31: Healing on Sabbath & Seeking honor in Banquet & Counting the cost (Luke 14:1 – 35)

This passage tells reasons of our failures in believing Jesus: not knowing God’s intention in the law (especially Sabbath), seeking human honor, and limitation of un-resolved heart.

👉 Read Luke 14:1-35

Q1. How did Jesus legitimize His healing on Sabbath? 

ANS: If any of you had a son or cow in a pit, wouldn't you rescue him on the Sabbath?

Jesus exposes their double standards and lack of love: they would rescue their own sons on the Sabbath, yet force others to wait until the next day for healing. By asking whether it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath, Jesus addresses a major contemporary religious debate.

Rather than engaging in legalistic arguments, Jesus highlights a fundamental truth: the spirit of the law is love. His point is clear: "Your conscience naturally dictates saving your own son on the Sabbath; why do you forbid saving your neighbor? If you love your neighbors as yourselves, you would instantly know the right action to take on the Sabbath.”

Without love, the law becomes a tool to accuse others. This is why the Pharisees were watching Jesus closely—hoping to catch Him breaking the law (1).

When you read the law and practice it, don't forget the principle of love. Otherwise, you would misinterpret or misuse it. 

Q2. From v7-14, Jesus gave us two guidelines regarding the feast. What are they? 

ANS: Don't sit at the top of the table; don't ask for glory.

Invite the poor: Let your motives for good be pure.

‘The one who humbles himself will be exalted’ ‘for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’ Remembering of the final adjustment and compensation in the Lord’s Day will keep us from seeking own glory and human compensation.

Q3. When they throw a party, they don't invite anybody. In the days of Jesus, getting an invitation to a banquet was also a sort of honor. They brought this idea into their understanding of God's kingdom. They thought only worthy people would be invited to the heavenly banquet (v    ). Jesus had corrected this thought in v14-24. Why did the invitees not come? Who came to the feast? 

ANS: V15. They were busy with their work. They put their business (essential?) ahead of participating in God's feast (non-essential?). Which is more important, your business or ministry? 

Anyone whom the slaves would meet on the streets or fields. 

None of those who seemed worthy to be invited came. Instead, those considered unworthy—the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame—were brought to the banquet. Verse 24 means that those who think themselves worthy, occupied with their own affairs, will not enter His kingdom. They were too busy to accept what seemed like someone else’s invitation, not realizing that the host was the King of kings.

As we see in other Bible passages, recognizing who God is reshapes all our values. He does not fit into our system; He creates an entirely new one—often appearing upside down from a worldly view. Yet this is natural, for He is the transcendent and absolute Being in a mortal world. Like a massive black hole that distorts space and time so greatly that even light cannot escape, His presence reorders everything.

Q4. The message in v25-33 says that you should count the cost before you decide to follow Jesus (v     ), or you would stop in the middle of your journey of faith (v     ). So what kind of attitude is required when you say, "I do believe in Jesus?" (vv26-27, v33)

ANS: 28, 29, put everything down and follow the Lord with your cross.

Q5. When salt loses its content, only impurities remain and its taste disappears. Salt represents a disciple who follows Jesus. The saltiness of His disciples is shown when others can taste Jesus through them. Then, how not to lose the flavor of Jesus? (vv.26, 27, 33)

ANS:

Following Him must come first—above everything else, even family (v.26).

Deny yourself, carry your own cross, and follow Him (v.27).

Give up everything for the Lord (v.33).