Trinity 17 and Lessons from the healing of the man with the dropsy Luke 14
17th Sunday after Trinity- OT Jeremiah 13:15-21, Epistle is Ephesians 4
Today's Lessons are about our humility. This may be a short sermon. ( laugh) Humbleness is not our call we feel. We usually are not humble. Just look at how we drive. Look at how we live. We see things and needs and try and look the other way. It is hard to be humble when we are so great. Well, the Gospel and Epistle for today seem to call us in a far different direction.
1. Jesus goes everywhere. It is easy to go where we are wanted, but not so easy to go where we are not wanted, or accepted. He goes into the house of one of the chief Pharisees. Luke 14:1 . He accepted the invitation obviously. But He did not leave there without setting them straight in their attitudes and manners toward others. My great grandfather ( Campbell Morgan of London) notes vs 7, " them that were bidden" and believes they were making a mockery of the Sabbath as it was meant for worship, not feasts. Basically they did not keep the Sabbath even though this was the home of a "chief Pharisee:...We do well to examine ourselves on this point as well. Sunday is the Lord's Day and meant for our spiritual re-creation, not parties.....etc...and doing what our hearts wish, but what God wants us to do to refresh ourselves in our souls.
Matthew Henry says, " Christ did not decline the society of publicans, though they were of ill fame, nor of Pharisees, though they bore Him ill will." We too should be available to all, whether we are friends or not to them. All people deserve our love and respect. I have often quoted 2 Timothy 2:24 " And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance..."
Perhaps today's Collect helps quite a bit here, " LORD , we pray thee, that thy grace may always prevent ( precede) and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
2. Jesus heals. A " certain man had the dropsy" abnormal accumulation of blood which causes swelling. Ask anyone who has had that , and it is serious. Note however that the religious rulers and leaders had objections to that. It seems this was a plot to catch Jesus "violating the Sabbath" Vs 1 of Luke 14 says " they watched him." They were looking to see what He would do. It seems like a dare.
Yet Jesus quotes from the Old Testament Deuteronomy about taking care of a brother's donkey or ox fallen . 22:4 Luke 14:6 " And they could not answer him again to these things."
Doing the right thing is always right despite what the crowd says. Do the right thing.
Michael Deutsch
First Baptist Church
Text Illustration:
HONESTY MATTERS
I read about a high school golfer, Chelsee Richard, of Bloomingdale High School in Brandon, Florida. She lost her chance to win the 2004 state championship — by being honest. In the qualifier for the state finals, Chelsee hit her tee shot on the second hole into the rough. Without knowing it, she played another golfer’s ball out of the rough and finished the hole. On the third hole, she realized what she had done. The rule is that a golfer must declare on that hole, they hit the wrong ball before putting the ball into the hole, or they are disqualified.
Chelsee drew strength from her favorite Bible verse, Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." She reported her error, a painful ending to her senior season and her dream of going to State. She said: “With my faith and with God, being honest was the most important thing to me, and that’s what is going to advance on throughout my life, being honest and making the right choices." (November, 2004; www.PreachingToday.com)
Jesus did the godly and right thing by healing the man with the dropsy. He did it despite opposition and so called religious rulers questioning Him.
3. Jesus looks at the heart and embraces humility.
" When thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room.....for whosoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted." 14:11 He was looking at those who had chosen the chief places of honor and told them they had wrong motives and therefore wrong actions.
Philippians 2:3 " Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."
Today's epistle Ephesians 4 the Apostle reminds us that we should " walk worthy of the vocation wherewith (we) are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
In the Name of the Father , and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
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