WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.179 So we're going to look at the first 14 verses of chapter number 14, where the Bible says this, 00:00:05.179 --> 00:00:12.839 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath day, that they watched him. 00:00:13.500 --> 00:00:17.380 And behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:21.660 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and the Pharisees, saying, 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:25.519 Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? 00:00:26.120 --> 00:00:27.359 And they held their peace. 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:31.000 And he took him and healed him and let him go. 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:40.460 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an oxen fallen into a pit and will not straightway pull him out on the Sabbath day? 00:00:41.060 --> 00:00:44.460 And they could not answer him again to these things. 00:00:45.480 --> 00:00:53.640 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms, saying unto them, 00:00:53.980 --> 00:00:59.240 When thou art bidden of a man to a wedding, or this would be just a feast type of situation, 00:00:59.240 --> 00:01:01.640 A dinner party is kind of what's going on here. 00:01:02.359 --> 00:01:09.000 Sit not down in the highest rooms, lest a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him. 00:01:09.540 --> 00:01:16.099 Now, kind of the idea, just real quickly, is the houses in this time period in Israel weren't massive houses. 00:01:16.200 --> 00:01:18.439 They didn't have giant living rooms and patios. 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:23.900 They would have smaller rooms, and so there would be a better room and a more prominent room. 00:01:24.020 --> 00:01:26.320 Basically, they wanted the best seat in the house. 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:31.679 You know, when you go to a sporting event, you generally sit in the nosebleeds because that's what you can afford, 00:01:32.339 --> 00:01:34.059 but you want to be on the courtside seats. 00:01:34.479 --> 00:01:35.559 It's kind of what's going on here. 00:01:35.619 --> 00:01:41.139 He said, Listen, you think you belong on courtside, but you might be in the wrong room, and Jesus is teaching them something here. 00:01:41.780 --> 00:01:42.239 Verse number 9, 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:47.859 And he that bade thee, and him come to say to thee, 00:01:48.099 --> 00:01:53.839 Give this man place, and thou being with shame, to take the lowest room. 00:01:54.399 --> 00:01:56.959 But when thou are bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room, 00:01:57.479 --> 00:02:00.699 that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, 00:02:00.739 --> 00:02:02.119 Friend, go up higher. 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:06.199 Then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that set at meet with thee. 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:14.120 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 00:02:15.020 --> 00:02:17.259 Then said he also to him that bade him. 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:22.020 So now Jesus, he's kind of talking to the crowd, but now he's talking to the host of this dinner party. 00:02:22.020 --> 00:02:31.120 When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors, 00:02:31.300 --> 00:02:35.520 lest they also bid thee again, and recompense be made thee. 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:42.439 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, and the maim, and the lame, and the blind, 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:46.000 and thou shalt be blessed, for they cannot recompense thee, 00:02:46.260 --> 00:02:50.760 for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. 00:02:50.759 --> 00:02:56.299 So we've seen that Jesus has kind of had these interactions, these run-ins with the Pharisees. 00:02:56.620 --> 00:03:01.159 And as he's moving closer to the cross, he's laying out how we should live our life. 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:05.859 Because some of the things that we see here in this text with the Pharisees and the lawyers, 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:09.299 if we're honest with ourselves, we're prone to the very same thing. 00:03:10.019 --> 00:03:11.439 We like to be noticed. 00:03:11.859 --> 00:03:15.579 We like to have maybe a little bit of recognition here and there. 00:03:15.979 --> 00:03:19.239 But Jesus is showing, that kind of shows where our heart is. 00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:22.280 And he's going to show us kind of this upside-down kingdom. 00:03:22.780 --> 00:03:27.000 Because the way you read the Bible, Jesus takes everything we know and turns it upside-down. 00:03:27.620 --> 00:03:29.879 He said, this is actually how you live your life. 00:03:29.939 --> 00:03:31.180 And so there are going to be some great truths here. 00:03:31.460 --> 00:03:33.920 But let's ask the Lord to bless us this morning. 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:36.260 Father, thank you for this time that we can open up your word. 00:03:36.360 --> 00:03:39.520 Lord, I pray that you would just calm our hearts and our minds, 00:03:39.740 --> 00:03:43.900 that with the busyness of the week and maybe all the things that we've been carrying with us, 00:03:43.900 --> 00:03:46.240 that we could set those aside for just a few moments, 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:49.379 that we would attentively listen to your word. 00:03:49.939 --> 00:03:52.480 And Lord, I pray that you would help me to say what needs to be said. 00:03:52.900 --> 00:03:54.780 Lord, that it would be a help, that it would be encouragement, 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:58.020 that it would be a challenge where need be for the hearer this morning. 00:03:58.120 --> 00:04:00.520 Lord, I pray that you would help us to take these truths 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:03.599 and you would help us to apply them to our life. 00:04:04.060 --> 00:04:06.099 I pray you would empty me of self, cleanse me of sin. 00:04:06.180 --> 00:04:08.000 Lord, fill me with your spirit. 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:09.200 I need you so much, Lord. 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:10.400 I need you right now. 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:11.800 And I ask this in Christ's name. 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:12.599 Amen. 00:04:12.740 --> 00:04:13.420 Thank you so much for standing. 00:04:13.500 --> 00:04:13.879 May be seated. 00:04:16.819 --> 00:04:21.240 I remember growing up, and me and my sister, we would, you know, be going. 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:22.399 Mom says, hey, we're going to get in the car. 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:23.879 Everybody needs to be in the car in five minutes, you know. 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:25.500 And 20 minutes later, we're outside. 00:04:25.959 --> 00:04:27.139 Or we're coming out of Walmart. 00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:30.600 And, you know, there's this game that I think every child plays 00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:32.899 when you have a sibling or a cousin or something. 00:04:33.100 --> 00:04:34.519 It's called shotgun. 00:04:35.740 --> 00:04:37.199 Am I the only person that ever played shotgun? 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:40.719 You know, sometimes you try to act like you're not interested in shotgun. 00:04:41.099 --> 00:04:42.819 Because you can't say it when you're in the store. 00:04:43.060 --> 00:04:43.819 You can't say it when you're in the house. 00:04:43.939 --> 00:04:45.060 You have to be outside the store. 00:04:45.139 --> 00:04:46.259 You have to be in a certain area. 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:48.240 But as soon as it is, I mean, it is shotgun. 00:04:48.839 --> 00:04:52.019 And then, you know, unfortunately, thankfully, I didn't get hit by a car 00:04:52.019 --> 00:04:53.360 running across Walmart parking lot. 00:04:53.539 --> 00:04:57.139 Because then it is a dead sprint to who gets the front seat of the car. 00:04:57.519 --> 00:04:59.039 I mean, that's just kind of how it was in my house. 00:04:59.079 --> 00:05:00.639 That's kind of how it was growing up. 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:02.419 That I wanted to have the best seat. 00:05:02.420 --> 00:05:05.640 You know, there was times that who gets to sit by mom? 00:05:05.720 --> 00:05:07.420 Because that just seems to be the premium seat. 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:10.120 You know, because maybe she'll give you some snacks out of her purse 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:11.199 or whatever it might be. 00:05:11.720 --> 00:05:14.199 When dad's not there, who gets to sit in his chair? 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:15.400 Who gets the premium? 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:17.100 I mean, every house has this. 00:05:17.140 --> 00:05:19.580 There's always a seat on the couch that's better than the other seats. 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:21.759 Is that not how it is? 00:05:22.220 --> 00:05:24.439 Because when I come home and somebody's sitting in that premium seat, 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:25.819 I'm like, hey, you got to get up. 00:05:26.120 --> 00:05:27.540 That's dad's spot right there. 00:05:27.860 --> 00:05:29.259 I mean, we want the best seats. 00:05:29.340 --> 00:05:30.020 We want that. 00:05:30.019 --> 00:05:33.579 And it's really growing up as a kid, it's all about who got there first. 00:05:33.979 --> 00:05:35.120 I mean, we live for the best. 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:37.339 We wanted to be in the premium position. 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:39.019 We wanted to be in premium seating. 00:05:39.139 --> 00:05:42.259 And then we grow up, and honestly, not much changes. 00:05:43.019 --> 00:05:45.359 We just get a lot more sophisticated about it. 00:05:45.500 --> 00:05:48.240 We get a lot more sophisticated about what we want. 00:05:48.379 --> 00:05:51.719 And now we want maybe that best table at the restaurant. 00:05:52.399 --> 00:05:54.779 I want a better seat at the ball game when I go. 00:05:55.000 --> 00:05:56.620 I want a good parking spot. 00:05:56.620 --> 00:06:02.300 I'm at the age where I want to be close enough, but I can still get out easily. 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:02.879 You know what I mean? 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:06.459 Because sometimes the best parking spot is not the best because then you're stuck in the traffic. 00:06:06.519 --> 00:06:11.579 I want to be close enough where I don't have to walk too far, but then I can get out of there and get home because I'm tired and I want to go to bed. 00:06:12.819 --> 00:06:13.100 Okay. 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:13.920 Are we awake? 00:06:14.759 --> 00:06:15.079 Okay. 00:06:15.139 --> 00:06:15.819 Just making sure. 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:21.439 Maybe you want the best office, the better title, the more recognition. 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:30.500 And what's funny is we all want to be noticed in some form or fashion, but we just don't want anybody to know that we want to be noticed. 00:06:31.839 --> 00:06:32.139 Okay. 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:33.920 Just at least that's me. 00:06:35.060 --> 00:06:37.560 I'm just going to lay it all out here because y'all are super spiritual. 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:39.279 Y'all need to come up here and preach this message. 00:06:40.159 --> 00:06:43.079 I mean, but I think that it's kind of innately built into us. 00:06:43.079 --> 00:06:49.399 You know, when somebody comes and compliments you and they tell you how great a job you did and you say, oh, it was nothing. 00:06:49.579 --> 00:06:54.199 But in your mind, you're thinking, man, if you knew what I had to do to do all this stuff, thank you for saying that. 00:06:54.459 --> 00:06:57.060 I've been slaving night and day about this situation. 00:06:57.240 --> 00:07:01.360 Or maybe somebody thanks you publicly and we respond, oh, praise the Lord, it's not a big deal. 00:07:01.419 --> 00:07:04.639 But you're thinking, it's about time somebody sees what I do around here. 00:07:05.740 --> 00:07:08.099 I mean, like, come on, now we're waking up a little bit. 00:07:08.100 --> 00:07:11.500 Maybe you had that situation at your workplace or whatever it may be. 00:07:11.700 --> 00:07:13.520 But our flesh wants that. 00:07:14.220 --> 00:07:17.800 And the truth is our heart is naturally drifts towards that recognition. 00:07:18.379 --> 00:07:19.560 I mean, we want to matter. 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:20.740 We want to be important. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:22.960 We want people to notice us. 00:07:23.580 --> 00:07:26.720 And in certain forms and fashions, there's nothing wrong with that. 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:32.100 But if that's the driving force of our life, if that is why we are doing what we're doing, 00:07:32.280 --> 00:07:36.060 if that's what we're doing to maybe try to impress God, we've missed the point. 00:07:36.060 --> 00:07:43.860 And that's what we see here in Luke chapter number 14 is Jesus walks into an environment that is saturated with self, 00:07:44.280 --> 00:07:49.920 that is focused on success, that is all about admiration. 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:54.000 And on the surface, this might look like a normal dinner party. 00:07:54.680 --> 00:08:00.199 And Jesus has been invited and there's a great group and some prestigious men are there, 00:08:00.199 --> 00:08:05.060 the religious elite and the rulers of Israel are in this room. 00:08:06.060 --> 00:08:12.060 But everybody in this room, from what Jesus is letting us know, is so concerned about their position. 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:18.740 Everybody in this room is extremely infatuated with appearances. 00:08:19.699 --> 00:08:21.160 And that's what the Pharisees lived for. 00:08:21.819 --> 00:08:24.240 They love to be seen of men, the Bible tells us. 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:26.220 Jesus mentions this in other places. 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:29.000 They love to walk real slow through the marketplace. 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:31.160 Everybody's like, wow, look at them. 00:08:31.160 --> 00:08:32.660 I mean, look how good looking they are. 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:34.120 I mean, they're just super religious. 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:34.800 Wow. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:37.240 And they were concerned about that. 00:08:38.300 --> 00:08:43.180 This room was full of people who wanted to know who's the most important person in the room. 00:08:43.820 --> 00:08:46.300 Who matters the most in this room. 00:08:47.160 --> 00:08:49.560 And really, it hasn't changed since the first century. 00:08:49.980 --> 00:08:52.740 And this has been going on long since then, long before then. 00:08:52.940 --> 00:08:55.840 Because the world still says today, promote yourself. 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:58.980 Build your brand. 00:08:59.860 --> 00:09:02.160 Well, Jesus says, humble yourself. 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:05.840 The world screams, look out for yourself. 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:07.360 Take care of number one. 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:11.879 And Jesus shows up and is saying over and over and over again, serve other people. 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:14.420 I mean, this is Jesus' mission. 00:09:14.560 --> 00:09:19.740 Mark 1045 says, the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. 00:09:20.500 --> 00:09:24.379 If anybody should have came and received everybody serving Him, it should have been Jesus. 00:09:24.379 --> 00:09:28.919 And yet, He came as a humble servant, as an obedient servant. 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:32.500 The world says, hey, just use people to get ahead. 00:09:33.779 --> 00:09:37.799 And Jesus tells this group right here, love people who can never do anything for you. 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:41.240 Love people who have no ability to repay you. 00:09:41.779 --> 00:09:49.059 And here in Luke chapter number 14, Jesus introduces this crowd and introduces us to this upside down kingdom. 00:09:49.059 --> 00:09:59.519 And really, the big idea here this morning is this, is that Jesus reveals that true kingdom living, people that are living for Him and are living for the kingdom, 00:09:59.879 --> 00:10:05.179 it's so radically different from the way the world thinks and the way the world lives. 00:10:06.039 --> 00:10:08.879 It goes completely contrary to it. 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:12.339 So, if you're taking notes this morning, the question we're going to answer is this. 00:10:12.340 --> 00:10:15.820 What does kingdom living actually look like? 00:10:16.360 --> 00:10:21.379 If Christ is our Savior, if He's called us to live for Him, what does it look like? 00:10:21.420 --> 00:10:24.960 Because He's going to contrast it here in this text. 00:10:25.580 --> 00:10:31.320 Because here at this dinner, Jesus really shows three marks of genuine kingdom living. 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:37.080 The first thing we see is this, is that kingdom living shows compassion over cold religion. 00:10:37.080 --> 00:10:41.460 It shows compassion over cold religion. 00:10:42.200 --> 00:10:46.000 We read there in the first verse that Jesus has been invited to a dinner. 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:51.680 He's been invited and we see, well, hey man, that seems like a really good thing. 00:10:52.220 --> 00:10:57.240 This Pharisee has invited Him to his own home and He's there to eat bread on the Sabbath day. 00:10:57.300 --> 00:11:01.200 But I want us to make no mistake, this was not a casual meal. 00:11:02.040 --> 00:11:06.340 They weren't excited that Jesus was there because they just wanted to spend time with Him. 00:11:06.340 --> 00:11:10.860 They weren't really thrilled that He was going to be there so they could learn all about the Scriptures. 00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:13.460 That's not what was taking place. 00:11:13.940 --> 00:11:19.280 I think you can see it in these first few verses, but this is a carefully orchestrated environment. 00:11:20.259 --> 00:11:21.820 This is a setup all the way. 00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:25.580 You ever been in a spot like that where you start looking around and thinking, man, I'm being set up. 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:28.120 There is a plan behind the scenes. 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:29.840 That's what's taking place right here. 00:11:30.580 --> 00:11:31.220 I mean, think about it. 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:32.680 They carefully chose the place. 00:11:33.280 --> 00:11:34.960 A prominent Pharisee's house. 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:40.560 And in these days, it would be kind of weird, but when a Pharisee, I mean, they would open their gates 00:11:40.560 --> 00:11:44.139 and they would let all the poor people kind of just sneak in and look around. 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:46.600 I mean, this was a complete show. 00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:49.000 They wanted everybody to come see what was going on. 00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:51.840 So they chose the place, a Pharisee's house. 00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:56.139 They chose a very specific day, the Sabbath day. 00:11:56.139 --> 00:12:05.080 And that wasn't by chance either because they were trying to catch Jesus repeatedly breaking their laws. 00:12:05.899 --> 00:12:13.159 Because we've already seen a couple times in the Gospel of Luke that Jesus likes to heal people on the Sabbath day. 00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:16.139 And the Pharisees care nothing about it. 00:12:16.139 --> 00:12:19.840 Because we know he needs healing, but just heal him on Sunday. 00:12:20.100 --> 00:12:20.759 Heal him on Monday. 00:12:21.039 --> 00:12:22.120 Don't heal him on the Sabbath. 00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:24.740 So we see the place was chosen. 00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:26.220 The day was chosen. 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:35.000 And very conveniently, out of just complete chance, there was an extremely sick man there. 00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:37.220 And I'm being sarcastic. 00:12:37.220 --> 00:12:40.500 I wholeheartedly believe this. 00:12:40.800 --> 00:12:42.120 They planted this man there. 00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:44.120 They wanted this man. 00:12:44.340 --> 00:12:45.540 Because here's the reality. 00:12:45.820 --> 00:12:48.420 They didn't want to be anywhere near somebody that was sick like this. 00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:50.040 This wasn't their type of people. 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:51.779 It didn't elevate their status. 00:12:51.940 --> 00:12:55.580 And verse 2 tells us that there was a man which had the dropsy. 00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:57.540 What is the dropsy? 00:12:57.740 --> 00:13:02.820 We would call it edema today, but it was severe fluid retention. 00:13:02.820 --> 00:13:08.280 And this man, generally, it would have been connected to serious organ failure. 00:13:09.040 --> 00:13:12.320 Kidney failure, heart failure, things like that. 00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:18.660 I mean, the idea is this man was extremely sick, probably terminally ill, especially here in the first century. 00:13:19.040 --> 00:13:19.820 They had no reason. 00:13:19.920 --> 00:13:21.460 He would have been very swollen. 00:13:21.620 --> 00:13:22.879 He would have been very bloated. 00:13:23.020 --> 00:13:25.420 He would have kind of looked real awkward. 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:28.260 And they set him there. 00:13:28.460 --> 00:13:31.360 And we see this snare has been set for Jesus. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:33.919 And they knew exactly what they were doing. 00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:36.700 Because, you know, when Jesus looks at anybody, here's what he sees. 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:37.940 He has compassion. 00:13:38.940 --> 00:13:40.620 Jesus loved people. 00:13:40.860 --> 00:13:42.460 And he saw this man that was struggling. 00:13:42.779 --> 00:13:44.379 And they baited him into it. 00:13:44.580 --> 00:13:49.360 And they assumed he would find this man irresistible on the Sabbath day. 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:53.120 How dare you even think about healing somebody on the Sabbath? 00:13:53.300 --> 00:13:54.300 That's their plan. 00:13:55.860 --> 00:13:58.620 Don't you love when you think you have a really good plan? 00:13:58.620 --> 00:14:01.460 Anybody ever have an airtight plan? 00:14:01.560 --> 00:14:03.639 Like, there's no way this plan fails. 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:07.120 Like, every day of my life, kind of. 00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:10.039 And then it just crumbles in front of us. 00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:11.399 But that's where these men are. 00:14:11.820 --> 00:14:13.039 I mean, they think they're so smart. 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:16.720 I mean, they got to, this is the setup of all setups. 00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:19.720 There's no way Jesus can wiggle out of this one. 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:21.920 And they thought they had trapped him. 00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:23.259 Because here's the thing. 00:14:23.680 --> 00:14:30.300 If he healed the man, he would, he would be, they would immediately accuse him of violating the Sabbath. 00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:36.019 But if he didn't heal the man, then Jesus looks like a jerk in front of everybody. 00:14:36.680 --> 00:14:39.660 So they think, hey man, he's between a rock and a hard place. 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:42.160 How's Jesus going to get out of this one? 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:45.840 Well, verse number three, Jesus gets out of it real easily. 00:14:46.540 --> 00:14:49.460 I mean, who knows how long they've been planning this specific thing. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:51.160 And here's what Jesus did in verse three. 00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:54.280 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and the Pharisees. 00:14:55.060 --> 00:14:57.860 Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? 00:14:58.759 --> 00:15:00.100 There was nothing said about it. 00:15:00.160 --> 00:15:01.759 But Jesus, he looked around. 00:15:02.040 --> 00:15:02.820 He looked at the house. 00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:04.180 He looked at the day. 00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:05.000 And he saw that man. 00:15:05.040 --> 00:15:06.420 He said, I see what's going on here. 00:15:07.160 --> 00:15:09.700 He said, I got, I got one question for you before we start eating. 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:12.400 Is it lawful to do good things? 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:14.320 I mean, look at this poor man over here. 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:15.639 He's got the dropsy. 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:17.980 I don't know how he got here, but he's here. 00:15:18.040 --> 00:15:18.840 And I'm thankful that he's here. 00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:19.800 I got a question. 00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:22.220 Is it lawful to heal him today? 00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:24.040 And that's what Jesus does. 00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:25.700 He throws out this question. 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:28.420 And he answers their trap before they even say anything. 00:15:28.420 --> 00:15:30.240 And how the tables have turned. 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:34.519 Because they went real quickly thinking Jesus was trapped. 00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:37.280 And now they're stuck between a rock and a hard place. 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:41.660 Because if they say, well, of course it's okay to heal on the Sabbath day. 00:15:42.219 --> 00:15:43.620 Then everything they live for. 00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:47.579 All the rules that they are just hammering on other people. 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:50.419 All the burdens they are placing on everybody else. 00:15:51.059 --> 00:15:52.419 It's kind of null and void now. 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:54.799 Because now they say, oh yeah, you can do that. 00:15:54.799 --> 00:16:03.500 But if they say no, then they openly admit that they care more about the rules and the regulations than human suffering. 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:07.559 See, what they thought was this fail-proof plan. 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:17.700 Now they're trapped between trying to condemn Jesus and having to take responsibility for denying the healing of an extremely sick man. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:22.159 I'm sure the Pharisees, I would love to be a fly on the wall in these situations. 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:23.659 Because they're looking at the other ones. 00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:26.460 Maybe the guy that was the brain behind this operation. 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:30.299 They're thinking, what is going on? 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:31.039 I mean, what do you do? 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:32.699 No, but that's where he's at. 00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:35.659 So what do they do? 00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:37.759 Because he asked the question. 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:42.120 Just like any time that you don't want to answer the question, they did the same thing. 00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:43.299 They held their peace. 00:16:44.500 --> 00:16:46.459 Sometimes I ask my kids a question. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:47.599 I'm like, what do you think about this? 00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:50.419 And they just, I was like, no, that was an actual question. 00:16:50.959 --> 00:16:52.120 I'm trying to see what you say. 00:16:52.719 --> 00:16:55.079 But you know why they don't answer, why you don't answer, and why they didn't? 00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:56.439 Because they already knew they were caught. 00:16:57.319 --> 00:16:58.099 What do you say? 00:16:58.100 --> 00:17:00.460 They have nothing to say to this situation. 00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:05.220 I mean, put yourself in this room, in this house, at this dinner party, around the table. 00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:06.720 I mean, you talk about hearing a pin drop. 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:09.960 I mean, Jesus asked a question, kind of looking around like, anybody? 00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:11.900 Anybody have an answer? 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:16.099 Uneasiness filled the air. 00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:17.680 Why? 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:22.180 Because Jesus exposed what was truly in their hearts. 00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:26.680 They had a lot of talk about how godly they were. 00:17:27.299 --> 00:17:29.640 They had a lot of talk about how religious they were. 00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:38.480 But yet, when a situation came that was obvious to everybody, this man needed a healing, and there was somebody in the room that could do it. 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:41.140 They were willing to deny him of that. 00:17:41.140 --> 00:17:43.440 So Jesus asked the question. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:44.340 They hold their peace. 00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:45.460 And here's what Jesus does. 00:17:45.820 --> 00:17:46.960 He proceeds to heal him. 00:17:47.780 --> 00:17:48.980 The Bible says, and he took him. 00:17:49.520 --> 00:17:50.580 And he healed him. 00:17:51.060 --> 00:17:51.960 And he let him go. 00:17:53.340 --> 00:17:59.240 Because this situation, what Luke is focusing on, is not just the healing, but the healing is a wonderful miracle. 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:03.280 This is a picture of what the gospel does, by the way. 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:06.259 The gospel doesn't give you just a little bit of medicine and send you on your way. 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:08.540 No, the gospel completely transforms you. 00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:10.579 It completely changes your life. 00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.980 And that's what happened to this man. 00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:16.519 But Jesus is taking, and he's going to focus on these Pharisees. 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:18.940 So they're sitting there. 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:23.740 I mean, can you imagine somebody getting healed like this, and you're still just mad about it? 00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:25.839 Nobody's celebrating. 00:18:26.639 --> 00:18:30.559 No, because we see in verse number five that Jesus just turns to them, and he's got another question for them. 00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:36.759 He said, hey, while we're on the subject, I've got another question about the Sabbath that I think maybe you know the answer to. 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:45.240 Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the Sabbath day? 00:18:46.379 --> 00:18:53.359 He said, how many of you, and they would have had it because they had wealth, and wealth in those days would have been livestock and agriculture. 00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:55.420 They would have had all of these things. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:57.279 Notice verse six. 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:01.579 And they could not answer him again to these things. 00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:04.240 Dead silence. 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:12.660 And see, Jesus asked this question because within all their Sabbath regulations, you know what they made sure that they could do? 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:14.319 Take care of their animals. 00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:18.019 Because, you know, that would affect their pocketbook a little bit. 00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:19.700 But they loved God. 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:22.200 But, you know, here's what it really was about, about what was in their pockets. 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:24.859 How they could have the things that they wanted to have. 00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:26.160 And here's what Jesus is saying. 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:29.660 Listen, you treat your animals better than this man right here. 00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:31.940 This man is on his deathbed. 00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:34.299 This man has no chance, has no healing. 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:38.120 I mean, and you are willing that he would just continue to suffer. 00:19:38.380 --> 00:19:40.840 But if your ox fell into the ditch, you'd go get it. 00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:43.380 And he's really just calling them on the carpet. 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:45.980 And here's the problem. 00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:49.019 It's kind of like you ever play a game with somebody growing up. 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:51.880 They like to make the rules as they go. 00:19:52.860 --> 00:19:54.140 That is the Pharisees. 00:19:54.140 --> 00:19:59.120 They love to make the rules that benefited them. 00:20:00.020 --> 00:20:02.400 You know, this man didn't benefit them at all. 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:04.680 But their cattle sure benefited them. 00:20:05.300 --> 00:20:09.759 So they made sure there was some little regulations within the Sabbath. 00:20:09.880 --> 00:20:11.740 Well, if it's an animal, you can take care of it. 00:20:13.020 --> 00:20:14.600 See, they thought they were so spiritual. 00:20:15.320 --> 00:20:17.920 They thought they were on track for the kingdom. 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:22.840 And they thought since they were the leaders of Israel, they were basically just a shoe-in. 00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:25.100 But here's what Jesus is showing. 00:20:25.840 --> 00:20:28.580 That they are so far from the kingdom. 00:20:29.560 --> 00:20:31.039 I mean, they're right up next to the door. 00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:33.120 But they refuse to go in. 00:20:33.820 --> 00:20:34.940 See, Jesus is building off. 00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:36.500 Remember we talked about there's a narrow door. 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:37.759 There's a narrow gate. 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:38.779 There's one way. 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:41.279 And they felt, I want to go my way. 00:20:41.360 --> 00:20:42.880 Jesus said, that's not how it happens. 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:49.540 So I just want to remind us that true righteousness is not about rule-keeping. 00:20:50.540 --> 00:20:53.860 Real righteousness is not outward performance. 00:20:54.980 --> 00:21:01.220 Righteousness in our world, whether it's the first century or right here today in 2026, is not some external religion. 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:05.040 You know what Jesus told them multiple times throughout his ministry? 00:21:05.340 --> 00:21:07.480 Here's the two great commandments. 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:10.720 On all these commandments hang the law and the prophet. 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:13.039 Love God and love people. 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:15.079 You know who these men loved? 00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:16.360 Themselves. 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:18.319 They didn't love God. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:19.900 They said they did. 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:21.299 They pretended like they did. 00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:23.559 All the facades said they did. 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:25.240 But they really did not. 00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:28.059 They were infatuated with themselves. 00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:32.039 And they just wanted to keep elevating and elevating and elevating themselves. 00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:34.420 Now don't misunderstand. 00:21:34.620 --> 00:21:35.380 We're going to see here in a minute. 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:37.400 And this text actually continues on. 00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:38.319 We'll look at it next week. 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:42.220 But Jesus is not trying to bury them. 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:44.779 That is not the heart of Jesus. 00:21:45.439 --> 00:21:49.619 The heart of Jesus is not to show them how awful of a person that they really are. 00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:52.220 No, but we do need to see who we truly are. 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:57.500 No, he's not trying to put a nail, their final nail in the coffin, so to speak. 00:21:57.659 --> 00:21:58.579 Here's what he's doing. 00:21:58.799 --> 00:22:01.319 He's going after their souls. 00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:04.000 Because that is his mission. 00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:09.539 He came to seek and to save that which was lost. 00:22:09.679 --> 00:22:16.119 And it doesn't matter how religious you are, how put together you might be, how well you keep the rules, how moral you are. 00:22:16.379 --> 00:22:18.500 None of that saves you. 00:22:19.139 --> 00:22:20.179 And that's what Jesus is saying. 00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.619 Here's what saves you. 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:23.240 Humble yourself before God. 00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:26.619 Realize that you are broken by sin. 00:22:27.399 --> 00:22:34.639 Because Jesus, we see this over and over again, he did not come to congratulate religious people for being good, moral, upstanding citizens. 00:22:35.399 --> 00:22:36.659 No, he came to save sinners. 00:22:37.439 --> 00:22:40.519 And the Bible says that all have sinned. 00:22:40.979 --> 00:22:42.199 So he's come for all people. 00:22:43.239 --> 00:22:47.959 And before we're too hard on these Pharisees, I just want to remind us that we can even fall into this trap today. 00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:55.819 Because it is possible to be doctrinally sound, morally conservative, deeply religious, and not know Jesus at all. 00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:58.160 Be at the table with him. 00:22:58.500 --> 00:23:03.039 But you're trusting yourself and you're trusting what you can do and how all of these things. 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:08.299 You can be all of those things and completely lack compassion even if you know Jesus. 00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:11.799 But Jesus says that's not how my children live. 00:23:12.600 --> 00:23:14.779 That's not the life that I've called them to. 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:19.379 That we can't be so focused on systems and structure and all of these things. 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:20.779 And there's nothing wrong with that. 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:23.559 Don't, don't, there's stuff wrong with me, but. 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:27.039 I don't know if you caught that, but I just wanted to get that out there. 00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:31.319 There's nothing wrong with structure and rules and systems. 00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:33.460 But that's not the goal. 00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:35.399 That's not the aim. 00:23:35.619 --> 00:23:36.599 You know what the bar is? 00:23:36.859 --> 00:23:38.059 Jesus Christ. 00:23:38.819 --> 00:23:39.740 That's the bar. 00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.839 That's the aim. 00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:44.740 And so we can be so focused on being right that we stop loving well. 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:46.899 You know what changed my life? 00:23:47.159 --> 00:23:48.299 Somebody that loved me. 00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:51.279 Somebody that loved me enough to share the gospel with me. 00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:55.480 Not somebody that just beat me down with a bunch of rules and I realized, man, I want what they have. 00:23:55.659 --> 00:23:56.599 And you know what I found out they had? 00:23:56.699 --> 00:23:57.539 They have Jesus. 00:23:58.459 --> 00:23:59.579 And I want that. 00:23:59.579 --> 00:24:06.059 And Jesus is reminding us that true kingdom living, it doesn't ignore human suffering to focus on rules. 00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:10.019 No, it goes out and reaches out to those that are in need. 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:11.659 Because that's where we were. 00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:14.819 If you know Christ as your Savior, don't forget where you came from. 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:17.220 You know what the Bible tells us? 00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:19.059 The psalmist says we were in a pit. 00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:21.139 We were in the miry clay. 00:24:21.659 --> 00:24:22.460 We had no hope. 00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:23.439 But you know who reached down? 00:24:23.679 --> 00:24:24.220 God did. 00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:33.360 And he reached down and he picked us up and he set our feet on a rock and he put a song in our heart that we can praise God and we can share his truth. 00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:38.940 And so Jesus is kind of exposing them saying, listen, you think you're on the way to the kingdom. 00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:40.180 You don't even love people. 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:41.759 And here's the thing. 00:24:41.860 --> 00:24:42.960 You don't even love God. 00:24:43.180 --> 00:24:44.440 You just love yourself. 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:47.240 Because that's what religion does. 00:24:47.319 --> 00:24:48.500 It's all about self. 00:24:48.900 --> 00:24:51.660 And what salvation changes the way that we think. 00:24:52.140 --> 00:24:53.900 It changes how we view other people. 00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:57.880 It should give us some compassion because God has given us compassion. 00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.380 He's given us grace. 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.320 He's given us mercy. 00:25:00.580 --> 00:25:02.940 The question is, are we sharing it with others? 00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:05.920 But Jesus isn't done here. 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:10.100 Because beneath their cold religion was an even deeper problem. 00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:11.560 It was kind of the root of the problem. 00:25:11.780 --> 00:25:14.720 It's really been the root of the problem since, I don't know, even before the garden. 00:25:14.860 --> 00:25:15.600 It's called pride. 00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:18.580 And here's what kingdom living does. 00:25:19.100 --> 00:25:23.320 It chooses humility over self-promotion. 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:27.380 It chooses humility over self-promotion. 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.940 Verse number seven, the Bible says this. 00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:38.019 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms. 00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:46.220 So as Jesus is there, he's sitting there and watching these men come into this dinner party. 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:49.379 And he's kind of seeing how they operate. 00:25:49.859 --> 00:25:51.379 That word marks, he's just kind of watching. 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:52.779 Kind of observing. 00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:54.339 Anybody like to people watch? 00:25:55.139 --> 00:25:55.940 Yeah, just go to Walmart. 00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:56.859 It's fantastic. 00:25:57.920 --> 00:26:00.079 Go sit at the mall on the bench while your wife walks around. 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:02.960 You'll find, you'll be like, what are they doing? 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:04.119 You know what you're doing? 00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:04.960 You're marking people. 00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:07.700 You're kind of figuring out and you're assuming things about them. 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.680 Here's the thing. 00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:09.539 Jesus didn't assume. 00:26:09.620 --> 00:26:10.059 He knew. 00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:12.380 But he was watching how they did it. 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:16.640 And he's carefully watching them scramble for the seats of honor. 00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:19.440 Kind of like we mentioned at the beginning with the shotgun. 00:26:19.860 --> 00:26:20.860 Sometimes you try to play it cool. 00:26:21.120 --> 00:26:22.059 And the men would try to come in. 00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:23.440 Oh, how are you doing today? 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:26.680 As they're moving closer and closer to the chair of prominence. 00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:29.319 Oh, yeah, you know, I'm just going to make my way up here. 00:26:29.559 --> 00:26:30.420 Don't mind me. 00:26:30.420 --> 00:26:36.259 And he's watching them do this and watching them take these steps and he's seeing it play out. 00:26:37.080 --> 00:26:45.019 And just like their silence towards this suffering man, their obsession with the prominency reveals where their focus truly was. 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:46.720 That's what Jesus says. 00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:55.039 See, despite all their God talk and religious posturing, they were deeply selfish and self-seeking people. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:27:01.319 And I know we're not going to like this, but that's just in all of us. 00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:05.359 You know, sometimes it just comes out. 00:27:05.879 --> 00:27:07.059 You think, where did that come from? 00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:08.079 It's in there. 00:27:08.599 --> 00:27:09.579 And we had to battle this. 00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:13.240 This is not a one-time thing where, oh, I dealt with pride a long time ago. 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.920 We're just going to move on right now. 00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:17.000 I can't say anything else about it. 00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:20.319 It rears its ugly head all the time. 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:22.500 In all kinds of ways. 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:25.299 See, selfishness, here's what it does. 00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:31.160 It always reduces the importance of others while enlarging the importance of ourself. 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:33.880 That's what Jesus is seeing at this dinner party. 00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:40.420 And his disciples would have been there and he's teaching them, this is not how you live when you're part of my kingdom. 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:43.400 This is not how you live when you're part of my family. 00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:45.319 Because here's what pride does. 00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:47.440 It constantly asks, how do I look? 00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:49.079 Am I being noticed? 00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:50.140 Am I important? 00:27:50.359 --> 00:27:51.119 Am I honored? 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:52.299 Am I appreciated? 00:27:53.339 --> 00:27:55.759 Because these men, that's why they're at this party. 00:27:55.880 --> 00:27:57.279 They're not at this party because of the food. 00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:58.400 That's why I go to the parties. 00:27:58.579 --> 00:28:00.099 That's why I go to a wedding for the cake. 00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:02.619 I mean, I thought that's why you went. 00:28:02.920 --> 00:28:04.660 But they went because they wanted to be seen. 00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:08.279 They wanted everybody to know that, hey, did you know so-and-so was there? 00:28:08.440 --> 00:28:08.799 Wow. 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:12.980 I didn't know so-and-so would lower himself, but he must just be so humble about it. 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:14.880 And that's kind of the idea that they had. 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:17.960 The recognition that gave them identity. 00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:20.200 The honor, it gave them significance. 00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:29.519 And in their twisted way of thinking, if they were greater than others, if they were greater than even these other Pharisees, then naturally they must be greater in the eyes of God. 00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:32.860 Then God must look on them in a special way. 00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:41.719 That's what Jesus does in verse 8 through 11 that he kind of illustrates how foolish this way of living and this way of thinking is. 00:28:42.639 --> 00:28:44.899 He describes a man that arrives early to the party. 00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:47.219 It's not because he wanted to be on time. 00:28:47.899 --> 00:28:49.259 It's because he wanted to have the best seat. 00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:51.200 So, I mean, he's there. 00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:52.339 He's there way before everything. 00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:54.019 The host is like, what are you doing here? 00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:54.799 The party's at 6. 00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:56.279 It's 3.30 in the afternoon. 00:28:56.879 --> 00:28:58.339 Like, why are you here so early? 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:00.099 And he gets there. 00:29:00.140 --> 00:29:01.819 He says, well, you know, I just wanted to be on time. 00:29:01.900 --> 00:29:03.640 I didn't know how traffic was going to be and all those things. 00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:05.220 And he finds the best seat. 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:07.480 And he just proudly sits down. 00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:09.700 And he loves everything about it. 00:29:10.339 --> 00:29:11.900 As the crowd comes in, they see. 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:12.920 I'm like, wow. 00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:14.600 I didn't know he was up there. 00:29:15.060 --> 00:29:16.140 How did he get that seat? 00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:18.519 I mean, how much did he pay for that seat? 00:29:19.120 --> 00:29:22.000 I mean, I didn't think he had that in him. 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.519 And he loves it. 00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:24.100 And he loves it. 00:29:24.120 --> 00:29:24.560 And he loves it. 00:29:24.600 --> 00:29:25.920 And he's just, everybody's looking at him. 00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:27.480 He's just soaking in the admiration. 00:29:27.800 --> 00:29:30.880 But then the host comes and says, hey, man, so good you're here today. 00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:32.100 I got a favor. 00:29:32.600 --> 00:29:33.259 So-and-so's here. 00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:34.600 So I'm going to actually need your chair. 00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:38.480 If you could just go over there, that'd be much appreciated. 00:29:39.800 --> 00:29:41.100 Instant humiliation. 00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:43.379 Because he thought he was something. 00:29:44.099 --> 00:29:46.639 But somebody walked in that maybe was something. 00:29:47.059 --> 00:29:48.359 And he got bumped down the ladder. 00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:51.579 And Jesus is saying that's not how it works. 00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:57.679 And really what he's saying, instead of exalting yourself, why don't you just take the lower seat? 00:29:58.959 --> 00:30:00.899 Why do you think so highly of yourself? 00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:09.160 Because true honor, true recognition, true exaltation is not something you seize. 00:30:09.540 --> 00:30:12.660 It's something that is graciously given to you. 00:30:13.100 --> 00:30:14.340 That's what Jesus is teaching here. 00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:18.860 That's what he tells us in verse number 11, kind of the central principle of this entire section. 00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:20.200 Verse number 11. 00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:32.240 I would imagine the majority of us in this room believe in gravity. 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:35.779 Listen, verse 11 is just as true as gravity. 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:38.059 That's how this works. 00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:40.400 This is a law of God. 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.700 It is unchanging. 00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:45.740 And the Bible says this, and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. 00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:48.400 It implies this, that God is the one that does both. 00:30:49.099 --> 00:30:50.660 God is the one that exalts people. 00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:52.440 God is the one that abases people. 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:57.640 That God is the one that he will make sure that this principle takes place. 00:30:58.339 --> 00:31:05.759 And I just want to remind us that this principle, it still applies today, even though we live in a world that does not believe it. 00:31:06.579 --> 00:31:07.960 I mean, you think about it. 00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:11.079 I watch the news a little bit. 00:31:11.120 --> 00:31:14.120 I don't watch it a lot because I want to be happy in my life. 00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:18.319 But I don't care what side of the aisle you're on. 00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:21.160 I don't think Washington, D.C. believes this principle. 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:25.799 I don't think corporations necessarily believe this principle. 00:31:27.099 --> 00:31:32.099 I don't think the celebrities and the influence and the professional athletes, in a general sense, 00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:37.839 I know there are some that know the Lord is the Savior, but I'm just saying in a general sense, our world, they don't believe that. 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:39.000 You know why? 00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:40.900 Because pride says, you get what you want. 00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:42.579 Hey, you climb that ladder. 00:31:42.579 --> 00:31:46.819 Hey, you take care of number one, and then everything else will take care of itself. 00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:48.659 No, that's a backwards way of thinking. 00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:50.960 But here's the real question. 00:31:51.139 --> 00:31:52.980 It doesn't matter if any of those people believe it. 00:31:53.199 --> 00:31:53.919 Do you believe it? 00:31:54.980 --> 00:32:01.699 Do you believe that Jesus said, for whosoever exalted himself shall be abased, and whoever shall abase themselves shall be exalted? 00:32:02.519 --> 00:32:07.259 I mean, do we believe that as followers of Christ, as those that claim to know him as our Savior? 00:32:07.259 --> 00:32:09.539 Do we live that principle? 00:32:10.619 --> 00:32:16.420 Because if we're being real, there's some principles we know in the Bible to be true, we think, eh, not going to worry about that one today. 00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:19.519 Jesus says, no, this is how you live. 00:32:20.180 --> 00:32:22.059 This is how kingdom living works. 00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:27.819 See, God calls us multiple times throughout Scripture to live differently than this world. 00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:29.500 We're to let our light shine. 00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:30.900 We're to point others to Christ. 00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:43.080 Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5, likewise ye younger, submit yourselves to the elder, yea, all of you be subject to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God, listen to this, resisteth the proud. 00:32:43.840 --> 00:32:46.060 Can you imagine God resisting you? 00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:48.500 Who would God resist? 00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.380 The proud. 00:32:50.280 --> 00:32:51.980 God resists the proud. 00:32:52.060 --> 00:32:53.600 He says, I don't want anything to do with that. 00:32:53.800 --> 00:32:55.680 And giveth grace to the humble. 00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:56.680 What should we do? 00:32:56.680 --> 00:33:05.880 Peter says this, humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:09.279 See, kingdom living is not about elevating yourself. 00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:12.560 It's about humbling yourself before God. 00:33:13.580 --> 00:33:15.539 Jesus is making that very, very clear. 00:33:16.620 --> 00:33:25.720 And now as we kind of close out this text here this morning, Jesus shifts his focus from the guest and kind of those there, because I'm sure this went over real well for the guest. 00:33:25.720 --> 00:33:27.740 I'm like, what kind of dinner party is this? 00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:33.940 And now he turns to the host and kind of confronts the host that we see there in verses 12 through 14. 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:41.440 Because kingdom living not only changes how we view ourselves, here's what it does, it changes how we treat other people. 00:33:42.380 --> 00:33:49.259 So we see lastly, kingdom living practices selfless grace over selfish gain. 00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:54.619 So Jesus looks out amongst the crowd and he realizes something about everybody in that crowd. 00:33:55.460 --> 00:33:57.160 They were elite. 00:33:57.900 --> 00:33:58.680 They were wealthy. 00:33:59.180 --> 00:34:00.440 They were well-to-do. 00:34:00.599 --> 00:34:04.119 They were the movers and shakers, so to speak, of Israel. 00:34:04.420 --> 00:34:05.279 And here, don't misunderstand. 00:34:05.579 --> 00:34:09.340 He's not discouraging hospitality towards friends and loved ones. 00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:14.519 It's not saying, no, if you're trying to get an excuse to get out of your family gatherings, sorry, this is not it. 00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:16.179 This is not what he's doing. 00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:19.679 Because he does say, don't invite your friends and your neighbors. 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:24.079 No, Jesus himself, we see throughout the Gospels, he spent time with friends. 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:27.039 Lazarus and Mary and Martha, they invited him multiple times. 00:34:27.099 --> 00:34:30.480 It was a place he went for rest and reprieve and a good meal. 00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:32.179 That's not his point. 00:34:32.179 --> 00:34:42.440 The point Jesus is making in these closing verses is he's saying, the issue I have is you're inviting people who could only return the favor. 00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:45.500 You know what he sees in this room? 00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:48.519 All these relationships are transactional. 00:34:49.879 --> 00:34:56.000 Hey, I'm going to invite so-and-so, because I heard so-and-so's wife's a really good cook, so then he'll invite me and then I can eat his food. 00:34:56.000 --> 00:35:03.960 Oh, I'm going to invite so-and-so, because I know he's in a little better synagogue, and maybe I can get into that synagogue, and then I can climb up my ladder, and then I can go here, and I can do that. 00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:05.000 You see what he's doing there? 00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:10.519 That everything about this room and everybody on the guest list was about personal advantage. 00:35:10.880 --> 00:35:12.599 Everything was calculated. 00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:14.539 So here's what Jesus says. 00:35:14.719 --> 00:35:15.900 Here's who you should invite, man. 00:35:16.099 --> 00:35:23.039 Next time you have a party, invite the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind. 00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:29.219 I mean, just hearing those words come out of Jesus' mouth, some of these Pharisees probably had to take a bath. 00:35:30.279 --> 00:35:32.400 Because they don't associate with people like that. 00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:36.659 They're not going to rub shoulders with somebody that can't do anything for them. 00:35:37.239 --> 00:35:39.139 Why would you have somebody like that? 00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:43.900 Why would you be involved with somebody that could offer you nothing socially? 00:35:44.940 --> 00:35:49.179 The poor and the lame and the blind, they had no influence. 00:35:50.219 --> 00:35:51.179 They couldn't advance you. 00:35:51.179 --> 00:35:53.079 In this culture, it set you way back. 00:35:53.619 --> 00:35:55.039 Like, hey, don't go into so-and-so's house. 00:35:55.219 --> 00:35:56.839 He invited some blind person. 00:35:57.599 --> 00:35:58.460 Like, who does that? 00:35:58.719 --> 00:36:00.319 Because they viewed those things as sin. 00:36:00.819 --> 00:36:04.179 They viewed those things as those people are being judged by God. 00:36:06.359 --> 00:36:09.879 They would only invite people that could repay them, that could recompense them. 00:36:11.399 --> 00:36:13.059 And that's what Jesus is making that point. 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:15.159 That's why you should invite these people. 00:36:15.159 --> 00:36:21.440 Because kingdom love, the way that God calls us to live, is not driven by personal gain. 00:36:22.739 --> 00:36:24.500 And I just want to remind us, the same is true today. 00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:29.799 That Jesus calls us to love people who cannot benefit you. 00:36:30.799 --> 00:36:32.519 They have nothing really to give to you. 00:36:32.719 --> 00:36:35.559 That we should serve people who cannot repay you. 00:36:35.659 --> 00:36:38.239 That we should show grace where there is no advantage. 00:36:38.500 --> 00:36:39.940 That's how God's kingdom works. 00:36:40.139 --> 00:36:40.719 Because guess what? 00:36:40.819 --> 00:36:41.980 It's not our job to keep score. 00:36:41.980 --> 00:36:42.760 God knows. 00:36:43.420 --> 00:36:44.860 And that's what he says in that last verse. 00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:46.699 He says, listen, don't worry. 00:36:47.159 --> 00:36:48.500 It will all pan out in the end. 00:36:49.300 --> 00:36:51.980 God knows why you're doing it and who you're doing it for. 00:36:52.840 --> 00:36:54.940 He knows the motives of our heart. 00:36:56.019 --> 00:37:02.260 See, the world asks, and we fall into this so quickly, what can this person do for me? 00:37:03.079 --> 00:37:04.380 How can they help me? 00:37:05.579 --> 00:37:07.559 Jesus says, maybe this is the question we should ask. 00:37:07.820 --> 00:37:10.039 How can I reflect Christ to this person? 00:37:10.039 --> 00:37:15.000 How can I show this person that Jesus loves them just as much as he loves me? 00:37:16.579 --> 00:37:22.159 Because the sad part is they didn't think Jesus loved these type of people as much as he loved them. 00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:23.840 Because they kept all the rules. 00:37:24.539 --> 00:37:26.759 I mean, they were the uppity up. 00:37:28.820 --> 00:37:32.759 See, it just reminds us that the gospel is for everyone. 00:37:34.380 --> 00:37:35.980 And Jesus, we're going to see this next week. 00:37:35.980 --> 00:37:40.099 He's going to give a parable about who should be invited to the wedding feast. 00:37:40.940 --> 00:37:44.519 He gives a picture of why he came. 00:37:44.740 --> 00:37:45.539 And you know who's going to invite? 00:37:45.820 --> 00:37:46.820 Anybody and everybody. 00:37:47.480 --> 00:37:51.219 He said, go into the highways and go into the hedges and compel them to come. 00:37:51.940 --> 00:37:52.519 Invite them. 00:37:52.679 --> 00:37:53.780 Hey, give them a wedding garment. 00:37:53.900 --> 00:37:57.099 Let them know, hey, we're having a feast and everybody's welcome. 00:37:57.099 --> 00:38:03.659 And it just reminds us and it should encourage us to reach out and love people and share the truth and show compassion. 00:38:03.839 --> 00:38:06.360 Because that's what Jesus Christ did for you. 00:38:07.519 --> 00:38:11.380 Because we were, I mean, if you know Christ your Savior, you had something a lot worse than dropsy. 00:38:12.400 --> 00:38:13.920 You were dead in your sins. 00:38:15.099 --> 00:38:16.380 And Jesus showed up. 00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:17.819 And he called you out. 00:38:17.940 --> 00:38:19.079 And he gave you life. 00:38:19.279 --> 00:38:21.259 And he changed everything about you. 00:38:21.380 --> 00:38:23.940 Not just here, but for all of eternity. 00:38:23.940 --> 00:38:27.840 But sometimes we can fall back into that old way of thinking. 00:38:27.980 --> 00:38:28.559 Saying, you know what? 00:38:30.179 --> 00:38:31.639 I'm a little better than that. 00:38:32.460 --> 00:38:34.679 You know, that could be somebody else's ministry. 00:38:34.800 --> 00:38:36.619 No, it's your ministry to love people. 00:38:37.440 --> 00:38:39.179 Love God and love people. 00:38:41.059 --> 00:38:46.440 See, people of God don't build their lives around social advancement. 00:38:47.099 --> 00:38:51.039 They build their lives around Jesus Christ. 00:38:51.039 --> 00:38:54.019 And he's going to talk here at the end of this chapter. 00:38:54.219 --> 00:38:55.119 Here's what it looks like. 00:38:55.779 --> 00:38:56.779 You're going to take up your cross. 00:38:57.320 --> 00:38:59.920 You're going to deny yourself and follow Christ. 00:39:00.059 --> 00:39:02.119 That's what Christ-like living looks like. 00:39:02.559 --> 00:39:05.259 And he's laying it out in a practical sense. 00:39:06.619 --> 00:39:11.539 See, the Pharisees, they thought they had this perfect setup to destroy Jesus. 00:39:11.539 --> 00:39:16.360 And really what it turned into was a master class on how life actually works. 00:39:17.239 --> 00:39:19.460 How people can make a difference. 00:39:20.199 --> 00:39:22.980 They presumed that they were safely in the kingdom. 00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:27.179 But their hearts revealed they were actually complete outsiders. 00:39:28.219 --> 00:39:29.619 They thought, well, we know the Bible. 00:39:29.739 --> 00:39:30.519 And we live in Israel. 00:39:30.820 --> 00:39:32.199 And Abraham's our father. 00:39:33.099 --> 00:39:35.079 Jesus says, you haven't humbled yourself. 00:39:35.840 --> 00:39:38.079 They were so focused on exalting themselves. 00:39:38.079 --> 00:39:43.119 And what they desperately needed was to humble themselves before God and say, God, forgive me. 00:39:43.159 --> 00:39:43.639 I'm a sinner. 00:39:44.440 --> 00:39:45.239 And he would have done it. 00:39:46.519 --> 00:39:52.059 You see, Jesus is mercifully exposing the pride that was keeping them from God. 00:39:53.880 --> 00:39:55.579 He wanted these men to be in the kingdom. 00:39:56.539 --> 00:39:58.619 He wants everybody in this room to be in the kingdom. 00:39:58.819 --> 00:39:59.699 To be in the family. 00:39:59.960 --> 00:40:01.039 To be on their way to heaven. 00:40:01.239 --> 00:40:02.400 To know him as their savior. 00:40:02.699 --> 00:40:07.519 To love God and to love others and walk humbly and show compassion and extend grace. 00:40:08.880 --> 00:40:10.699 See, they thought it was all about the law. 00:40:11.019 --> 00:40:14.539 But Micah said, hey, he has showed the old man what is good. 00:40:15.139 --> 00:40:18.920 To walk justly and to love your God with all of your heart. 00:40:19.039 --> 00:40:20.259 That's what he wants you to do. 00:40:20.319 --> 00:40:22.360 And that's how Jesus lived. 00:40:24.119 --> 00:40:26.079 Listen, no one was more humble than Christ. 00:40:27.079 --> 00:40:29.400 No one was more compassionate than Christ. 00:40:29.400 --> 00:40:34.019 No one gave more selflessly than Christ. 00:40:36.019 --> 00:40:38.260 We read a few of these verses already and we'll close with them. 00:40:39.260 --> 00:40:42.240 Paul said, let this mind be in you, which also was in Christ Jesus. 00:40:42.239 --> 00:40:46.519 Who being in the form of God thought it not Robert to be equal with God. 00:40:47.179 --> 00:40:49.459 But made himself of no reputation. 00:40:50.199 --> 00:40:51.759 And took upon him the form of a servant. 00:40:52.079 --> 00:40:53.799 And was made in the likeness of men. 00:40:54.679 --> 00:40:57.959 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself. 00:40:58.519 --> 00:41:01.959 And became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 00:41:01.960 --> 00:41:05.159 Wherefore God hath also highly exalted him. 00:41:05.619 --> 00:41:07.699 And given him a name which is above every name. 00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:10.119 That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow. 00:41:10.280 --> 00:41:13.000 Of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth. 00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:17.400 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. 00:41:17.639 --> 00:41:20.059 To the glory of God the Father. 00:41:21.039 --> 00:41:24.460 These men were in this room saying, who is he saying what seat to take it? 00:41:25.260 --> 00:41:26.019 Well, the king. 00:41:26.260 --> 00:41:27.900 He came and took the lowest seat. 00:41:27.900 --> 00:41:31.619 The king, he came a servant for us. 00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:35.119 The king went to a cross for us. 00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:36.880 And here's what Jesus says. 00:41:36.900 --> 00:41:39.440 If you're going to live like I did, this is what it looks like. 00:41:39.920 --> 00:41:42.619 If you're going to make a difference, this is how you do it. 00:41:43.900 --> 00:41:46.340 So how do you know if you're truly living for the kingdom? 00:41:47.539 --> 00:41:50.460 Well, I think one of the clearest evidences that you're doing that. 00:41:50.720 --> 00:41:54.119 Is you begin to look more like the king. 00:41:55.059 --> 00:41:56.980 You know we should look more and more like each day? 00:41:56.980 --> 00:41:58.019 Jesus Christ. 00:41:58.800 --> 00:41:59.920 What did Jesus do? 00:42:01.139 --> 00:42:02.219 He showed compassion. 00:42:02.880 --> 00:42:04.039 He chose humility. 00:42:04.679 --> 00:42:07.619 And he extended grace to others. 00:42:08.400 --> 00:42:10.179 Would we live that upside down life? 00:42:10.480 --> 00:42:11.840 Because that's what Jesus calls us to. 00:42:12.519 --> 00:42:15.980 And if we're following him, that's what our life should look like. 00:42:16.199 --> 00:42:17.219 Let's stand with our heads bowed. 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:17.379 00:42:17.380 --> 00:42:47.360 Thank you.