with Jesus.

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 But there's also another way that Luke depicts the life of a Christian.

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 Luke wants us to envision the Christian life as a party.

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 Where we're eating and drinking together with Jesus,

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 where we're feasting at His table,

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 reveling in His grace and extending His welcome to others.

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 Now let me ask,

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 is that how most people see the church today in our world?

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 Do most people look at the church and say,

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 man, those people really know how to celebrate

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 in the most honoring and life-giving way,

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 in a way that makes you feel better the next day and not worse?

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 Do people look at Jesus' followers and say,

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 those are the people I could go to

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 if my life completely falls apart?

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 Even if I know they don't agree with me,

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 they would still care about me

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 and want the best for me

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 and take me in.

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 Do people look at Christians and say,

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 they are the most genuinely hospitable people on earth?

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 Some of you have experienced that kind of joy

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 and hospitality from other Christians.

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 Some of you have told me that you've been drawn to this church

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 because you found that.

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 You've seen that in the lives of Christians.

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 But many people do not see the church

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 as offering anything remotely like that.

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 Many people see the church as self-promoting,

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 self-righteous, self-enclosed,

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 and selectively judgmental,

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 and maybe boring too.

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 If we're honest,

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 some of us don't always envision the Christian life

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 as a party either.

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 But notice the patterns of Jesus

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 and his disciples in the Gospels.

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 At least ten times in Luke's Gospel,

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 we see Jesus going to a party

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 or invited to a meal,

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 spending extended time over food and drink

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 at someone's house.

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 Chapter 5,

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 Jesus is invited to Levi,

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 the tax collector's house, for a party.

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 Chapter 7,

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 Jesus is invited to Simon,

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 the Pharisee's house for a dinner.

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 Chapter 9,

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 Jesus hosts an outdoor picnic

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 for 5,000 men in the desert.

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 Chapter 10,

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 Jesus eats at Mary and Martha's house.

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 Chapter 11,

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 Jesus is invited to a Pharisee's house for lunch.

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 Here again,

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 he's invited to another Pharisee's house for lunch.

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 Chapter 19,

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 Jesus invites himself over to Zacchaeus' house

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 for a meal.

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 Chapter 22,

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 Jesus presides at the Passover meal,

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 what we call the Last Supper.

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 And after his resurrection in chapter 24,

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 he breaks bread with the two disciples

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 that he's walked with all that way to Emmaus.

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 And then he goes back to Jerusalem,

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 and when he meets the disciples in Jerusalem,

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 he eats a piece of boiled fish.

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 He shares food with them as well.

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 But Jesus carried out his mission on earth

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 in the context of meals.

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 And it's not just because he had to eat

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 in order to physically survive,

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 but because meals were an important context

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 for teaching and embodying the values

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 of his kingdom.

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 The Old Testament anticipated

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 that when the Messiah came,

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 he would throw a party.

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 He would provide,

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 and he would preside

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 at a great banquet of grace,

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 a wedding feast

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 celebrating the reunion

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 and reconciliation of God and his people.

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 We read one of those prophecies earlier

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 in the service.

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 On this mountain,

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 the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples

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 a feast of rich food,

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 a feast of well-aged wine,

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 of rich food full of marrow,

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 of aged wine well refined.

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 You know, in the Gospel of John,

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 Jesus did his first miracle

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 at a wedding feast.

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 He's saying,

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 I've come to fulfill that vision

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 that the prophets have foretold.

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 This morning's passage has four parts.

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 Verses 1 to 6,

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 Jesus is invited to a Pharisee's house.

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 Verses 7 to 11,

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 he gives a word to the guests.

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 Verses 12 to 14,

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 he gives a word to the host.

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 And then verse 15 to 24,

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 he ends with a climactic parable

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 of the great banquet,

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 but there's one main point

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 to it all.

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 Jesus came to host

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 a banquet of grace.

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 This sermon has one main point,

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 just one,

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 and then we'll have two applications from it.

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 So, yes,

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 there will still be the three sections.

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 But one main point,

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 Jesus came to host a banquet of grace,

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 and then we'll get to how it applies to us.

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 So, let's look at this passage.

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 How do we see

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 Jesus came to host a banquet of grace?

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 Well, at the beginning of the chapter,

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 Jesus is invited as a guest

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 to the Pharisee's home.

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 It was a Sabbath day,

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 and synagogue leaders

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 would normally invite visiting teachers

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 to have lunch in their home

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 following the Sabbath synagogue worship service.

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 So, that's probably why they invited Jesus.

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 So far, all is well and good.

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 But there's a problem.

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 The Pharisee's meal

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 is marked by a complete lack of grace.

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 Notice in verse 1,

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 they were watching Him carefully.

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 From the very beginning,

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 the Pharisees,

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 who we've already seen

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 having some conflicts with Jesus,

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 they were hostile to Him.

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 They refused to rejoice

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 in His healing power.

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 They refused to even engage

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 with His questions.

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 And further,

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 they are indifferent

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 to a broken and hurting man.

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 A man with dropsy,

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 today it's more commonly called edema,

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 that is,

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 swelling,

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 bloating,

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 caused by excess fluid buildup

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 in the body,

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 usually a sign of heart

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 or kidney failure.

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 Ancient writers commented

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 on the tragic irony

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 of this condition.

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 Ovid wrote,

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 the more a man with dropsy drinks,

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 the thirstier he grows.

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 Having the condition of dropsy

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 would make you feel bad

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 and look bad.

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 And yet the Pharisees

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 were cold and indifferent.

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 They planted this man

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 in front of Jesus,

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 not because they hoped

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 he would be healed,

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 but because they wanted

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 to test Jesus

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 in order to accuse Him

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 of violating the Sabbath laws.

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 But it wasn't only the host

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 who lacked grace.

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 Jesus noticed in verse 7

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 how the guests

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 were all about

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 self-promotion,

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 trying to put themselves

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 in the places of honor.

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 How did Jesus respond

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 to this graceless meal?

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 Well,

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 by demonstrating grace

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 and by teaching about grace.

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 First,

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 we see Jesus demonstrating grace

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 by healing the man

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 with dropsy.

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 Now,

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 several ancient writers

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 saw an analogy

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 between the physical condition

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 of dropsy

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 and the moral condition

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 of insatiable greed.

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 Always wanting more

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 and yet

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 never being satisfied

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 and becoming increasingly

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 deformed as a result

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 and unhealthy.

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 dropsy.

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 Now,

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 many writers

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 distinguished

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 the medical condition

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 from the moral condition,

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 but not all.

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 Some said

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 the medical condition

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 is a sign

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 of the moral condition.

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 It's an outward sign

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 of a disordered heart.

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 And so,

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 many people in practice

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 kept their distance

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 from people with dropsy.

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 I mean,

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 it doesn't make you

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 look that great

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 if you're always

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 swollen

00:13:32.819 --> 00:13:33.519
 and bloated.

00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:37.319
 Just as many people

00:13:37.319 --> 00:13:37.620
 today

00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:38.399
 keep their distance

00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:38.879
 from people

00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:39.360
 who are

00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:41.019
 very overweight

00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:42.439
 or who have

00:13:42.439 --> 00:13:44.039
 obvious physical deformities,

00:13:44.419 --> 00:13:46.620
 but not Jesus.

00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:49.939
 Verse 4 says,

00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:51.199
 Jesus took him.

00:13:52.459 --> 00:13:53.159
 The word means

00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:54.459
 he took hold of him.

00:13:55.839 --> 00:13:57.059
 He touched him.

00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:59.059
 He did not stay far away.

00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:02.179
 He did not keep himself

00:14:02.179 --> 00:14:02.879
 at a distance,

00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:04.279
 and he healed him.

00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:04.819
 Now,

00:14:05.199 --> 00:14:06.339
 most translations

00:14:06.339 --> 00:14:07.179
 of verse 4 say

00:14:07.179 --> 00:14:08.240
 he healed him

00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:09.319
 and sent him away,

00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:11.240
 which is possible.

00:14:11.399 --> 00:14:12.339
 Perhaps the Pharisees

00:14:12.339 --> 00:14:12.980
 would have become

00:14:12.980 --> 00:14:13.839
 even more hostile

00:14:13.839 --> 00:14:14.679
 to him if the guy

00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:15.220
 had stayed,

00:14:15.439 --> 00:14:16.480
 but it's more likely

00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:17.120
 that the word

00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:18.159
 should be translated

00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:18.980
 released

00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:20.220
 or loosed.

00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:21.879
 That's how the same word

00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:22.759
 is translated

00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:23.860
 in chapter 13,

00:14:23.939 --> 00:14:24.579
 verse 16,

00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:25.339
 when Jesus heals

00:14:25.339 --> 00:14:25.720
 a woman

00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:26.799
 on the Sabbath.

00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:28.879
 she was loosed

00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:29.879
 from her bond.

00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:31.419
 So,

00:14:31.459 --> 00:14:32.019
 it's probably better

00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:32.559
 to say,

00:14:32.939 --> 00:14:33.839
 translate verse 4,

00:14:33.959 --> 00:14:34.879
 as Jesus took hold

00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:35.339
 of him

00:14:35.339 --> 00:14:36.579
 and healed him

00:14:36.579 --> 00:14:38.299
 and released him.

00:14:39.219 --> 00:14:40.620
 He set him free

00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:42.519
 from what was

00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:45.079
 ailing him.

00:14:45.719 --> 00:14:46.439
 And notice that

00:14:46.439 --> 00:14:47.740
 Jesus was not concerned

00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:49.199
 here with assigning blame.

00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:50.639
 Jesus does not say

00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:51.699
 one way or the other

00:14:51.699 --> 00:14:53.139
 whether the man's dropsy

00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:53.779
 was a result

00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:54.919
 of his excessive greed

00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:55.519
 or lust

00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.679
 or whether it had

00:14:56.679 --> 00:14:57.600
 nothing to do with that

00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:58.860
 and it had no connection

00:14:58.860 --> 00:14:59.620
 to that at all.

00:15:00.699 --> 00:15:01.439
 Jesus simply

00:15:01.439 --> 00:15:02.740
 demonstrated grace

00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:04.819
 to the lowliest

00:15:04.819 --> 00:15:06.279
 and most despised

00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:07.539
 man in the room.

00:15:09.299 --> 00:15:10.519
 And then Jesus began

00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:11.759
 teaching about grace,

00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:13.939
 about the grace

00:15:13.939 --> 00:15:14.720
 that would characterize

00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:15.699
 his party

00:15:15.699 --> 00:15:16.620
 in contrast

00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:17.679
 to the Pharisees.

00:15:18.699 --> 00:15:19.679
 Verse 7 to 11,

00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:20.860
 Jesus taught the guests,

00:15:21.439 --> 00:15:22.459
 those who were invited,

00:15:22.579 --> 00:15:23.319
 about grace.

00:15:23.779 --> 00:15:25.399
 Now at first,

00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:26.059
 when you read

00:15:26.059 --> 00:15:26.980
 verses 8 to 10,

00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:28.839
 they might seem like

00:15:28.839 --> 00:15:30.659
 merely pragmatic advice.

00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:32.240
 How to avoid

00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:33.159
 being embarrassed

00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:34.279
 at a dinner party.

00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:36.399
 If you're not sure

00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:37.079
 where to sit,

00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:38.879
 don't assume you belong

00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:39.620
 at the head table.

00:15:40.819 --> 00:15:42.419
 Better to be boosted up

00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:43.720
 than brought down.

00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:46.799
 But what Jesus said here

00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:47.699
 goes much deeper.

00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:50.539
 It's not just

00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:52.339
 about dinner etiquette.

00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:54.160
 verse 7 says

00:15:54.160 --> 00:15:54.879
 this is the parable.

00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:55.480
 In other words,

00:15:55.680 --> 00:15:56.820
 there's a spiritual lesson

00:15:56.820 --> 00:15:57.600
 to be learned.

00:15:58.399 --> 00:15:59.060
 And verse 11

00:15:59.060 --> 00:15:59.780
 makes that lesson

00:15:59.780 --> 00:16:00.500
 very clear.

00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:03.040
 Everyone who exalts

00:16:03.040 --> 00:16:04.100
 himself will be humbled.

00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:06.820
 And he who humbles himself

00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:07.620
 will be exalted.

00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:08.000
 You see,

00:16:08.060 --> 00:16:09.100
 Jesus is talking about

00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:11.280
 how we relate to God.

00:16:12.780 --> 00:16:13.680
 Not simply

00:16:13.680 --> 00:16:14.460
 how to avoid

00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:15.180
 being embarrassed

00:16:15.180 --> 00:16:16.639
 at a party.

00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:20.299
 better to be humble

00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:22.120
 and get lifted up

00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:22.819
 by God

00:16:22.819 --> 00:16:24.019
 than be proud

00:16:24.019 --> 00:16:25.259
 and get taken down

00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:25.860
 by God.

00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:28.379
 You see,

00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:29.720
 pride is the opposite

00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:30.580
 of grace.

00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:33.799
 Pride says,

00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:35.000
 I don't need grace.

00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:37.419
 I can do it myself.

00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:40.259
 I can rely on my own merit

00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:41.200
 and achievement.

00:16:42.819 --> 00:16:43.360
 Pride says,

00:16:43.460 --> 00:16:44.319
 I deserve better

00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:45.980
 than what God

00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:46.560
 has given me.

00:16:48.420 --> 00:16:48.840
 Now,

00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:49.379
 in one sense,

00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:50.020
 the best thing

00:16:50.020 --> 00:16:50.520
 that can happen

00:16:50.520 --> 00:16:52.440
 to a proud person

00:16:52.440 --> 00:16:54.100
 is for him

00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:54.980
 to be brought down

00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:56.720
 in one way

00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:57.180
 or another.

00:16:58.420 --> 00:16:59.080
 Because then

00:16:59.080 --> 00:17:00.140
 he might possibly

00:17:00.140 --> 00:17:01.680
 see how foolish

00:17:01.680 --> 00:17:02.740
 his pride was.

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.080
 And so,

00:17:05.120 --> 00:17:05.980
 God may even

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:07.059
 be showing mercy

00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:08.700
 as well as justice

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:10.039
 in bringing down

00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:10.640
 the proud

00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:12.340
 because it may

00:17:12.340 --> 00:17:12.860
 lead them

00:17:12.860 --> 00:17:13.400
 to repent.

00:17:17.100 --> 00:17:18.200
 But Jesus says,

00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:22.420
 the only people

00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:23.120
 who will get good

00:17:23.120 --> 00:17:24.299
 seats at God's table

00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:26.279
 are those who

00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:26.740
 willingly,

00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:27.720
 humbly,

00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:28.700
 take the lowest

00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:29.420
 place of all.

00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:32.200
 Not in a fake

00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:33.240
 display of modesty,

00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:34.519
 not in a calculation

00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:35.840
 of reverse psychology,

00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:36.819
 but having rightly

00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:38.319
 perceived their

00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.699
 desperate need

00:17:39.699 --> 00:17:40.899
 for God's mercy.

00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:41.399
 You see,

00:17:41.459 --> 00:17:42.819
 that's what humility is.

00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:44.459
 Humility is not

00:17:44.459 --> 00:17:45.379
 thinking less

00:17:45.379 --> 00:17:46.039
 of ourselves

00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:46.859
 than we ought to.

00:17:46.939 --> 00:17:47.859
 Humility is seeing

00:17:47.859 --> 00:17:48.879
 ourselves rightly

00:17:48.879 --> 00:17:51.079
 in light of our

00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:52.000
 position before

00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:53.639
 a holy God.

00:18:00.179 --> 00:18:01.139
 Realizing that we

00:18:01.139 --> 00:18:02.059
 don't have any

00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:02.939
 entitlement

00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:05.080
 when we come

00:18:05.080 --> 00:18:05.860
 before God.

00:18:08.100 --> 00:18:08.519
 So,

00:18:08.580 --> 00:18:09.140
 Jesus speaks to

00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:09.820
 the guests about

00:18:09.820 --> 00:18:10.799
 grace in verses

00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:11.559
 7 to 11,

00:18:11.580 --> 00:18:12.279
 and then He speaks

00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:13.100
 to the host about

00:18:13.100 --> 00:18:13.759
 grace in verses

00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.640
 12 to 14.

00:18:14.860 --> 00:18:15.680
 And here,

00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:16.980
 Jesus didn't start

00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:17.980
 with seemingly

00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:19.200
 familiar advice

00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:21.240
 about how to

00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.039
 avoid embarrassment

00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:22.820
 at a dinner party.

00:18:22.900 --> 00:18:23.160
 In fact,

00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:23.740
 that advice,

00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:25.059
 you can find it

00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:25.799
 in the book of Proverbs,

00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:26.400
 you can find it

00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:26.779
 in the ancient

00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:27.600
 writer Plutarch.

00:18:28.860 --> 00:18:30.160
 But in verses

00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:30.980
 12 to 14,

00:18:31.080 --> 00:18:31.759
 Jesus didn't start

00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:32.380
 with conventional

00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:33.080
 wisdom and take

00:18:33.080 --> 00:18:33.960
 it a step further,

00:18:34.600 --> 00:18:35.700
 He attacked the

00:18:35.700 --> 00:18:36.480
 conventional wisdom

00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.040
 head on.

00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:38.720
 Verse 12,

00:18:39.540 --> 00:18:41.020
 when you throw

00:18:41.020 --> 00:18:41.420
 a party,

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:42.660
 don't invite

00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:43.380
 your friends,

00:18:44.100 --> 00:18:44.560
 siblings,

00:18:45.120 --> 00:18:45.500
 relatives,

00:18:45.780 --> 00:18:46.640
 or rich neighbors,

00:18:46.800 --> 00:18:48.000
 or anyone else

00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:49.040
 who might invite

00:18:49.040 --> 00:18:49.460
 you back

00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:50.240
 or repay you.

00:18:51.520 --> 00:18:52.060
 What?

00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.160
 Really?

00:18:56.380 --> 00:18:56.980
 That's what

00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:57.900
 everybody did

00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:58.640
 in the ancient

00:18:58.640 --> 00:18:59.040
 world.

00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:00.820
 You throw a party

00:19:00.819 --> 00:19:01.480
 to connect

00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:01.919
 with people

00:19:01.919 --> 00:19:02.539
 who will benefit

00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:03.480
 you in some way

00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:04.119
 or at least

00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:04.500
 who won't

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.200
 drag you down.

00:19:05.819 --> 00:19:06.359
 You run with

00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:06.779
 the winners,

00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:07.960
 not with the losers.

00:19:08.619 --> 00:19:09.259
 I scratch

00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:09.819
 your back,

00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:10.519
 you scratch

00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:11.139
 my back,

00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:11.879
 and we all

00:19:11.879 --> 00:19:12.759
 get along.

00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:14.240
 It's not all

00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:14.700
 that different

00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:15.139
 today.

00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:16.500
 Sometimes we

00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:16.839
 call it

00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:17.279
 networking.

00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:22.200
 Jesus says,

00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:22.679
 don't play

00:19:22.679 --> 00:19:23.240
 that game.

00:19:26.679 --> 00:19:27.399
 Jesus says,

00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.139
 invite the poor

00:19:28.140 --> 00:19:29.320
 and the disabled.

00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:30.620
 Invite the people

00:19:30.620 --> 00:19:31.800
 who can't repay you,

00:19:32.320 --> 00:19:32.860
 the people who

00:19:32.860 --> 00:19:33.480
 can't help you

00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:34.140
 get ahead in this

00:19:34.140 --> 00:19:34.560
 world.

00:19:35.800 --> 00:19:36.680
 Invite the elderly

00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:37.620
 man with advanced

00:19:37.620 --> 00:19:38.500
 Alzheimer's who

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.040
 won't remember

00:19:39.040 --> 00:19:39.560
 what you did

00:19:39.560 --> 00:19:40.040
 for him ten

00:19:40.040 --> 00:19:40.680
 minutes later.

00:19:42.600 --> 00:19:43.160
 Invite the

00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:43.880
 disabled woman

00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:44.480
 who can't get

00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:45.020
 to your place

00:19:45.020 --> 00:19:45.480
 on her own

00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:45.880
 and you have

00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:46.420
 to wheel her

00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:47.060
 across town

00:19:47.060 --> 00:19:47.580
 in a wheelchair.

00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.620
 Jesus said

00:19:50.620 --> 00:19:51.540
 earlier on in Luke,

00:19:51.620 --> 00:19:52.060
 if you love

00:19:52.060 --> 00:19:52.680
 those who love

00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:52.840
 you,

00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:53.440
 what benefit

00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:54.200
 is that to you?

00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:56.660
 Everybody

00:19:56.660 --> 00:19:57.180
 does that.

00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:58.400
 If you do

00:19:58.400 --> 00:19:58.940
 good to those

00:19:58.940 --> 00:19:59.400
 who do good

00:19:59.400 --> 00:19:59.640
 to you,

00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:00.180
 what benefit

00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:00.759
 is that to you?

00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:01.320
 If you lend

00:20:01.320 --> 00:20:02.140
 to those from

00:20:02.140 --> 00:20:02.440
 whom you

00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:02.940
 expect to

00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:03.220
 receive,

00:20:03.320 --> 00:20:03.759
 what credit

00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:04.279
 is that to

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:04.500
 you?

00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:06.820
 Love your

00:20:06.820 --> 00:20:07.320
 enemies

00:20:07.320 --> 00:20:09.600
 and do

00:20:09.600 --> 00:20:11.500
 good and

00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:12.279
 lend expecting

00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:12.900
 nothing in

00:20:12.900 --> 00:20:14.900
 return and

00:20:14.900 --> 00:20:15.360
 your reward

00:20:15.360 --> 00:20:15.640
 will be

00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:17.700
 great and

00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.080
 you will be

00:20:18.080 --> 00:20:18.580
 children of

00:20:18.580 --> 00:20:18.900
 the Most

00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:19.480
 High for

00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:20.480
 he is kind

00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:20.880
 to the

00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:21.480
 ungrateful

00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.580
 and the

00:20:22.580 --> 00:20:22.880
 evil.

00:20:24.100 --> 00:20:24.560
 Be

00:20:24.560 --> 00:20:26.200
 merciful even

00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:26.559
 as your

00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.080
 father is

00:20:27.080 --> 00:20:27.460
 merciful.

00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:30.080
 That's what

00:20:30.080 --> 00:20:30.519
 it looks like

00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.200
 to be a

00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:31.539
 gracious

00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:32.340
 host,

00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:33.500
 to be

00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:34.920
 merciful as

00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:35.319
 God has

00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:35.720
 shown us

00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:36.080
 mercy.

00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:37.860
 Now by

00:20:37.860 --> 00:20:38.360
 this time

00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:38.960
 somebody at

00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:39.299
 the table

00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:39.720
 seemed to

00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:40.039
 think that

00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:40.460
 Jesus had

00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:41.299
 gone a

00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:41.720
 little bit

00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.259
 too far.

00:20:44.340 --> 00:20:45.019
 So he

00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:45.519
 tried to

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.039
 smooth things

00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.480
 over in

00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.180
 verse 15.

00:20:48.140 --> 00:20:48.480
 Blessed

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.440
 is everyone

00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:49.900
 who will

00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:50.559
 eat bread

00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:51.279
 in the

00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:51.759
 kingdom of

00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.160
 God.

00:20:52.840 --> 00:20:53.580
 Doesn't that

00:20:53.580 --> 00:20:54.480
 sound nice?

00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:55.420
 And can't

00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:55.819
 we just

00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:56.319
 end this

00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:56.920
 conversation

00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:58.140
 here before

00:20:58.140 --> 00:20:58.660
 there's any

00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.299
 more tension

00:20:59.299 --> 00:20:59.660
 in the

00:20:59.660 --> 00:20:59.980
 room?

00:21:01.360 --> 00:21:02.059
 Sort of

00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:02.620
 like somebody

00:21:02.620 --> 00:21:03.240
 today who

00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:03.759
 says,

00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:05.640
 well isn't

00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:06.360
 everyone in

00:21:06.360 --> 00:21:06.839
 the world

00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:07.579
 just following

00:21:07.579 --> 00:21:08.059
 our own

00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:08.599
 path and

00:21:08.599 --> 00:21:09.019
 we're all

00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:09.519
 walking up

00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.019
 the same

00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:11.339
 mountain and

00:21:11.339 --> 00:21:11.960
 we'll all be

00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:12.599
 together in

00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:13.180
 the end?

00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:15.880
 That might

00:21:15.880 --> 00:21:16.860
 sound nice but

00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:17.259
 it's not

00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:17.839
 reality.

00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:22.079
 And Jesus

00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:22.759
 is not thrown

00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.860
 off by the

00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:24.259
 comment.

00:21:25.459 --> 00:21:26.019
 In verse

00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:26.699
 16 he

00:21:26.699 --> 00:21:27.740
 launches into

00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:29.219
 the climactic

00:21:29.219 --> 00:21:31.599
 parable which

00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:32.500
 again is all

00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:33.159
 about grace.

00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:35.939
 The parable

00:21:35.939 --> 00:21:36.579
 begins with a

00:21:36.579 --> 00:21:37.379
 man like his

00:21:37.379 --> 00:21:38.339
 Pharisee host,

00:21:38.979 --> 00:21:40.259
 like any

00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:41.079
 typical host

00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:41.659
 of the day.

00:21:43.419 --> 00:21:44.359
 Seems to be a

00:21:44.359 --> 00:21:45.119
 well-off man.

00:21:45.199 --> 00:21:45.559
 He invited

00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:46.779
 many to a

00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:48.119
 great banquet.

00:21:49.479 --> 00:21:50.439
 Of course he

00:21:50.439 --> 00:21:51.039
 invited people

00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:51.519
 like him,

00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:53.259
 people with

00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:53.740
 means,

00:21:53.859 --> 00:21:54.759
 people with

00:21:54.759 --> 00:21:55.259
 status,

00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:57.199
 people with

00:21:57.199 --> 00:21:58.039
 who could

00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.779
 buy a field

00:21:58.779 --> 00:22:00.219
 and buy a

00:22:00.219 --> 00:22:00.479
 bunch of

00:22:00.479 --> 00:22:00.799
 yoke of

00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:01.299
 oxen.

00:22:02.699 --> 00:22:03.159
 He got his

00:22:03.159 --> 00:22:04.219
 initial RSVPs.

00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:04.799
 The way that

00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:05.579
 banquets worked

00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:06.279
 back then is

00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:07.279
 you invite your

00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:07.919
 initial guest

00:22:07.919 --> 00:22:08.599
 list, you get

00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:09.399
 their initial

00:22:09.399 --> 00:22:10.379
 RSVPs, you

00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:11.199
 decide, similar

00:22:11.199 --> 00:22:11.619
 to how

00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:13.279
 wedding banquets

00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:13.959
 work today, you

00:22:13.959 --> 00:22:14.639
 decide how much

00:22:14.639 --> 00:22:15.159
 food you have

00:22:15.159 --> 00:22:15.579
 to cook,

00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:16.819
 depending on

00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:17.079
 how many

00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:18.099
 people reply.

00:22:18.699 --> 00:22:19.319
 That depends

00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:19.819
 whether you

00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:21.039
 have to kill

00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:21.799
 a sheep or

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.439
 a goat or

00:22:22.439 --> 00:22:23.219
 two goats or

00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:23.579
 whatever,

00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:24.279
 whatever you're

00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:24.539
 going to,

00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:25.799
 whatever everyone's

00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.220
 going to feast

00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:26.539
 on.

00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:28.200
 And then,

00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:28.960
 when the food

00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:29.660
 is about ready,

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:31.259
 you send a

00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:31.980
 messenger out

00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:33.100
 and tell everyone

00:22:33.100 --> 00:22:34.079
 food's ready,

00:22:34.600 --> 00:22:35.620
 time to come.

00:22:37.059 --> 00:22:38.079
 So he's got his

00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:39.180
 initial RSVPs,

00:22:39.600 --> 00:22:40.200
 he's got his

00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:40.799
 guest list,

00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:41.519
 they've all said

00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:42.059
 yes, they're

00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:42.839
 going to be

00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:43.240
 coming,

00:22:43.620 --> 00:22:45.779
 he's got the

00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.400
 food cooking,

00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:47.500
 got the table

00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:48.279
 set, got the

00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:49.299
 decorations out,

00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:51.279
 all's going

00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:52.220
 just as planned,

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:53.940
 and then

00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:54.819
 verse 18,

00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:56.079
 but they all

00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:57.099
 alike began

00:22:57.099 --> 00:22:57.659
 to make

00:22:57.659 --> 00:22:58.379
 excuses.

00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.460
 Down to the

00:23:02.460 --> 00:23:03.399
 very last

00:23:03.399 --> 00:23:03.960
 man.

00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:06.539
 Plan

00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:07.339
 foiled,

00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:08.659
 party

00:23:08.659 --> 00:23:09.500
 ruined,

00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:10.559
 host

00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:11.539
 disgraced,

00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.240
 he will sit

00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:13.519
 alone that

00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.799
 night in

00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:15.460
 his banquet

00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:17.859
 hall with

00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:18.439
 all the

00:23:18.439 --> 00:23:19.059
 platters of

00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:19.500
 food,

00:23:19.939 --> 00:23:20.559
 and all

00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:21.139
 the tables

00:23:21.139 --> 00:23:21.619
 set,

00:23:22.719 --> 00:23:23.439
 and every

00:23:23.439 --> 00:23:24.199
 chair

00:23:24.199 --> 00:23:25.019
 empty,

00:23:26.419 --> 00:23:28.539
 feeling the

00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:29.559
 sting of

00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:30.079
 rejection.

00:23:33.139 --> 00:23:34.319
 So he gets

00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:34.759
 angry,

00:23:34.979 --> 00:23:35.619
 verse 21,

00:23:35.959 --> 00:23:36.679
 that's exactly

00:23:36.679 --> 00:23:37.279
 what one would

00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:37.699
 expect.

00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:40.459
 But then,

00:23:41.139 --> 00:23:41.839
 he does

00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:42.159
 something

00:23:42.159 --> 00:23:42.959
 unexpected

00:23:42.959 --> 00:23:45.000
 in verses

00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:45.579
 21 to

00:23:45.579 --> 00:23:45.979
 23.

00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:46.240
 In a

00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:46.479
 parable,

00:23:46.599 --> 00:23:46.899
 you always

00:23:46.899 --> 00:23:47.159
 have to

00:23:47.159 --> 00:23:47.659
 look for

00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:49.400
 what is

00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:50.180
 the surprise.

00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:50.820
 There are

00:23:50.820 --> 00:23:51.380
 two surprises

00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:51.759
 in this

00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:52.040
 parable.

00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:52.660
 One is

00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:53.320
 what the

00:23:53.320 --> 00:23:54.340
 guests all

00:23:54.340 --> 00:23:55.040
 make excuses

00:23:55.040 --> 00:23:56.100
 and no

00:23:56.100 --> 00:23:56.420
 show,

00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:57.279
 but the

00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:57.519
 second

00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.100
 surprise is

00:23:58.100 --> 00:23:58.320
 what he

00:23:58.320 --> 00:23:58.680
 does.

00:23:58.980 --> 00:23:59.080
 In

00:23:59.080 --> 00:23:59.279
 verses

00:23:59.279 --> 00:23:59.840
 21 to

00:23:59.840 --> 00:24:00.259
 23,

00:24:00.380 --> 00:24:00.820
 he tells

00:24:00.820 --> 00:24:01.240
 his servant,

00:24:01.600 --> 00:24:02.140
 go out

00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:02.840
 and bring

00:24:02.840 --> 00:24:04.060
 in the

00:24:04.060 --> 00:24:04.740
 poor and

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.279
 the crippled

00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:05.620
 and the

00:24:05.620 --> 00:24:06.259
 blind and

00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:06.720
 the lame.

00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:07.519
 The same

00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.060
 kinds of

00:24:08.060 --> 00:24:08.960
 people that

00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:09.759
 Jesus just

00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.240
 told his

00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:10.700
 host to

00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:11.180
 invite,

00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:12.360
 in verse

00:24:12.360 --> 00:24:12.880
 13.

00:24:14.300 --> 00:24:14.860
 And then

00:24:14.860 --> 00:24:15.220
 he even

00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:15.700
 goes one

00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:16.360
 step further,

00:24:17.080 --> 00:24:17.340
 says,

00:24:17.339 --> 00:24:18.099
 go outside

00:24:18.099 --> 00:24:18.619
 the city

00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:20.279
 to the

00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:20.699
 highways

00:24:20.699 --> 00:24:21.559
 and the

00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:22.019
 hedges,

00:24:22.659 --> 00:24:23.980
 the people

00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:24.339
 who are

00:24:24.339 --> 00:24:25.319
 far off,

00:24:25.879 --> 00:24:26.659
 and bring

00:24:26.659 --> 00:24:27.119
 them in.

00:24:28.399 --> 00:24:28.959
 The host

00:24:28.959 --> 00:24:29.919
 begins by

00:24:29.919 --> 00:24:31.439
 acting exactly

00:24:31.439 --> 00:24:31.959
 like the

00:24:31.959 --> 00:24:32.559
 Pharisee,

00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:33.679
 but he

00:24:33.679 --> 00:24:35.659
 ends acting

00:24:35.659 --> 00:24:36.959
 like Jesus

00:24:36.959 --> 00:24:38.959
 by extending

00:24:38.959 --> 00:24:40.879
 grace even

00:24:40.879 --> 00:24:41.639
 to the

00:24:41.639 --> 00:24:42.119
 last,

00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:43.519
 the lost,

00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.559
 and the

00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:44.859
 least.

00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.220
 And in

00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:48.859
 verse 24,

00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:49.200
 Jesus

00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:49.879
 concludes the

00:24:49.879 --> 00:24:50.220
 parable.

00:24:51.139 --> 00:24:51.619
 He looks

00:24:51.619 --> 00:24:52.039
 around the

00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:52.379
 room and

00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:52.619
 says,

00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:54.299
 I tell

00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:55.139
 you.

00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:57.480
 Now,

00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:57.759
 you know,

00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.279
 verse 24 is

00:24:59.279 --> 00:24:59.960
 not just the

00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:00.639
 master in the

00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:01.339
 parable speaking

00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:01.740
 to the

00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:02.059
 servant,

00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.480
 because you

00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.359
 is plural.

00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:05.799
 Jesus is

00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:06.160
 looking around

00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:06.460
 the room and

00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:06.619
 says,

00:25:06.619 --> 00:25:07.939
 I'm telling

00:25:07.939 --> 00:25:08.879
 y'all,

00:25:09.879 --> 00:25:12.899
 none of

00:25:12.899 --> 00:25:13.639
 those men

00:25:13.639 --> 00:25:14.079
 who were

00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:14.719
 invited will

00:25:14.719 --> 00:25:15.739
 taste my

00:25:15.739 --> 00:25:16.500
 banquet.

00:25:17.939 --> 00:25:18.819
 Wait a

00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:18.959
 minute.

00:25:19.959 --> 00:25:20.639
 My

00:25:20.639 --> 00:25:21.539
 banquet.

00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:24.460
 Jesus is

00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:24.859
 saying,

00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:26.619
 I'm not

00:25:26.619 --> 00:25:27.379
 just your

00:25:27.379 --> 00:25:27.920
 guest.

00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:30.980
 I'm the

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:32.359
 host of

00:25:32.359 --> 00:25:32.980
 God's

00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:33.559
 heavenly

00:25:33.559 --> 00:25:34.359
 banquet,

00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:35.980
 and you

00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.779
 all are

00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.599
 in grave

00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:38.639
 danger of

00:25:38.639 --> 00:25:39.460
 missing out

00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:40.099
 on it,

00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:42.139
 because you

00:25:42.139 --> 00:25:43.599
 haven't grasped

00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:44.279
 the most

00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:45.339
 basic reality

00:25:45.339 --> 00:25:45.859
 of what it

00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:46.440
 means to

00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:47.440
 know God,

00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:48.159
 and that

00:25:48.159 --> 00:25:49.519
 is grace.

00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:55.859
 Jesus came

00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:56.819
 to host a

00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:57.900
 great banquet

00:25:57.900 --> 00:25:58.799
 of grace.

00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:03.079
 That's the

00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:03.559
 main point.

00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:06.779
 Now,

00:26:06.879 --> 00:26:07.539
 two practical

00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:08.180
 applications.

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:08.740
 What does

00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.379
 this mean for

00:26:09.379 --> 00:26:10.319
 us today?

00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:11.940
 First,

00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:13.879
 what does it

00:26:13.879 --> 00:26:14.400
 look like to

00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:15.039
 be a guest

00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:16.700
 at Jesus'

00:26:16.879 --> 00:26:17.339
 banquet of

00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:17.700
 grace?

00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:23.660
 we see

00:26:23.660 --> 00:26:24.180
 three aspects

00:26:24.180 --> 00:26:24.680
 of this.

00:26:26.139 --> 00:26:26.639
 First,

00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.180
 Jesus says,

00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:27.779
 come just

00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.139
 as you

00:26:28.139 --> 00:26:28.480
 are.

00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:31.079
 Verses

00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:31.720
 1 to 6.

00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:33.980
 Do you

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.339
 notice the

00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:34.799
 man with

00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.500
 dropsy is

00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.039
 the only

00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:36.819
 person in

00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:37.519
 the Pharisee's

00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.680
 house that

00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:39.259
 Jesus does

00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:40.119
 not rebuke,

00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:42.440
 but simply

00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:43.879
 blesses and

00:26:43.879 --> 00:26:44.259
 heals?

00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.119
 And what's

00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:47.639
 the man with

00:26:47.639 --> 00:26:48.339
 dropsy doing?

00:26:48.339 --> 00:26:49.599
 he's just

00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:50.480
 standing there

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.279
 in front of

00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:51.699
 Jesus,

00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:54.000
 probably feeling

00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.879
 helpless and

00:26:54.879 --> 00:26:55.599
 maybe a little

00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:56.199
 embarrassed.

00:26:58.399 --> 00:26:59.279
 He has a

00:26:59.279 --> 00:26:59.659
 problem.

00:26:59.919 --> 00:27:00.379
 He has a

00:27:00.379 --> 00:27:00.779
 condition.

00:27:01.439 --> 00:27:02.299
 He can't

00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:02.759
 fix it on

00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:03.220
 his own.

00:27:03.419 --> 00:27:03.919
 He can't

00:27:03.919 --> 00:27:04.379
 hide it.

00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.000
 It's out

00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.379
 there for

00:27:05.379 --> 00:27:05.939
 everyone to

00:27:05.939 --> 00:27:06.240
 see,

00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.019
 but Jesus

00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:07.980
 has mercy

00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:08.779
 on him.

00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:12.759
 come to

00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.200
 Jesus

00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:14.940
 just as

00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:15.440
 you are

00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:17.160
 with all

00:27:17.160 --> 00:27:17.799
 your problems

00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:18.200
 and all

00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:18.740
 your junk

00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:19.379
 hiding

00:27:19.379 --> 00:27:19.940
 nothing,

00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:20.660
 and he

00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.259
 will have

00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:22.180
 mercy on

00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:22.480
 you,

00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:24.160
 and he

00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:24.700
 will receive

00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:25.099
 you.

00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.519
 Second,

00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:29.000
 come in

00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:29.500
 humility.

00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:31.700
 Verses

00:27:31.700 --> 00:27:32.160
 7 to

00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:32.500
 11.

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:32.559
 11.

00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:34.720
 The Pharisees

00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.039
 and their

00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:36.500
 pride pushed

00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:36.960
 themselves

00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.539
 forward,

00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:39.220
 and the

00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:39.900
 result was

00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:40.460
 they pushed

00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:41.339
 others out.

00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:44.640
 What did

00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:45.259
 Jesus Christ

00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:46.700
 do when he

00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:47.079
 came into

00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:47.619
 this world?

00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:50.380
 He did not

00:27:50.380 --> 00:27:50.960
 take the most

00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:51.660
 honored place,

00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.279
 even though he

00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:52.920
 deserved it.

00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:55.579
 He willingly

00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:56.339
 took the

00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:57.160
 lowest place.

00:27:57.160 --> 00:28:01.180
 He took

00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:01.600
 the lowest

00:28:01.600 --> 00:28:02.800
 place in

00:28:02.800 --> 00:28:03.180
 order to

00:28:03.180 --> 00:28:03.980
 make space

00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:04.759
 for us to

00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.560
 join him

00:28:05.560 --> 00:28:06.300
 in his

00:28:06.300 --> 00:28:06.759
 father's

00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:07.080
 house.

00:28:08.340 --> 00:28:09.259
 He humbled

00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:11.100
 himself and

00:28:11.100 --> 00:28:11.620
 took on the

00:28:11.620 --> 00:28:12.120
 form of the

00:28:12.120 --> 00:28:13.640
 servant and

00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:14.360
 became obedient

00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:15.240
 even to death

00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.880
 on a cross.

00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:18.580
 Jesus

00:28:18.580 --> 00:28:19.180
 didn't merely

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:19.960
 teach about

00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:20.740
 the importance

00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:21.360
 of humility,

00:28:21.620 --> 00:28:22.220
 he lived

00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:22.440
 it.

00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:26.860
 And God

00:28:26.859 --> 00:28:27.919
 raised him

00:28:27.919 --> 00:28:28.240
 from the

00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:28.719
 dead and

00:28:28.719 --> 00:28:29.639
 exalted him

00:28:29.639 --> 00:28:31.779
 so that

00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.139
 one day

00:28:32.139 --> 00:28:32.539
 every knee

00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:32.979
 will bow

00:28:32.979 --> 00:28:33.359
 and every

00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:33.719
 tongue will

00:28:33.719 --> 00:28:34.319
 confess that

00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:35.219
 Jesus is

00:28:35.219 --> 00:28:35.599
 Lord.

00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.199
 Come in

00:28:40.199 --> 00:28:40.679
 humility

00:28:40.679 --> 00:28:44.000
 before Jesus

00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:44.740
 the humble

00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:45.079
 king.

00:28:48.219 --> 00:28:48.819
 If you

00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:49.219
 have been a

00:28:49.219 --> 00:28:49.639
 Christian

00:28:49.639 --> 00:28:51.879
 and you've

00:28:51.879 --> 00:28:52.459
 served in the

00:28:52.459 --> 00:28:53.099
 church ever

00:28:53.099 --> 00:28:53.599
 since the

00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:53.959
 day you

00:28:53.959 --> 00:28:54.399
 were born,

00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:56.759
 you have

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.319
 the exact

00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.240
 same status

00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:59.079
 before God

00:28:59.079 --> 00:29:00.740
 as someone

00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.039
 who has

00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:01.440
 lived their

00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:02.079
 whole life

00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:02.759
 for themselves

00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:04.660
 and today

00:29:04.660 --> 00:29:05.039
 for the

00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:05.720
 very first

00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:06.240
 time

00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.579
 repents and

00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:08.019
 believes in

00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:08.299
 Jesus.

00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:11.299
 You're both

00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:12.200
 undeserving

00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:13.339
 but honored

00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:14.460
 guests at

00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:15.500
 Jesus' banquet

00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:16.500
 of lavish

00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:17.160
 grace.

00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:18.240
 And just

00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:18.799
 because you've

00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.200
 been at the

00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:19.700
 banquet for

00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:20.819
 longer doesn't

00:29:20.819 --> 00:29:21.400
 mean that you're

00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:22.680
 entitled to

00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:23.539
 special seats,

00:29:24.039 --> 00:29:24.819
 special honors,

00:29:24.819 --> 00:29:26.179
 special perks

00:29:26.179 --> 00:29:26.879
 that aren't

00:29:26.879 --> 00:29:27.439
 available to

00:29:27.439 --> 00:29:28.039
 newcomers.

00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:36.359
 You see,

00:29:36.419 --> 00:29:36.779
 we can be

00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.439
 tempted to

00:29:37.439 --> 00:29:38.319
 try to inch

00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:38.960
 our way up

00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:40.839
 to the

00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:41.599
 honored seats

00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:44.200
 the longer

00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:44.619
 you've been

00:29:44.619 --> 00:29:44.839
 at the

00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:45.139
 banquet

00:29:45.139 --> 00:29:47.899
 and then feel

00:29:47.899 --> 00:29:48.220
 that we're

00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:48.899
 entitled to be

00:29:48.899 --> 00:29:49.220
 there.

00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:53.640
 Christian,

00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:53.980
 have you

00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:54.559
 fallen into

00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:55.240
 self-pity,

00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:56.559
 envy,

00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:57.720
 bitterness,

00:29:58.059 --> 00:29:58.600
 or a sense

00:29:58.600 --> 00:29:59.240
 of entitlement?

00:30:00.100 --> 00:30:01.019
 Those are all

00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:01.880
 toxic

00:30:01.880 --> 00:30:02.759
 manifestations

00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.519
 of pride.

00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:06.480
 And they

00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:06.920
 will all

00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:07.799
 steal your

00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:08.240
 joy,

00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:09.120
 peace,

00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:09.920
 and love.

00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:12.799
 Even more

00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:13.220
 than that,

00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:13.700
 they are an

00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:14.680
 insult to

00:30:14.680 --> 00:30:15.180
 Jesus,

00:30:15.600 --> 00:30:16.120
 our host.

00:30:16.119 --> 00:30:18.239
 forsake

00:30:18.239 --> 00:30:18.799
 these things

00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.799
 today in

00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:20.039
 Jesus'

00:30:20.239 --> 00:30:21.199
 name and

00:30:21.199 --> 00:30:22.119
 receive grace

00:30:22.119 --> 00:30:23.839
 from Him

00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:24.599
 anew.

00:30:27.699 --> 00:30:28.500
 The only

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:29.039
 way that any

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:30.239
 of us can

00:30:30.239 --> 00:30:30.699
 come before

00:30:30.699 --> 00:30:31.939
 Jesus is

00:30:31.939 --> 00:30:32.419
 simply by

00:30:32.419 --> 00:30:33.739
 receiving and

00:30:33.739 --> 00:30:34.459
 resting on

00:30:34.459 --> 00:30:35.059
 His grace.

00:30:36.679 --> 00:30:37.519
 Whether you're

00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:38.019
 coming to Him

00:30:38.019 --> 00:30:38.539
 for the first

00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:40.419
 time or

00:30:40.419 --> 00:30:40.779
 whether you're

00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:41.959
 coming today

00:30:41.959 --> 00:30:44.079
 after being in

00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:44.579
 the church

00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:45.559
 for 90

00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:46.059
 years,

00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:50.359
 we come

00:30:50.359 --> 00:30:50.779
 to Him

00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.059
 on the

00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:51.519
 basis of

00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:51.979
 His grace,

00:30:52.119 --> 00:30:52.939
 not on the

00:30:52.939 --> 00:30:53.419
 basis of

00:30:53.419 --> 00:30:54.419
 any merit

00:30:54.419 --> 00:30:55.119
 or achievements

00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:55.599
 of our

00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:55.899
 own.

00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:58.539
 Come just

00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:58.819
 as you

00:30:58.819 --> 00:30:59.159
 are.

00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:01.019
 Come in

00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:01.479
 humility.

00:31:03.399 --> 00:31:03.959
 Come

00:31:03.959 --> 00:31:04.919
 without making

00:31:04.919 --> 00:31:05.559
 excuses.

00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:07.739
 Verses 18

00:31:07.739 --> 00:31:08.179
 to 20.

00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:11.439
 They all

00:31:11.439 --> 00:31:12.239
 alike began

00:31:12.239 --> 00:31:12.639
 to make

00:31:12.639 --> 00:31:13.119
 excuses.

00:31:13.119 --> 00:31:13.179
 excuses.

00:31:14.379 --> 00:31:15.139
 Now, some

00:31:15.139 --> 00:31:15.379
 of the

00:31:15.379 --> 00:31:16.019
 excuses are

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:16.579
 worded more

00:31:16.579 --> 00:31:17.019
 politely.

00:31:17.659 --> 00:31:18.019
 The first

00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:19.259
 two, please

00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:19.659
 have me

00:31:19.659 --> 00:31:20.459
 excused.

00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:22.619
 The first

00:31:22.619 --> 00:31:24.019
 one, he

00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:25.059
 sort of says

00:31:25.059 --> 00:31:25.779
 it's necessary,

00:31:25.939 --> 00:31:26.579
 I must go

00:31:26.579 --> 00:31:27.099
 out and see

00:31:27.099 --> 00:31:27.259
 it.

00:31:27.699 --> 00:31:28.779
 He claims a

00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:29.539
 competing

00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:30.239
 obligation.

00:31:31.139 --> 00:31:31.619
 Some are

00:31:31.619 --> 00:31:33.479
 less so, I

00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.000
 can't come.

00:31:35.640 --> 00:31:36.140
 Some of the

00:31:36.140 --> 00:31:36.680
 excuses sound

00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:37.240
 pretty lame.

00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:37.839
 Honestly, the

00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:38.339
 first one,

00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:39.620
 wouldn't you

00:31:39.620 --> 00:31:40.079
 check out a

00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:40.500
 field before

00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:41.019
 you buy it?

00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:41.700
 Sort of like

00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:42.059
 saying, I

00:31:42.059 --> 00:31:42.519
 just bought a

00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:42.920
 house and I

00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:43.200
 need to go

00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:43.779
 look at it.

00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:45.460
 Well, didn't

00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:45.960
 you look at it

00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:46.299
 before you

00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:46.700
 bought it?

00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:48.700
 I mean, I

00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:49.680
 just bought a

00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:50.059
 car and I

00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:50.500
 need to test

00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:50.920
 drive it.

00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:51.779
 No, you

00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:52.339
 test drive the

00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:52.920
 car before you

00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:53.380
 buy it.

00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.120
 Others

00:31:57.120 --> 00:31:57.819
 sound perhaps

00:31:57.819 --> 00:31:58.480
 more reasonable.

00:31:58.480 --> 00:31:59.279
 I just got

00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:00.599
 married can

00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:01.039
 be a good

00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:01.559
 reason for

00:32:01.559 --> 00:32:02.279
 declining certain

00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:02.819
 invitations.

00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:05.599
 You got a

00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:06.319
 legit excuse.

00:32:09.180 --> 00:32:09.980
 But here's

00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:10.460
 the question.

00:32:11.620 --> 00:32:12.380
 Whether you're

00:32:12.380 --> 00:32:13.200
 being polite or

00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:14.259
 defiant about it,

00:32:14.440 --> 00:32:15.000
 are you putting

00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:15.940
 something else,

00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:17.440
 whether it's

00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:17.940
 owning a piece

00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:18.500
 of property,

00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:19.539
 starting a

00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:20.500
 business, or

00:32:20.500 --> 00:32:21.240
 entering into a

00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:21.640
 significant

00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:22.460
 relationship, are

00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:23.180
 you putting that

00:32:23.180 --> 00:32:24.059
 ahead of Jesus?

00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:26.059
 Are you saying

00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:27.000
 yes to

00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:27.759
 something else

00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:30.099
 and not

00:32:30.099 --> 00:32:30.740
 quite now,

00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:31.400
 maybe later,

00:32:31.579 --> 00:32:32.180
 to Jesus?

00:32:35.660 --> 00:32:36.579
 Jesus warned

00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:37.099
 in the parable

00:32:37.099 --> 00:32:37.640
 of the soils

00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:38.400
 that the cares

00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:38.980
 and riches

00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:39.680
 and pleasures

00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:41.099
 of life choke

00:32:41.099 --> 00:32:41.700
 out His

00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:42.799
 Word and

00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:43.220
 make it

00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:44.240
 unfruitful.

00:32:47.400 --> 00:32:48.200
 There is

00:32:48.200 --> 00:32:48.920
 nothing in

00:32:48.920 --> 00:32:49.539
 this world

00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:50.759
 that can

00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:51.379
 compare to

00:32:51.379 --> 00:32:51.839
 the banquet

00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:52.460
 of grace

00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:53.299
 that Jesus

00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:54.299
 is offering.

00:32:57.759 --> 00:32:59.240
 You know,

00:32:59.299 --> 00:32:59.759
 there's another

00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.420
 category of

00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:01.140
 excuses that

00:33:01.140 --> 00:33:02.299
 perhaps aren't

00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:02.779
 quite so

00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:03.480
 apparent here.

00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:08.359
 But if you

00:33:08.359 --> 00:33:09.259
 notice in

00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:10.099
 verses 21 and

00:33:10.099 --> 00:33:11.339
 23, when the

00:33:11.339 --> 00:33:11.960
 Master sends

00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:12.319
 out His

00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:13.420
 servant, He

00:33:13.420 --> 00:33:13.759
 gives him

00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:14.660
 special instructions

00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:15.279
 about how to

00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:16.240
 bring in those

00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:16.480
 who would

00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:17.200
 naturally be

00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:18.339
 reluctant because

00:33:18.339 --> 00:33:19.039
 they would feel

00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:19.839
 like they don't

00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:20.299
 belong.

00:33:20.299 --> 00:33:24.799
 not long ago,

00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:25.619
 somebody said

00:33:25.619 --> 00:33:26.039
 to me,

00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:27.399
 and different

00:33:27.399 --> 00:33:27.819
 people have

00:33:27.819 --> 00:33:28.720
 said a similar

00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:29.180
 thing to me

00:33:29.180 --> 00:33:29.819
 over the years,

00:33:30.159 --> 00:33:30.899
 how could

00:33:30.899 --> 00:33:31.500
 Jesus want

00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:31.779
 me?

00:33:32.460 --> 00:33:33.480
 I am such a

00:33:33.480 --> 00:33:33.759
 mess.

00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:36.240
 I'm far more

00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:36.859
 broken than you

00:33:36.859 --> 00:33:37.139
 know.

00:33:38.139 --> 00:33:38.940
 If I become a

00:33:38.940 --> 00:33:39.539
 Christian, I will

00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:40.220
 almost certainly

00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:40.659
 fail.

00:33:40.660 --> 00:33:45.920
 But if that's

00:33:45.920 --> 00:33:48.400
 you, would

00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:49.160
 you dishonor

00:33:49.160 --> 00:33:50.880
 the host by

00:33:50.880 --> 00:33:52.259
 telling him that

00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:52.759
 he is not

00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:53.540
 strong enough,

00:33:54.500 --> 00:33:56.019
 not wise

00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:57.640
 enough, not

00:33:57.640 --> 00:33:59.380
 kind enough to

00:33:59.380 --> 00:33:59.960
 take in someone

00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:00.560
 like you?

00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:06.660
 400 years

00:34:06.660 --> 00:34:10.039
 ago, a man

00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:10.460
 named George

00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:10.960
 Herbert wrote

00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:11.340
 a poem.

00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:14.119
 I've included

00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:14.420
 it in the

00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:14.880
 bulletin.

00:34:18.259 --> 00:34:18.860
 But it's

00:34:18.860 --> 00:34:19.440
 representing the

00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:20.340
 invitation of

00:34:20.340 --> 00:34:21.519
 who he calls

00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:23.940
 love, but he's

00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:24.519
 clearly talking

00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:25.019
 about Jesus.

00:34:28.219 --> 00:34:28.820
 It says,

00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:29.300
 Love bade

00:34:29.300 --> 00:34:29.840
 me welcome,

00:34:31.179 --> 00:34:32.079
 yet my soul

00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:32.739
 drew back,

00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:34.079
 guilty of

00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:34.759
 dust and

00:34:34.759 --> 00:34:35.059
 sin.

00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:36.380
 But a

00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:36.719
 quick-eyed

00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:37.420
 love observing

00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:38.679
 me grow slack

00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:39.380
 from my first

00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:40.019
 entrance in

00:34:40.019 --> 00:34:40.739
 drew nearer to

00:34:40.739 --> 00:34:42.300
 me, sweetly

00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:43.000
 questioning if

00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:43.460
 I lacked

00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:43.960
 anything.

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.380
 A guest, I

00:34:46.380 --> 00:34:47.119
 answered, worthy

00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:47.860
 to be here.

00:34:49.019 --> 00:34:49.539
 Love said,

00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:50.179
 you shall be

00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:50.420
 he.

00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:53.800
 I, the

00:34:53.800 --> 00:34:54.460
 unkind,

00:34:54.840 --> 00:34:55.440
 ungrateful,

00:34:56.039 --> 00:34:56.860
 ah, my dear,

00:34:56.920 --> 00:34:57.619
 I cannot look

00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:58.000
 on thee.

00:34:59.179 --> 00:34:59.820
 Love took

00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:00.480
 my hand and

00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:01.119
 smiling did

00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:03.400
 reply, who

00:35:03.400 --> 00:35:03.800
 made the

00:35:03.800 --> 00:35:04.599
 eyes but I?

00:35:06.440 --> 00:35:07.179
 Truth, Lord,

00:35:07.239 --> 00:35:07.599
 but I have

00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:08.139
 marred them.

00:35:08.139 --> 00:35:08.859
 Let my

00:35:08.859 --> 00:35:09.579
 shame go

00:35:09.579 --> 00:35:10.000
 where it

00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:10.659
 doth deserve.

00:35:12.259 --> 00:35:12.900
 And know

00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:13.359
 you not,

00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:13.960
 says love,

00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:14.339
 who bore

00:35:14.339 --> 00:35:14.900
 the blame?

00:35:16.879 --> 00:35:17.559
 My dear,

00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:17.940
 then I

00:35:17.940 --> 00:35:18.500
 will serve.

00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:20.719
 You must

00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:21.279
 sit down,

00:35:21.659 --> 00:35:22.219
 says love,

00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:23.339
 and taste

00:35:23.339 --> 00:35:23.859
 my meat.

00:35:25.460 --> 00:35:26.319
 So I did

00:35:26.319 --> 00:35:27.799
 sit and

00:35:27.799 --> 00:35:28.059
 eat.

00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:30.059
 Come to

00:35:30.059 --> 00:35:30.659
 Jesus' banquet

00:35:30.659 --> 00:35:31.940
 and be his

00:35:31.940 --> 00:35:32.339
 guest.

00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:34.199
 Come as you

00:35:34.199 --> 00:35:34.900
 are, come with

00:35:34.900 --> 00:35:35.260
 humility,

00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:35.860
 come without

00:35:35.860 --> 00:35:36.380
 excuses,

00:35:37.660 --> 00:35:38.099
 come and be

00:35:38.099 --> 00:35:38.599
 his guest.

00:35:39.700 --> 00:35:40.180
 You know, it

00:35:40.180 --> 00:35:40.700
 doesn't stop

00:35:40.700 --> 00:35:41.740
 there with

00:35:41.740 --> 00:35:42.220
 being Jesus'

00:35:42.400 --> 00:35:44.000
 guest, because

00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:44.700
 once we become

00:35:44.700 --> 00:35:45.220
 a guest at

00:35:45.220 --> 00:35:45.440
 Jesus'

00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:46.340
 party, he

00:35:46.340 --> 00:35:47.119
 invites us to

00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:47.760
 join him in

00:35:47.760 --> 00:35:48.599
 extending that

00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:49.380
 invitation to

00:35:49.380 --> 00:35:49.760
 others.

00:35:52.119 --> 00:35:52.660
 That's the

00:35:52.660 --> 00:35:53.760
 second major

00:35:53.760 --> 00:35:54.539
 application I

00:35:54.539 --> 00:35:54.900
 want us to

00:35:54.900 --> 00:35:55.420
 consider, is

00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:56.000
 what does it

00:35:56.000 --> 00:35:56.500
 look like to

00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:57.720
 extend Jesus'

00:35:58.240 --> 00:35:59.360
 invitation to

00:35:59.360 --> 00:35:59.760
 others?

00:35:59.760 --> 00:36:02.260
 The Apostle

00:36:02.260 --> 00:36:02.820
 Paul said in

00:36:02.820 --> 00:36:04.020
 Romans 12, 13,

00:36:04.180 --> 00:36:04.700
 practice

00:36:04.700 --> 00:36:05.840
 hospitality.

00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:08.740
 Welcome other

00:36:08.740 --> 00:36:09.500
 believers as

00:36:09.500 --> 00:36:10.180
 Christ has

00:36:10.180 --> 00:36:10.680
 welcomed you.

00:36:10.840 --> 00:36:11.920
 Extend grace

00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:12.880
 to others as

00:36:12.880 --> 00:36:13.560
 you've received

00:36:13.560 --> 00:36:14.720
 grace from

00:36:14.720 --> 00:36:15.060
 Jesus.

00:36:16.180 --> 00:36:16.940
 What is

00:36:16.940 --> 00:36:17.940
 Christian

00:36:17.940 --> 00:36:18.560
 hospitality?

00:36:19.720 --> 00:36:20.280
 It's

00:36:20.280 --> 00:36:20.760
 welcoming

00:36:20.760 --> 00:36:22.800
 people because

00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:23.260
 of Jesus.

00:36:24.100 --> 00:36:25.000
 It's making

00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:25.600
 space,

00:36:26.560 --> 00:36:27.420
 sharing food,

00:36:28.200 --> 00:36:28.520
 opening

00:36:28.520 --> 00:36:29.340
 conversation,

00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:30.560
 and inviting

00:36:30.560 --> 00:36:31.200
 God's Holy

00:36:31.200 --> 00:36:31.680
 Spirit to

00:36:31.680 --> 00:36:32.000
 move.

00:36:36.180 --> 00:36:36.740
 Some

00:36:36.740 --> 00:36:37.160
 Christians have

00:36:37.160 --> 00:36:37.520
 a spiritual

00:36:37.520 --> 00:36:38.080
 gift of

00:36:38.080 --> 00:36:38.900
 hospitality, but

00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:39.540
 all Christians

00:36:39.540 --> 00:36:40.100
 are called to

00:36:40.100 --> 00:36:40.620
 practice

00:36:40.620 --> 00:36:41.700
 hospitality.

00:36:41.920 --> 00:36:42.080
 You know,

00:36:42.140 --> 00:36:42.820
 hospitality is

00:36:42.820 --> 00:36:43.260
 not just

00:36:43.260 --> 00:36:44.440
 something that

00:36:44.440 --> 00:36:45.200
 comes naturally

00:36:45.200 --> 00:36:45.620
 to some

00:36:45.620 --> 00:36:45.960
 people.

00:36:46.680 --> 00:36:47.460
 It's a skill

00:36:47.460 --> 00:36:48.300
 that we all

00:36:48.300 --> 00:36:49.180
 need to

00:36:49.180 --> 00:36:50.220
 develop as

00:36:50.220 --> 00:36:50.820
 followers of

00:36:50.820 --> 00:36:51.200
 Christ.

00:36:51.700 --> 00:36:52.360
 It's a muscle

00:36:52.360 --> 00:36:52.980
 that we all

00:36:52.980 --> 00:36:53.300
 need to

00:36:53.300 --> 00:36:54.580
 exercise in

00:36:54.580 --> 00:36:55.820
 one way or

00:36:55.820 --> 00:36:56.160
 another.

00:36:57.900 --> 00:36:58.740
 Many of us

00:36:58.740 --> 00:36:59.240
 have invested

00:36:59.239 --> 00:37:01.159
 time learning

00:37:01.159 --> 00:37:01.699
 to study the

00:37:01.699 --> 00:37:02.019
 Bible,

00:37:03.099 --> 00:37:04.119
 learning to

00:37:04.119 --> 00:37:04.439
 pray,

00:37:05.539 --> 00:37:06.839
 or reading

00:37:06.839 --> 00:37:07.219
 Christian

00:37:07.219 --> 00:37:07.779
 theology.

00:37:09.379 --> 00:37:09.959
 Have we

00:37:09.959 --> 00:37:10.779
 invested time

00:37:10.779 --> 00:37:11.259
 and energy

00:37:11.259 --> 00:37:12.399
 learning to

00:37:12.399 --> 00:37:12.859
 show

00:37:12.859 --> 00:37:13.739
 hospitality?

00:37:17.319 --> 00:37:17.979
 If you

00:37:17.979 --> 00:37:18.459
 like to read

00:37:18.459 --> 00:37:19.619
 books, I

00:37:19.619 --> 00:37:20.159
 have two books

00:37:20.159 --> 00:37:20.419
 that I

00:37:20.419 --> 00:37:20.799
 recommend.

00:37:21.259 --> 00:37:21.759
 One is

00:37:21.759 --> 00:37:22.079
 called A

00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:22.379
 Meal with

00:37:22.379 --> 00:37:23.899
 Jesus, and

00:37:23.899 --> 00:37:24.179
 one is

00:37:24.179 --> 00:37:24.519
 called The

00:37:24.519 --> 00:37:25.099
 Gospel Comes

00:37:25.099 --> 00:37:25.299
 with a

00:37:25.299 --> 00:37:25.699
 House Key.

00:37:25.699 --> 00:37:26.899
 I've got

00:37:26.899 --> 00:37:27.339
 one copy

00:37:27.339 --> 00:37:27.759
 of each, so

00:37:27.759 --> 00:37:28.099
 if you want

00:37:28.099 --> 00:37:28.439
 them at the

00:37:28.439 --> 00:37:29.259
 end, I'll

00:37:29.259 --> 00:37:29.639
 give them to

00:37:29.639 --> 00:37:31.000
 you, if you

00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:31.339
 will read

00:37:31.339 --> 00:37:31.539
 them.

00:37:32.339 --> 00:37:32.819
 But they

00:37:32.819 --> 00:37:33.279
 will challenge

00:37:33.279 --> 00:37:34.000
 you and

00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:34.759
 encourage you

00:37:34.759 --> 00:37:36.980
 in what it

00:37:36.980 --> 00:37:37.480
 looks like to

00:37:37.480 --> 00:37:38.419
 show hospitality

00:37:38.419 --> 00:37:39.739
 as a Christian.

00:37:40.779 --> 00:37:41.699
 Now, if you're

00:37:41.699 --> 00:37:42.299
 not so much a

00:37:42.299 --> 00:37:43.619
 book person, just

00:37:43.619 --> 00:37:44.319
 find somebody who

00:37:44.319 --> 00:37:44.879
 does it well.

00:37:44.980 --> 00:37:45.439
 You don't have to

00:37:45.439 --> 00:37:45.899
 read a book.

00:37:47.179 --> 00:37:48.099
 Just find somebody

00:37:48.099 --> 00:37:49.379
 who is welcoming

00:37:49.379 --> 00:37:50.699
 and who has

00:37:50.699 --> 00:37:51.359
 people over their

00:37:51.359 --> 00:37:52.619
 house or who's

00:37:52.619 --> 00:37:54.779
 just kind, and

00:37:54.779 --> 00:37:56.679
 see how you

00:37:56.679 --> 00:37:57.380
 can help them.

00:37:57.940 --> 00:37:58.559
 Work with

00:37:58.559 --> 00:37:58.880
 them.

00:37:59.519 --> 00:37:59.940
 Learn from

00:37:59.940 --> 00:38:00.239
 them.

00:38:01.319 --> 00:38:01.920
 Hospitality can

00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:02.699
 take many

00:38:02.699 --> 00:38:03.279
 different forms.

00:38:03.380 --> 00:38:03.679
 It can look

00:38:03.679 --> 00:38:04.239
 like inviting

00:38:04.239 --> 00:38:04.679
 someone to

00:38:04.679 --> 00:38:05.139
 share a meal

00:38:05.139 --> 00:38:05.639
 with you at

00:38:05.639 --> 00:38:06.159
 your apartment,

00:38:06.400 --> 00:38:06.980
 in the dining

00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:07.799
 hall, at a

00:38:07.799 --> 00:38:08.139
 restaurant.

00:38:08.739 --> 00:38:09.239
 It can look

00:38:09.239 --> 00:38:09.739
 like opening

00:38:09.739 --> 00:38:10.279
 your home to

00:38:10.279 --> 00:38:10.900
 neighbors and

00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:11.539
 their children

00:38:11.539 --> 00:38:13.000
 after school or

00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:13.619
 on holidays.

00:38:14.279 --> 00:38:14.799
 It can look

00:38:14.799 --> 00:38:15.339
 like inviting

00:38:15.339 --> 00:38:16.059
 someone in who

00:38:16.059 --> 00:38:16.619
 needs a place

00:38:16.619 --> 00:38:17.819
 to stay for a

00:38:17.819 --> 00:38:18.719
 short time or a

00:38:18.719 --> 00:38:19.699
 longer time or

00:38:19.699 --> 00:38:20.299
 indefinitely.

00:38:20.679 --> 00:38:21.319
 That's what

00:38:21.319 --> 00:38:22.420
 adopting a child

00:38:22.420 --> 00:38:23.519
 means, is you're

00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:24.639
 being hospitable

00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:25.440
 indefinitely.

00:38:26.380 --> 00:38:27.260
 Or you might

00:38:27.260 --> 00:38:27.920
 take in an

00:38:27.920 --> 00:38:28.639
 elderly relative.

00:38:29.139 --> 00:38:29.579
 That might

00:38:29.579 --> 00:38:30.860
 mean indefinite.

00:38:31.420 --> 00:38:32.079
 It might look

00:38:32.079 --> 00:38:32.500
 like bringing

00:38:32.500 --> 00:38:33.059
 food to someone

00:38:33.059 --> 00:38:33.760
 else's house.

00:38:34.380 --> 00:38:35.760
 Maybe your place

00:38:35.760 --> 00:38:36.440
 doesn't work for

00:38:36.440 --> 00:38:37.180
 hospitality for

00:38:37.180 --> 00:38:37.820
 whatever reason,

00:38:38.180 --> 00:38:39.860
 but you can go

00:38:39.860 --> 00:38:40.940
 help somebody

00:38:40.940 --> 00:38:41.460
 else.

00:38:43.159 --> 00:38:44.340
 You can bring

00:38:44.340 --> 00:38:44.760
 food.

00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:45.619
 You can help

00:38:45.619 --> 00:38:46.139
 wash the dishes

00:38:46.139 --> 00:38:46.559
 afterwards.

00:38:47.099 --> 00:38:48.159
 You can welcome

00:38:48.159 --> 00:38:49.680
 people and join

00:38:49.680 --> 00:38:50.320
 with somebody else

00:38:50.320 --> 00:38:51.019
 who's hosting.

00:38:51.019 --> 00:38:52.239
 It can also

00:38:52.239 --> 00:38:52.800
 look like

00:38:52.800 --> 00:38:53.519
 intentionally

00:38:53.519 --> 00:38:54.460
 greeting newcomers

00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:54.980
 at church,

00:38:55.759 --> 00:38:57.099
 being welcoming

00:38:57.099 --> 00:38:57.900
 to the person

00:38:57.900 --> 00:38:58.539
 who sits next

00:38:58.539 --> 00:38:58.980
 to you,

00:38:59.500 --> 00:39:00.119
 even if you

00:39:00.119 --> 00:39:02.119
 haven't met

00:39:02.119 --> 00:39:02.460
 each other

00:39:02.460 --> 00:39:02.880
 before,

00:39:04.179 --> 00:39:06.780
 trying to

00:39:06.780 --> 00:39:07.639
 remember people's

00:39:07.639 --> 00:39:08.119
 names and

00:39:08.119 --> 00:39:08.559
 faces,

00:39:09.239 --> 00:39:09.880
 praying for them

00:39:09.880 --> 00:39:10.239
 during the

00:39:10.239 --> 00:39:10.519
 week.

00:39:12.099 --> 00:39:12.840
 It can look

00:39:12.840 --> 00:39:14.079
 like setting up

00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:14.860
 coffee and tea

00:39:14.860 --> 00:39:15.579
 and snacks

00:39:15.579 --> 00:39:16.179
 downstairs,

00:39:16.659 --> 00:39:17.300
 as some of you

00:39:17.300 --> 00:39:18.099
 do every week,

00:39:18.099 --> 00:39:19.400
 or staying

00:39:19.400 --> 00:39:20.119
 after coffee

00:39:20.119 --> 00:39:20.480
 hour to

00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:21.019
 clean up.

00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:22.639
 And doing

00:39:22.639 --> 00:39:23.039
 that,

00:39:23.259 --> 00:39:23.960
 praying that

00:39:23.960 --> 00:39:24.619
 God's Spirit

00:39:24.619 --> 00:39:25.119
 would be at

00:39:25.119 --> 00:39:25.679
 work in the

00:39:25.679 --> 00:39:26.480
 conversations that

00:39:26.480 --> 00:39:27.739
 happen downstairs

00:39:27.739 --> 00:39:28.539
 in the Fellowship

00:39:28.539 --> 00:39:29.639
 Hall every Sunday

00:39:29.639 --> 00:39:30.339
 in coffee hour.

00:39:31.619 --> 00:39:32.259
 Hospitality can

00:39:32.259 --> 00:39:32.759
 take many

00:39:32.759 --> 00:39:33.380
 different forms,

00:39:33.519 --> 00:39:34.119
 but Christians

00:39:34.119 --> 00:39:34.880
 ought to be

00:39:34.880 --> 00:39:36.539
 the most genuinely

00:39:36.539 --> 00:39:37.699
 hospitable people

00:39:37.699 --> 00:39:38.420
 on earth.

00:39:39.460 --> 00:39:40.360
 We can make

00:39:40.360 --> 00:39:41.259
 time and space

00:39:41.259 --> 00:39:42.000
 for people because

00:39:42.000 --> 00:39:42.839
 Jesus has made

00:39:42.839 --> 00:39:44.000
 time and space

00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:44.519
 for us.

00:39:44.519 --> 00:39:46.679
 We can share

00:39:46.679 --> 00:39:47.159
 food,

00:39:47.300 --> 00:39:48.039
 physical food

00:39:48.039 --> 00:39:48.820
 and spiritual

00:39:48.820 --> 00:39:49.639
 food of God's

00:39:49.639 --> 00:39:50.340
 Word with people

00:39:50.340 --> 00:39:50.940
 because Jesus

00:39:50.940 --> 00:39:52.079
 has welcomed us

00:39:52.079 --> 00:39:52.679
 to His table.

00:39:53.480 --> 00:39:54.639
 We can celebrate

00:39:54.639 --> 00:39:55.519
 in a way that's

00:39:55.519 --> 00:39:56.360
 honoring and

00:39:56.360 --> 00:39:57.199
 life-giving and

00:39:57.199 --> 00:39:58.139
 full of joy

00:39:58.139 --> 00:39:59.679
 because Jesus

00:39:59.679 --> 00:40:00.440
 is our host.

00:40:02.840 --> 00:40:03.500
 So there's a lot

00:40:03.500 --> 00:40:04.000
 the New Testament

00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:04.739
 in general has to

00:40:04.739 --> 00:40:05.539
 say about hospitality,

00:40:05.739 --> 00:40:06.679
 but back to this

00:40:06.679 --> 00:40:07.500
 chapter in particular,

00:40:07.659 --> 00:40:08.280
 there's one

00:40:08.280 --> 00:40:09.860
 particular emphasis

00:40:09.860 --> 00:40:11.440
 that Luke 14

00:40:11.440 --> 00:40:12.500
 has,

00:40:12.860 --> 00:40:13.360
 tells us,

00:40:13.360 --> 00:40:14.539
 about how to

00:40:14.539 --> 00:40:15.440
 show hospitality

00:40:15.440 --> 00:40:16.280
 and it's this,

00:40:16.700 --> 00:40:18.220
 make sure to

00:40:18.220 --> 00:40:19.240
 include the people

00:40:19.240 --> 00:40:20.860
 who most often

00:40:20.860 --> 00:40:22.380
 get left behind,

00:40:23.099 --> 00:40:23.680
 the poor,

00:40:24.400 --> 00:40:25.099
 the disabled,

00:40:25.820 --> 00:40:26.640
 and the outsiders.

00:40:29.140 --> 00:40:29.700
 Now,

00:40:29.880 --> 00:40:30.820
 is Jesus saying

00:40:30.820 --> 00:40:31.620
 in verse 12

00:40:31.620 --> 00:40:33.039
 that it is a sin

00:40:33.039 --> 00:40:34.500
 to invite

00:40:34.500 --> 00:40:35.380
 friends,

00:40:35.539 --> 00:40:36.099
 family members,

00:40:36.180 --> 00:40:36.660
 and well-off

00:40:36.660 --> 00:40:37.300
 neighbors to dinner?

00:40:37.820 --> 00:40:38.220
 No.

00:40:39.260 --> 00:40:40.400
 He's using a figure

00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:41.180
 of speech called

00:40:41.180 --> 00:40:41.700
 hyperbole.

00:40:41.699 --> 00:40:43.419
 Jesus also said

00:40:43.419 --> 00:40:43.859
 if your eye

00:40:43.859 --> 00:40:44.659
 causes you to sin,

00:40:44.759 --> 00:40:45.219
 gouge it out

00:40:45.219 --> 00:40:45.859
 and throw it away.

00:40:47.259 --> 00:40:48.000
 He did not intend

00:40:48.000 --> 00:40:48.779
 us to carry out

00:40:48.779 --> 00:40:49.619
 that command literally.

00:40:50.239 --> 00:40:51.019
 He did intend

00:40:51.019 --> 00:40:51.839
 to get our attention,

00:40:52.299 --> 00:40:53.879
 and He did intend

00:40:53.879 --> 00:40:54.659
 to get our intention

00:40:54.659 --> 00:40:55.419
 by what He says

00:40:55.419 --> 00:40:56.699
 in verses 12 to 14.

00:40:57.839 --> 00:40:59.000
 Jesus spoke this way

00:40:59.000 --> 00:40:59.779
 because if He made

00:40:59.779 --> 00:41:00.879
 the point more politely,

00:41:01.139 --> 00:41:02.299
 we would more easily

00:41:02.299 --> 00:41:03.259
 disregard it

00:41:03.259 --> 00:41:04.179
 or explain it away.

00:41:04.179 --> 00:41:08.239
 In verses 12 to 14,

00:41:08.359 --> 00:41:09.199
 Jesus calls us

00:41:09.199 --> 00:41:10.460
 to extend intentional,

00:41:10.879 --> 00:41:11.319
 costly,

00:41:11.759 --> 00:41:12.940
 gracious hospitality,

00:41:13.659 --> 00:41:15.319
 to do people

00:41:15.319 --> 00:41:16.179
 earthly good

00:41:16.179 --> 00:41:17.359
 and spiritual good

00:41:17.359 --> 00:41:18.819
 without calculating

00:41:18.819 --> 00:41:20.759
 whether people will

00:41:20.759 --> 00:41:22.099
 or can pay us back.

00:41:24.659 --> 00:41:25.879
 Can you trust

00:41:25.879 --> 00:41:27.079
 that God will not

00:41:27.079 --> 00:41:28.139
 fail to repay

00:41:28.139 --> 00:41:29.460
 whatever you might

00:41:29.460 --> 00:41:30.480
 lose in the process?

00:41:30.480 --> 00:41:34.000
 You see,

00:41:34.139 --> 00:41:34.920
 spiritually speaking,

00:41:35.039 --> 00:41:35.760
 before God,

00:41:35.880 --> 00:41:37.139
 we all fit

00:41:37.139 --> 00:41:38.039
 in this category.

00:41:40.480 --> 00:41:41.420
 Spiritually speaking,

00:41:41.519 --> 00:41:42.619
 we are all poor,

00:41:42.980 --> 00:41:44.360
 disabled outsiders

00:41:44.360 --> 00:41:46.340
 compared to God.

00:41:47.639 --> 00:41:48.740
 And how did Jesus

00:41:48.740 --> 00:41:49.900
 love on us?

00:41:51.559 --> 00:41:52.820
 Jesus did not just

00:41:52.820 --> 00:41:53.900
 leave His house,

00:41:54.880 --> 00:41:55.679
 go do some good

00:41:55.679 --> 00:41:56.260
 to us,

00:41:56.940 --> 00:41:57.679
 and then,

00:41:58.139 --> 00:41:58.380
 okay,

00:41:58.460 --> 00:41:59.119
 it's five o'clock,

00:41:59.119 --> 00:41:59.880
 I can leave you

00:41:59.880 --> 00:42:00.639
 and go home,

00:42:00.799 --> 00:42:01.400
 and I'm going to

00:42:01.400 --> 00:42:02.299
 celebrate with the Father

00:42:02.299 --> 00:42:03.079
 and the Holy Spirit

00:42:03.079 --> 00:42:04.239
 because I've done my duty

00:42:04.239 --> 00:42:05.699
 to help those poor,

00:42:05.799 --> 00:42:06.699
 disabled outsiders.

00:42:08.159 --> 00:42:08.599
 No.

00:42:10.400 --> 00:42:11.960
 Jesus welcomes us

00:42:11.960 --> 00:42:13.279
 into His household.

00:42:15.639 --> 00:42:16.779
 He has delighted

00:42:16.779 --> 00:42:17.460
 to call us

00:42:17.460 --> 00:42:18.199
 into His kingdom.

00:42:18.460 --> 00:42:19.420
 He has included us

00:42:19.420 --> 00:42:20.199
 on the guest list

00:42:20.199 --> 00:42:21.519
 for His own party.

00:42:24.279 --> 00:42:24.880
 He says,

00:42:24.960 --> 00:42:25.500
 I want you,

00:42:25.599 --> 00:42:26.400
 I want to celebrate

00:42:26.400 --> 00:42:27.059
 with you.

00:42:27.059 --> 00:42:29.799
 I love you

00:42:29.799 --> 00:42:30.960
 and delight in you.

00:42:32.299 --> 00:42:33.340
 And because Jesus

00:42:33.340 --> 00:42:34.599
 has done that for us,

00:42:35.420 --> 00:42:36.420
 He calls us

00:42:36.420 --> 00:42:37.619
 to extend His grace

00:42:37.619 --> 00:42:39.440
 and joy

00:42:39.440 --> 00:42:40.739
 to people in the world

00:42:40.739 --> 00:42:41.480
 who are physically

00:42:41.480 --> 00:42:42.619
 and spiritually

00:42:42.619 --> 00:42:43.619
 poor,

00:42:44.059 --> 00:42:44.480
 disabled,

00:42:44.900 --> 00:42:45.539
 and outsiders.

00:42:47.420 --> 00:42:48.299
 People who

00:42:48.299 --> 00:42:49.679
 are costly to love.

00:42:51.320 --> 00:42:52.039
 People who

00:42:52.039 --> 00:42:53.460
 might never pay you back,

00:42:54.539 --> 00:42:55.440
 might never be able

00:42:55.440 --> 00:42:56.220
 to pay you back.

00:42:58.059 --> 00:42:59.079
 People who are

00:42:59.079 --> 00:43:00.639
 far off from God

00:43:00.639 --> 00:43:01.400
 and His kingdom.

00:43:03.300 --> 00:43:04.880
 But He has sent you

00:43:04.880 --> 00:43:06.320
 to bring them

00:43:06.320 --> 00:43:07.000
 an invitation.

00:43:09.179 --> 00:43:10.400
 Jesus wants us

00:43:10.400 --> 00:43:11.019
 to make sure

00:43:11.019 --> 00:43:11.780
 that everyone

00:43:11.780 --> 00:43:12.639
 in the world

00:43:12.639 --> 00:43:13.720
 gets an invitation

00:43:13.720 --> 00:43:15.400
 to His banquet.

00:43:15.400 --> 00:43:19.420
 that's why

00:43:19.420 --> 00:43:19.940
 Christians

00:43:19.940 --> 00:43:21.460
 go to the

00:43:21.460 --> 00:43:22.300
 ends of the earth

00:43:22.300 --> 00:43:23.200
 and translate

00:43:23.200 --> 00:43:23.720
 the Bible

00:43:23.720 --> 00:43:25.320
 into previously

00:43:25.320 --> 00:43:27.119
 unknown languages

00:43:27.119 --> 00:43:29.579
 so that

00:43:29.579 --> 00:43:30.820
 every tribe

00:43:30.820 --> 00:43:31.300
 and tongue

00:43:31.300 --> 00:43:31.740
 and people

00:43:31.740 --> 00:43:32.200
 and nation

00:43:32.200 --> 00:43:32.920
 can be invited

00:43:32.920 --> 00:43:34.460
 to the heavenly banquet.

00:43:36.820 --> 00:43:37.700
 At times,

00:43:37.840 --> 00:43:38.380
 this requires

00:43:38.380 --> 00:43:39.139
 extra effort.

00:43:39.260 --> 00:43:39.760
 Notice how

00:43:39.760 --> 00:43:40.260
 the Master

00:43:40.260 --> 00:43:41.599
 instructs the servant

00:43:41.599 --> 00:43:42.440
 in verse 21

00:43:42.440 --> 00:43:43.200
 and 23.

00:43:43.199 --> 00:43:45.019
 He doesn't

00:43:45.019 --> 00:43:45.639
 just say,

00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:47.500
 go tell the poor

00:43:47.500 --> 00:43:47.960
 and crippled

00:43:47.960 --> 00:43:48.339
 and blind

00:43:48.339 --> 00:43:48.739
 and lame

00:43:48.739 --> 00:43:49.379
 it's time

00:43:49.379 --> 00:43:49.819
 to come.

00:43:51.079 --> 00:43:51.599
 No.

00:43:52.179 --> 00:43:52.899
 He says,

00:43:53.039 --> 00:43:54.219
 go bring

00:43:54.219 --> 00:43:55.259
 them in.

00:43:55.379 --> 00:43:56.139
 Bring in

00:43:56.139 --> 00:43:57.480
 or lead in.

00:44:00.139 --> 00:44:00.659
 Why?

00:44:00.779 --> 00:44:01.119
 Because they'll

00:44:01.119 --> 00:44:01.599
 need someone

00:44:01.599 --> 00:44:02.239
 to guide them

00:44:02.239 --> 00:44:02.879
 if they're blind.

00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:04.639
 And they'll

00:44:04.639 --> 00:44:05.039
 need someone

00:44:05.039 --> 00:44:05.500
 to help them

00:44:05.500 --> 00:44:06.059
 up the steps

00:44:06.059 --> 00:44:06.839
 if they're crippled.

00:44:08.419 --> 00:44:09.159
 They'll need

00:44:09.159 --> 00:44:09.779
 reassurance

00:44:09.779 --> 00:44:10.500
 that you really

00:44:10.500 --> 00:44:11.339
 want them there

00:44:11.339 --> 00:44:12.699
 if they're poor.

00:44:13.199 --> 00:44:15.460
 And then

00:44:15.460 --> 00:44:16.139
 in verse 23

00:44:16.139 --> 00:44:16.699
 he goes even

00:44:16.699 --> 00:44:16.980
 further.

00:44:17.099 --> 00:44:17.299
 He says,

00:44:17.419 --> 00:44:18.559
 go out of town

00:44:18.559 --> 00:44:19.699
 to the highways

00:44:19.699 --> 00:44:20.599
 and hedges.

00:44:22.379 --> 00:44:23.059
 The people

00:44:23.059 --> 00:44:24.099
 who are furthest

00:44:24.099 --> 00:44:24.799
 away

00:44:24.799 --> 00:44:26.359
 from the kingdom

00:44:26.359 --> 00:44:26.939
 of God.

00:44:28.319 --> 00:44:28.960
 The people

00:44:28.960 --> 00:44:29.799
 who are most

00:44:29.799 --> 00:44:30.379
 unlikely

00:44:30.379 --> 00:44:31.359
 to ever become

00:44:31.359 --> 00:44:31.819
 Christians.

00:44:32.480 --> 00:44:33.199
 And he says,

00:44:33.299 --> 00:44:34.399
 compel people

00:44:34.399 --> 00:44:35.099
 to come in.

00:44:35.159 --> 00:44:35.299
 Now,

00:44:35.359 --> 00:44:35.879
 that does not

00:44:35.879 --> 00:44:37.079
 mean use

00:44:37.079 --> 00:44:37.939
 physical force

00:44:37.939 --> 00:44:38.579
 to bring people

00:44:38.579 --> 00:44:39.119
 into the church

00:44:39.119 --> 00:44:39.960
 against their will.

00:44:39.960 --> 00:44:43.800
 No,

00:44:43.840 --> 00:44:44.300
 the picture

00:44:44.300 --> 00:44:45.900
 is of a host

00:44:45.900 --> 00:44:46.820
 who takes

00:44:46.820 --> 00:44:47.420
 the hand

00:44:47.420 --> 00:44:48.079
 of a hesitant

00:44:48.079 --> 00:44:48.659
 guest

00:44:48.659 --> 00:44:50.699
 and ushers

00:44:50.699 --> 00:44:51.639
 him or her

00:44:51.639 --> 00:44:52.400
 personally

00:44:52.400 --> 00:44:53.440
 into the house.

00:44:54.940 --> 00:44:55.619
 That's what it

00:44:55.619 --> 00:44:55.860
 means.

00:44:55.980 --> 00:44:56.619
 Compel them

00:44:56.619 --> 00:44:57.340
 to come in.

00:44:59.079 --> 00:44:59.920
 It's to

00:44:59.920 --> 00:45:00.780
 meet someone

00:45:00.780 --> 00:45:01.840
 who is naturally

00:45:01.840 --> 00:45:02.480
 going to be

00:45:02.480 --> 00:45:03.000
 resistant.

00:45:03.159 --> 00:45:03.579
 Why are they

00:45:03.579 --> 00:45:04.019
 living out

00:45:04.019 --> 00:45:04.460
 in the highways

00:45:04.460 --> 00:45:04.860
 and hedges?

00:45:04.900 --> 00:45:05.320
 Because they feel

00:45:05.320 --> 00:45:05.699
 like they don't

00:45:05.699 --> 00:45:06.460
 belong in the city

00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:08.179
 back in the ancient

00:45:08.179 --> 00:45:08.539
 world.

00:45:08.539 --> 00:45:09.579
 Maybe they

00:45:09.579 --> 00:45:10.139
 had been banished

00:45:10.139 --> 00:45:10.619
 from the city.

00:45:10.860 --> 00:45:11.219
 Maybe they

00:45:11.219 --> 00:45:12.000
 had a bad

00:45:12.000 --> 00:45:12.420
 background.

00:45:12.599 --> 00:45:13.320
 All kinds

00:45:13.320 --> 00:45:13.739
 of reasons.

00:45:13.820 --> 00:45:14.320
 Why are they

00:45:14.320 --> 00:45:15.739
 living way out

00:45:15.739 --> 00:45:17.599
 there on their

00:45:17.599 --> 00:45:17.880
 own?

00:45:20.019 --> 00:45:20.820
 You just go to

00:45:20.820 --> 00:45:21.159
 them and say,

00:45:21.219 --> 00:45:21.759
 hey, come.

00:45:22.199 --> 00:45:22.719
 No way.

00:45:24.779 --> 00:45:25.179
 No,

00:45:25.239 --> 00:45:25.739
 Jesus says it's

00:45:25.739 --> 00:45:26.099
 going to take

00:45:26.099 --> 00:45:26.639
 a little extra

00:45:26.639 --> 00:45:26.960
 effort.

00:45:28.380 --> 00:45:29.099
 You might have

00:45:29.099 --> 00:45:29.679
 to walk them

00:45:29.679 --> 00:45:30.199
 in and say,

00:45:30.480 --> 00:45:31.119
 come with me

00:45:31.119 --> 00:45:32.500
 and let's go

00:45:32.500 --> 00:45:32.980
 to the banquet

00:45:32.980 --> 00:45:33.420
 together.

00:45:34.779 --> 00:45:35.440
 Jesus came

00:45:35.440 --> 00:45:35.719
 to host

00:45:35.719 --> 00:45:36.099
 a banquet

00:45:36.099 --> 00:45:36.619
 of grace.

00:45:38.539 --> 00:45:41.000
 Come to the

00:45:41.000 --> 00:45:41.440
 table.

00:45:42.219 --> 00:45:43.039
 Come to the

00:45:43.039 --> 00:45:43.400
 feast.

00:45:44.360 --> 00:45:45.300
 All are

00:45:45.300 --> 00:45:45.840
 invited,

00:45:46.420 --> 00:45:47.480
 greatest to

00:45:47.480 --> 00:45:47.860
 least.

00:45:49.019 --> 00:45:49.519
 Sins have

00:45:49.519 --> 00:45:50.400
 been pardoned.

00:45:50.820 --> 00:45:51.559
 Divisions have

00:45:51.559 --> 00:45:51.940
 ceased.

00:45:52.619 --> 00:45:53.340
 Come to the

00:45:53.340 --> 00:45:53.679
 table.

00:45:54.639 --> 00:45:55.119
 Come to the

00:45:55.119 --> 00:45:55.400
 feast.

00:45:55.579 --> 00:45:56.179
 Let us pray.

00:46:00.500 --> 00:46:01.360
 Lord Jesus,

00:46:01.500 --> 00:46:02.219
 we thank You

00:46:02.219 --> 00:46:03.239
 for Your great

00:46:03.239 --> 00:46:04.300
 mercy and grace

00:46:04.300 --> 00:46:05.800
 that You

00:46:05.800 --> 00:46:07.039
 have invited

00:46:07.039 --> 00:46:08.760
 us in to

00:46:08.760 --> 00:46:09.300
 feast at Your

00:46:09.300 --> 00:46:09.640
 table.

00:46:10.019 --> 00:46:10.700
 We pray that

00:46:10.700 --> 00:46:11.019
 we would

00:46:11.019 --> 00:46:12.400
 delight in You

00:46:12.400 --> 00:46:13.100
 as our host

00:46:13.100 --> 00:46:14.220
 and that we

00:46:14.220 --> 00:46:14.900
 would honor You

00:46:14.900 --> 00:46:15.660
 as our host

00:46:15.660 --> 00:46:17.080
 and that

00:46:17.080 --> 00:46:19.660
 we would

00:46:19.660 --> 00:46:22.720
 be sent out

00:46:22.720 --> 00:46:23.260
 from here

00:46:23.260 --> 00:46:25.760
 to delight

00:46:25.760 --> 00:46:26.180
 in being Your

00:46:26.180 --> 00:46:27.039
 guests and to

00:46:27.039 --> 00:46:27.480
 delight in

00:46:27.480 --> 00:46:28.280
 welcoming others

00:46:28.280 --> 00:46:29.800
 in to experience

00:46:29.800 --> 00:46:30.620
 the joy of

00:46:30.620 --> 00:46:31.180
 fellowship with

00:46:31.180 --> 00:46:31.380
 You.

00:46:32.280 --> 00:46:32.820
 In Your name

00:46:32.820 --> 00:46:33.240
 we pray.

00:46:33.519 --> 00:46:33.780
 Amen.

00:46:33.780 --> 00:46:33.920
 Amen.