A Sabbath Day's teaching
A detailed Account - Gospel of Luke • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 44:01
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Humility
Humility
When you think of humility, how do you define it?
Humility: (N) a modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness.
Start with an illustration that demonstrates humility.
When a successful businessman was asked about the secret to his success, he humbly admitted it was the support of his family and community. He emphasized that no one achieves success in isolation; we stand on the shoulders of those who have helped us along the way. This reflection reminds us that humility is not about denying our achievements but acknowledging the contributions of others.
In our passage this morning we are going to see Jesus teaching about humility. How true humility brings exaltation in the kingdom of God, rather than seek self-promotion.
So, need to break this into three parts this morning.
Healing on the Sabbath (Lk14:1-6)
Seeking Humility (Lk14:7-11)
Humility in hospitality (Lk14:12-14)
Healing on the Sabbath
Healing on the Sabbath
1 It happened that when He went into the house of one of the leaders of the Pharisees on the Sabbath to eat bread, they were watching Him closely. 2 And there in front of Him was a man suffering from dropsy.
3 And Jesus answered and spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” 4 But they kept silent. And He took hold of him and healed him, and sent him away.
5 And He said to them, “Which one of you will have a son or an ox fall into a well, and will not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?” 6 And they could make no reply to this.
What do you notice in this passage, any questions come to you?
As for me (v.3) Jesus answered, but they were not speaking, not even to themselves.
What facts can you find in (vv.1-2)?
He was in the house of a Pharisee on the Sabbath to eat bread
Jesus was being watched closely
There was a man suffering from Dropsy.
Who does Jesus answer; and what was Jesus question (vv.3)?
He speaks to the lawyers and the Pharisees
Notice he poses a question, then heals the man and sent him away.
What does Jesus use as an illustration about doing good on the Sabbath (v.5)?
A son, an ox and a well.
What we can know is even though we read Jesus had problems with the Pharisees, it is not all of them. For he was invited to the home of one. Or, was it to try to catch Him because they knew He was filled with compassion and they had invited a man with dropsy?
Dropsy is an abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in the tissues of the body. A disease that swells up the body due to fluids forming in the cavities and tissue. The word dropsy comes from the Greek words for “water” and “face” for the countenance of someone with it would look bloated in the face.
There was nothing wrong with healing, but to the Pharisees it was wrong to do it on the Sabbath, they considered it work. There is nothing in the commandments of God about not healing on the Sabbath, but the traditions of man raised itself up to be equal with the commands of God.
Look how Jesus responds (vv.5-6)
Jesus explains why can heal on the Sabbath. You can take care of your son, or your ox on the Sabbath.
This is great logic and there was no escaping it. If you are allowed to help an animal on the Sabbath, how much more was it right to help people on the Sabbath, those created in His image?
Jesus is not saying they are bad, he is saying they are good, now extend the goodness and kindness to needy people.
(Transition) This leads us to our next section where we see pride and humility come into view.
Seeking Humility
Seeking Humility
Maybe should have named this is be humble instead. In this passage we see Jesus uses the example of seats, places of honor and what we should be doing.
7 And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him,
9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place. 10 “But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you.
11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Anything stand out to you in this passage?
Who is Jesus speaking this parable to (v.7)?
He is addressing the invited guests
Jesus tells the invited guests not to do something, what is it (v.8)?
Do not take the place of honor.
He tells you why not to take the place of honor (v.9)
For you may be asked to give the place to someone else and it will disgrace you.
What does Jesus tell the invited guests to do (v.10)?
Take the last place, lower place
Then gets to the main point about humility (v.11).
Do not exalt yourself or you will be humbled, humble yourself and you will be exalted,
Jesus is using a real life situation to paint this parable picture. Jesus is bringing a good godly truth to the ears of the people in a way they would be able to understand. He saw they were jockeying for best places at the table, and Jesus is teaching do not take a place of honor for yourself.
A scripture comes to mind on this:
3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Jesus was a great example of humility:
After Paul said this:
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
He uses JEsus as an example:
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Cooper in his commentary says:
“Jesus reminded them of the shame that often comes with self-exaltation. When we allow others (especially God) to promote and lift us up, then we don’t have the same danger of being exposed as someone who exalted himself.”
True humility makes no pretence of being humble and scarcely ever utters words of humility.
Francis de Sales
When engaging with people in the community, especially in disagreements about social issues, humility can transform the conversation. Instead of asserting your viewpoint passionately, practice active listening. Ask open-ended questions to understand where others are coming from. Acknowledge their feelings and perspectives, even if you differ. By reminding yourself that everyone has a unique story, you can approach these discussions with grace rather than defensiveness. This approach not only fosters mutual respect but can also encourage openness and perhaps even change hearts in ways that mere arguments cannot.
Humility in hospitality
Humility in hospitality
12 And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. 13 “But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
14 and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
What stands out in this passage?
Who does Jesus say to invite (v.13)?
The poor, crippled, lame, the blind.
Why would you be blessed in inviting those (v.13) in (v.14)?
They cannot repay you, but the Lord will repay you at the resurrection of the righteous.
In this part of the passage we see Jesus speaks of inviting those who would not be able to do anything in return, the marginalized.
Jesus came for the sick, the lost.
We need to have the same attitude that was in Christ as we just read in Php2 a few minutes ago.
Jesus warns about the danger of pride when it comes to the invited guests.
Geldenhuys in his commentary said this:
“Do not ask is more properly ‘do not habitually ask’ It is not wrong to invite you friends, your brothers and so on; but it is wrong to only invite them.”
This is not easy to do, it will cost you something, humility thinking and putting others first just as our Savior put us first in being willing to live and die for our sins. May we have an eternal perspective and know our rewards are in heaven!
(Prayer) (Exit)
