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Lk_14_12-35_Renounce_All_That_He_Has.docx

Lk_14_12-35_Renounce_All_That_He_Has

Renounce All That He Has

Luke 14:12–35

Key Verse 14:33

Introduction: Today’s passage is the 2nd passage for seeking the kingdom of God. Again, the direction of this year is to live for the kingdom of God instead of things of this world. It is because we are not of this world but of the kingdom of God. What should we do to receive a reward from God and enjoy and taste the kingdom of God? What kind of cost should we pay to live as disciples of Jesus? What kind of influence should we give as people belonging to the kingdom of God?

Q1. Read v.12-14. Where was Jesus (Lk 14:1) and what issue did he point out? Why are the poor, crippled, lame and blind considered the best to invite (14)? What principle is Jesus teaching us?

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¹² He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. ¹³ But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, ¹⁴ and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

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Q1A. Where was Jesus (Lk 14:1) and what issue did he point out?

Lk 14:1 One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully.

Jesus was at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees. It was the Sabbath. And he went to dine there. He pointed out to invite those who cannot invite back.

One issue is to invite those who cannot invite back.

Q1B. Why are the poor, crippled, lame and blind considered the best to invite (14)?

¹⁴ and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

The poor, crippled, lame, and blind are considered the best to invite because they cannot invite the inviter (you) back. And the inviter (you) will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.

Q1C. What principle is Jesus teaching us?

Jesus was teaching the principle, “If people whom you invite invite you back, you do not have a reward at the resurrection of the just. The resurrection of the just can refer to the kingdom of God.

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Additional notes from v. 12-14

Lk 14:1 One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully.

He was a Pharisee, a ruler. He is in a high position. He has power. And he is wealthy. He invited Jesus to test him and find a reason to accuse Jesus. But Jesus accepted his invitation.

¹² He said also to the man who had invited him,

“When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid.

Jesus saw the guests who were invited. Then he saw that those who were invited were the Pharisees' friends, siblings, and rich neighbors who had power and wealth. But Jesus said

¹³ But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,

Jesus said to invite these people.

¹⁴ and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Jesus encouraged him to invite these kinds of poor and disabled people.

What can we learn from this? What kind of people should we invite to our dinner and fellowship, and why?

Jesus is teaching us to focus on the reward at the resurrection of the just, which is the kingdom of God. What kind of reward are we seeking? Reward on earth or reward on the resurrection of the just?

What kind of people should we eat and hang out with? Usually, we have fellowship with those with whom we can have a pleasant time. Or people we like or love, or people who are close to us, or some important people. We don’t really invite those who are recognized in the world or society. When we invite people of recognition, we take it as our honor. We want to even take a picture and set it on the wall. One person proudly showed that he was baptized by the Pope and had a huge picture and put on in his office.

When we are invited by someone, we feel like we should invite him or her back. We feel like we should repay. After we serve someone with what we have, we expect repayment. But if we do that, there will be no further reward. If you are repaired, there will be no reward. If we serve others and if we are repaid, we have no reward at the resurrection of the just.

If we invite people who cannot invite us back, we will be rewarded in the kingdom of God. But to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind is not pleasant to have fellowship with them. And you cannot expect any repayment from them. But if you keep inviting them, then you will be blessed. If we keep inviting these people, we will be blessed.

In the past, if we invited the poor, we felt we lost, and it is poor investment.

Jesus believed and knew “there will be a time of resurrection of the just.” Those who have credit from God are blessed.

Basically, Jesus was saying the one who receive God’s reward by serving such disabled people are truly blessed. Why reward? If you give a cup of cold water to a little one because of Jesus, you will not go unrewarded. In the time of judgemnt Jesus will divide people into two groups. One group was blessed because they served the Lord when he was poor, in prison, hungry, and thirsty. Jesus regarded the service for the poor, crippled as the service to him.

When we invite our guests, we choose our close friends, people whom we love, or rich people. But Jesus is our true friend, and our rich person. So if we invite these poor people regarding them as Jesus, we are blessed. Our reward will be huge.

Serving spiritually poor people brings the best reward. Helping the physically poor is good. Sometimes helping physically poor people can crippled them to the end, making them an eternal beggar. To help the spiritually poor, crippled, lame, and blind can take more time, money, and suffering. But it brings long-term solutions.

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Q2. Read v.15-20. What did Jesus say to the man excited about the future? In Jesus’ parable, was the banquet a current or future event? What excuses were given and what do they have in common?

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¹⁵ When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” ¹⁶ But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. ¹⁷ And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ ¹⁸ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ ¹⁹ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ ²⁰ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’

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Q2A. What did Jesus say to the man excited about the future?

He was excited about eating in the kingdom of God. Probably, he was confident that he would be eating in the kingdom of God. But Jesus told him a parable, as a warning to him. The parable shows what will happen to those who were invited to the kingdom of God first.

Q2B. In Jesus’ parable, was the banquet a current or future event?

A future one. But people can enjoy the banquet even now.

Q2C. What excuses were given and what do they have in common?

They bought a field, a yoke of oxen, and were just married. They have in common that what they had and what they were doing was more important than going to the great banquet. The great banquet may refer to the banquet in the kingdom of God.

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Additional notes from v.15-2

¹⁵ When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”

He was one of the Pharisees. He could be reminded of the kingdom of God when Jesus mentioned the resurrection of the just. Jesus mentioned “you will be blessed…”.

¹⁶ But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. ¹⁷ And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ ¹⁸ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ ¹⁹ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ ²⁰ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’

Why did Jesus suddenly give this parable? The first parable is for inviters. This parable is for invitees.

Their excuses do not make sense because the invitation date was already set up. And they have already examined the field and the oxen before they bought the field and the oxen. So they did not need to examine the field or oxen because they had already examined them. For a wife he has already fellowship.

Invitees did not value a man (their king). So to them, the man’s invitation (King’s invitation) was not a big thing. They did not feel they were honored to attend his great banquet.

The Pharisee seems to seek the kingdom of God. But Jesus told him the truth. People are invited. But actually, people do not seek the kingdom of God in their actual lives. How people live and what they seek now shows whether they seek the kingdom of God or not.

These people who were invited want to check their new field, oxen, and wife. Their main interests are not in the kingdom of God. So they lost it.

Secondly, the Pharisee thought he would enjoy the kingdomof God. But the kingdom of God has already started on earth. People are already tasting the kingdom of God by seeking the kingdom of God through Jesus.

But people think the kingdom of God is only future things, but the kingdom of God can be enjoyed even now.

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Q3. Read v.21-24. How did the master feel after being ignored? What quality did the poor, crippled, blind and lame have that the others didn’t? Why did the master want the lowly to taste his banquet but never the men invited?

²¹ So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ ²² And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ ²³ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. ²⁴ For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

Q3A. How did the master feel after being ignored?

He became angry and sent his servants to those who were not invited. They were people from the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. They were from the streets and lanes of the city. They were so to speak, homeless people.

Q3B. What quality did the poor, crippled, blind and lame have that the others didn’t?

They responded to the invitation without saying, “Oh, I am not qualified. Why do you invite me to such a great banquet?”

Q3C. Why did the master want the lowly to taste his banquet but never the men invited?

They cannot invite the master back.

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Additional notes from 21-24

²¹ So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry

They ignored his favor. They did not honor his invitation. It was insulting him. Basically, they did not value his banquet and honor him.

and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’

These people are those who do not deserve this kind of great baquet. Those who were invited at first were noble people who had a good background. But these people are not qualified and do not deserve this kind of banquet.

²² And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ ²³ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.

He really wants to fill his banquet. He really did not waste his banquet in vain. He must invest a lot in his banquet. So he wants his banquet to be enjoyed by many.

²⁴ For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

Those who are invited will not enjoy his banquet.

As we know, people who were invited earlier were Jewish people. The poor, blind, lame, and crippled could refer to the Gentile people. In general principle, God’s way of inviting people is not based on qualification but by grace alone.

The things we have can bother us when we seek the kingdom of God. At the same time, our poverty in the world can be a blessing for us. The poverty of these people can lead them to the blessing because they could accept the invitation. The kingdom of God is open to people who do not deserve it at all. We are not qualified for the banquet at all. But God is so generous to us. God wants his great banquet to be filled with all undeserving people.

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Q4. Read v.25-27. What issue might Jesus have seen in the “crowds” that accompanied him? How is the banquet parable connected to Jesus’ teaching to hate one’s own life? What can we learn from Jesus?

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²⁵ Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, ²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

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Q4A. What issue might Jesus have seen in the “crowds” that accompanied him?

Jesus have seen the crowds wanted to become his disciples. But they cannot become his disciples if they value their family ties over their commitment to Jesus.

Q4B. How is the banquet parable connected to Jesus’ teaching to hate one’s own life?

If one does not hate his life, he cannot deny his desire for a new field, yoke of oxen or fellowship with his new wife.

“Hating one’s own life” is like becoming poor people who can accept the invitation from God. If we know we can lose everything and do not have anything and nothing to lose, we do not have problems becoming Jesus’ disciples.

Q4C. What can we learn from Jesus?

Jesus is truthful. Following Jesus is possible through denying oneself.

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Additional notes from v.25-27

²⁵ Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, ²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Here Jesus is talking about the cost. To enjoy the kingdom of God, we need to follow Jesus. Then we can enter the kingdom of God and enjoy it.

When we are invited to the kingdom of God, this invitation is free without any cost. But actually, to enter the kingdom of God, we need to pay some cost. This payment involves some sacrifice.

Even though people are invited to the kingdom of God, they do not sacrifice. Then they cannot have the kingdom of God.

²⁵ Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, ²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

Entering the kingdom of God has more value than our own lives. The kingdom of God is worthy to sacrifice of our own lives. If not, Jesus would not ask us to sacrifice.

God blessed us to seek his kingdom by devoting our whole lives. The truth is, we devoted our whole lives to serve God’s mission, which is to expand the kingdom of God.

²⁷ Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

To become disciples of Jesus and to enter the kingdom of God and enjoy it we need to sacrifice.

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Q5. Read v.28-35. What can we learn from Jesus’ analogy of the tower and the kings (28-32)? Why is it necessary to “renounce all” that we have to be Jesus’ disciple (34-35)?

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²⁸ For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? ²⁹ Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ ³¹ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. ³³ So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

³⁴ “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? ³⁵ It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Q5A. What can we learn from Jesus’ analogy of the tower and the kings (28-32)?

Estimation of the cost is important. To follow Jesus and to become his disciples needs the estimation of the cost. Without the cost estimation, one will fail to become Jesus’ disciple.

Q5B. Why is it necessary to “renounce all” that we have to be Jesus’ disciple (34-35)?

To become Jesus’ disciples has a supreme value. At the same time, it is very challenging. Therefore, without renouncing all one has, he cannot be Jesus’ disciple.

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Additional notes from v.28-35

Following Jesus costs.

³⁰ saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

People will mock us. We need to complete our process of following Jesus. Because some people started to follow Jesus, and they stopped and dropped out in the middle. But we should calculate the cost and finish the process fully.

³¹ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

War involves a lot of money. Putin did not know the war cost such a large amount of money. He thought the war would end in two weeks. But now it lasted 4 years. Russia lost 600,000 soldiers as of January 2026.

Those who are willing to pay the cost can follow Jesus.

³² And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. ³³ So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Becoming Jesus’ disciples is worthy of renouncing all that we have.

Why did Jesus mention salt? When Christians live as Jesus’ disciples, they can give a good influence of salt to the world.

The early Christians in the first century lived for the kingdom of God despite hard persecution. They were willing to lay down their own lives and renounce all they had to follow Jesus. And they give a good influence like salt.

Compared to Jesus, the amount of our denouncing is not much.

In conclusion, we Christians are not of the world but of the kingdom of God. Therefore, we should serve the poor, expecting a great reward. We are not deserved to the kingdom of God. We are not fit. But God’s amazing grace invited us to the banquet. Now to become disciples of Jesus costs. Knowing the worth of being disciples, we can renounce all we have and become salt of the earth.

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