Sunday 01 September 2013

Background

By this point in the Gospel the opponents of Jesus are watchingand listening carefully in order to formulate charges against him.Some of the Pharisees were among his adversaries yet others in thisgroup of committed godly people appreciated the ministry of Jesus,and warned him regarding the plots (Luke13:31). The leading Pharisee who invited Jesus to lunch afterthe main synagogue service of the week was more likely a friendthan enemy.

At a formal meal the host's place would be at the head of a longtable or in the most central place if the tables formed three sidesof a rectangle; the most honoured guests would be next to him andthe least honoured furthest away. Precedence depended on one's rankand distinctions within society; later, after AD300, it wasdetermined by age. As still happens in some contexts the mostimportant guests would typically arrive late after everyone elsewas seated so that their entry could be the centre ofattention.

In many cases the word "parable" (v. 7) refers to a story, butin this case it was used to describe some advice on etiquettebecause in Jesus's view guest/host relations at a banquetillustrated, or in other words is a parable of, how God will relateto his guests at the heavenly banquet. You may like to compare theparable in Luke 18:9-14 and its concluding lesson with thisone.

In relation to verses 12-13 we need to know that Jewish speechidiom would say starkly, "Not A, but B" where we would speak moreliterally saying "B is more important that A". Jesus enjoyedparties called by his friends and yet if the kind of people whonever usually got an invitation turned up then he was particularlydrawn to them. He is not banning us from throwing familyparties!

Belief in "resurrection of the righteous" (v. 14) developed atthe end of the Old Testament period, but the New Testament usuallyrefers to the resurrection of all. However the subsequent fatediffers between those who are right with God and those who arenot.

To Ponder

• Both the advice on how to behave as a guest and that on drawingup a guest list are presented in ways that might suggest we shouldbe underhand and calculating in order to achieve the best personaloutcome. How might we read this teaching of Jesus to avoid thisconclusion?

• At a present-day wedding feast there is likely to be a clearseating plan. What contemporary situations can you think of wherewe may have to judge 'our rightful place'? In such instances areyou likely to aim too high or too low?

• "Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind" (v.13). If Jesus were addressing this to you today how might the listdiffer, and to what could you 'invite' them?