WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday March 31, 2019

Over 194,000 readers worldwide

larrydalexander.blogspot.com

CALLED TO FOLLOW

(The ministry of JESUS begins)

(Matthew 4:12-22)

   As I stated in the lesson a couple of weeks ago, the arrest of John the Baptist by King Herod Antipas triggered the beginning of JESUS’ three years of ministering here on earth. After John’s incarceration JESUS went to Galilee and began preaching GOD’s Good News, announcing that the Kingdom of GOD was near, and urging people to repent and turn from their sin (Matthew 4:12).

    However, instead of going to HIS hometown of Nazareth, JESUS traveled to Capernaum in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This move by JESUS was done in order that the prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 9:1-2) would be fulfilled. It is as if JESUS already knew that HIS preaching and teaching would be rejected in the familiar surroundings of the place where HE grew up.

    One day as JESUS was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee HE came upon two commercial fishermen, Simon and his brother Andrew, going about their work, fishing with nets in their boat just off shore. JESUS shouted out to them, and invited them to come and let HIM teach them how to fish for the souls of men. As if through divine discernment, they immediately came to shore, left their boat, and began to follow JESUS (Vs. 18-20).

    A little farther up the shore they came upon Zebedee’s sons, James and John, who were sitting in their large boat with their father and several hired men, mending their torn fishing nets. JESUS called them out of the group and invited them also, to come and follow HIM. And just like Simon and Andrew, they immediately left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with his men, and began following JESUS (Vs.21-22).

    People commonly believe that JESUS was just calling these men from their jobs. However, what was happening here in this passage was that, JESUS was actually calling them out of the Church, which had been contaminated by the teachings (yeast) of the Pharisees and others for years, so that HE could teach them the pure undiluted Word of GOD, and then send them back into the Church to fix it, and make it a righteous and holy place of worship, teaching, and prayer again.

    Here JESUS was calling these men to a greater occupation (fishing for men) that would require them to, not just use their physical and mental prowess, but rather, for this task that they were called to, it would take all of their hearts, all of their souls, all of their minds, and all of their hands to accomplish.

    Peter (also called Simon), James (son of Zebedee), John (son of Zebedee), Andrew (Peter’s brother), Phillip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (also called Levi), James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the Zealot), and Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed JESUS), are the original twelve disciples who were called on by JESUS to follow HIM.

    With the exception of John, who lived to be a ripe old age, all of the other disciples, except Judas (who died a shameful death because of his betrayal of JESUS), are believed to have died a martyr’s death. James (son of Zebedee) was the first to die, as he was ordered to be killed by the sword by King Herod Agrippa (Acts 12:1-2).

    Jewish tradition has it that Peter died in Rome on an upside down cross. He requested to be nailed upside because he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as CHRIST did. Andrew, according to Roman Catholic tradition, was crucified on “an x-shaped cross” in Macedonia, while James (son of Alphaeus) was crucified in Persia, where he did most of his preaching.

    Bartholomew, perhaps died the most horrified death of all of the disciples as he was, first, decorticated (skinned alive), and then beheaded, on the orders of King Astriagis in India. And then there’s Thaddaeus, who was stoned to death by a group of magicians in the city of Suanir, in Persia.

    Matthew is believed to have been killed (manner of death unknown) in the city of Nadabah, in what is now present-day Iran, in A.D. 60. Thomas, like Bartholomew, was also martyred in India (manner of death unknown), and was buried in the city of Mylapore, now a suburb of Madras.

    Many scholars believe that Matthias, whom the disciples chose on their own, to replace Judas Iscariot, was later disqualified and replaced by James, the brother of JESUS. They base their argument largely on what is written in Galatians 1:19 and 2:9, however, nothing in Scripture suggest that Matthias ever left the group.

    To be called by GOD is a serious undertaking. Long before we realize HIS calling, GOD is already preparing us for HIS glorious purpose. JESUS is also calling each of us to follow HIS magnificent lead into Eternal Life. When we choose to follow CHRIST, and then, begin to practice HIS examples, we receive HIS heart, and thus, our lives will fade into HIS. We become more like HIM, and thus, we become more like GOD HIMSELF, WHO is our CREATOR. We began to desire to come as close as we can to being “functionally perfect” in the biblical sense (striving to sin no more), while we live out the rest of life here on earth.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                                 

                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday March 24, 2019

Over 193,000 readers worldwide

larrydalexander.blogspot.com

CALLED TO REPENT

(JESUS and Zacchaeus)

(Luke 19:1-10)

   The office of “Chief Jewish Tax Collector” was one that was won by the highest bidder for the job. The cost incurred by the winning bidder was then made up by charging the Jews excessive rates, even on those who were poor. The person who held that position usually became the most hated person in any Jewish community.

    In Luke 19, taking up at verse 1, Luke chronicles the “Jericho stop” on JESUS’ final missionary circuit in route to Jerusalem, and HIS appointment with death on a cross at Golgotha (Cavalry Hill). As HE made HIS way through the town, HE encounters just such a hated Tax Collector, by the name of Zacchaeus.

    Zacchaeus was one of the richest and most influential Jews in the tax collectors business. He had come there to get a glimpse of the man, JESUS, WHOM he had heard so much about. Being a man short in physical stature, Zacchaeus was not able to see over the pressing crowd, and so he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree beside the road to get a better look at the, now famous, healer, exorcist, preacher, and teacher of the Gospel, from Nazareth.

    Here we see unfolding, a wonderful lesson on how to reach people with the Gospel while they are in their own comfortable setting, as opposed to always seeking to reach them in a church setting, where it is considerably more difficult to get them to accept an invitation. When we really think about it, most of a Christian’s successes at converting people from the world, come while we are in settings that are familiar and comfortable to those whom we are trying to convert to CHRIST.

    In verse 5, as JESUS reached the spot of the sycamore that was now occupied by Zacchaeus, HE looked up and called on the curious tax collector to come down and get to know HIM over dinner at his home that same day. And, even though Zacchaeus was excited at JESUS’ request, the crowd of people who were gathered around were stunned and displeased at JESUS’ proposal to eat with their most hated enemy, a sinful, cheating, notorious tax collector. They felt that, to “break bread” with a person was a significant sign and expression of fellowship and acceptance between the guest and the host, and many, still feel that way today.

    However, hate will always hinder a person from receiving what GOD has to offer us. When we harbor hatred for one another, it makes it impossible to do the work that CHRIST calls us to do. In fact, in such cases, just as the “unsaved” person who needs to be converted is blocked from CHRIST, so too, is the person who hates his fellowman, and yet, somehow, thinks that they themselves are “being saved”. Whenever we seek to block someone that we don’t like from GOD, it is usually a sign that we ourselves are “not” on the road to salvation.

    On the other hand, one of the great indicators that a person is being saved, is that, he or she not only does that which is required by the law of GOD, but also, they are also willing to go beyond that and into the territory of “sacrificial offerings”. In verse 8, we see just such a sign from the repentant tax collector, Zacchaeus. There he stands before our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, and tells HIM, “I will give half my wealth to poor, LORD, and if I have overcharged people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” (NLT)

     In Leviticus 5:16, the payment for such an offense of thievery that was committed by Zacchaeus, is restitution, plus, 20%. However, here Zacchaeus is willing to go way beyond the limits proposed by the Law of Moses. Here his “genuinely repentant heart” dictates to him that he gladly, and sacrificially, give back “four times more” than is required by the law.

    And so here we see a lesson learned about how we are to seek and save not only our relatives and friends, but also strangers, and even those who may have an unsavory reputation in our communities. Here JESUS is able to save the most hated sinner in town from eternal damnation, and in verses 9-10, HE expresses HIS joy to do so to the people of Jericho when HE proclaims, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a son of Abraham. And I, the SON of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost” (NLT).

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Legendary Locals of Grand Prairie - Google Books Result

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday March 17, 2019

Over 193,000 readers worldwide

larrydalexander.blogspot.com

CALLED TO RETURN

(Story of the lost son)

(Luke 15:11-32)

   One of the main reasons GOD gives human beings “grace” is to teach us how to be gracious to others. We fail GOD when we allow HIS grace towards us to be taken for granted by us, or, go unnoticed by us, and, as a result, give satan an opportunity to influence us instead with pride, envy, greed, and narcissism. In fact, this is exactly what satan did to the older son in Luke’s unique, and now famous account of JESUS’ “parable of the prodigal son”.

    Here in Luke chapter 15, verses 11-32, JESUS uses the story of a man who had two sons, to illustrate HIS point further (also see verses 1-10) concerning the importance of retrieving those who are “lost”. The father in the parable of this biblical family represents “the attitude of GOD towards those who have wandered away from HIM”, and are now “lost”, or “dead”, in the spiritual sense (which is separated from GOD).

    The younger son represents those in the world who are lost because they dared to leave the “protective umbrella of GOD” and arrogantly take their lives into their own hands, because their “pride” (which is the attitude of satan), tells them that they can do better on their own. Little do they know, that, whenever we remove ourselves from underneath the umbrella of GOD, we inevitably will be “rained upon” by satan.

    The older son in this parable, even though he believed that he was totally loyal to his father, is used to show us how we can start out serving GOD, and, over time, “our motives for service” can turn to selfish ones. Here we can clearly see in him, several evil elements, including pride, envy, greed, and narcissism, that, have overtaken him unwittingly, during his years of service to his father. In fact, he can be likened to the Pharisees in this passage.

    The story begins one day when the younger son, arrogantly assuming that he even had an inheritance, requested to his father that he might receive his right now, rather than wait until his father died. The good father in this parable, who had already prepared a place for his children in the future, agreed to prematurely advance to the younger son, his planned allocated share of his wealth (Vs.11-12).

    Now feeling certain that he could make it on his own without his father’s wisdom (and his rules), a few days later the younger son packed his bags and ventured off to experience the world around him. He thought that he would now have all the freedom he wanted to do whatever he pleased. However, true followers of CHRIST know that true freedom can only be found in HIM. The younger son had mistakenly envied the wrong people in life, and so soon he would discover that the object of his desires (the world) would profoundly humble him back into his senses.

    And so he moved to the land of the unbelieving Gentiles – “foreigners”, not in race, but rather, in their unGODly lifestyles. There he would squander all of his wealth on lascivious living, and as soon as he was broke, as the lessons of life would have it, along came a famine, which swept over the entire land (Vs.13-14).

    Now suffering from great hunger, and still having too much pride to return to his father’s house, the young man was able to persuade one of the local Gentile farmers to hire him to feed his swine, which was something that was absolutely detestable for a Jewish person to do, because they, through their upbringing, would normally not be seen anywhere near a pig, let along working with them. And not only did he work tending to, and feeding the swine, but, over time, as his hunger began to overcome him, he even began to desire the food (carob pods) that he was feeding to the pigs (Vs.15-16).

   When his living conditions finally began to humble him, he thought to himself how even his father’s servants had plenty to eat, and in fact, had food enough to spare, and here he was, so hungry, that the pig’s pods were starting to look good to him. And so he decided to swallow his pride and go back home to his father’s house, and ask for forgiveness. All the way home he rehearsed the words which he would say to his father, “Father, I have sinned against both you and Heaven, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son, please take me back into your house, even if just as a hired servant” (Vs.17-19).

    As he neared his father’s house, and while still a ways off, his father, who had been anxiously anticipating his son’s return one day, saw him coming and was filled with joy. He ran to meet his son and embraced him, and kissed him. His son then told his father the words that he had rehearsed over and over on the way home. To his surprise his father greeted him with love and compassion and ordered his servants to tend to his needs and set up a feast to celebrate his return (Vs.20-24).

    Here we see a vivid picture of GOD’s attitude of grace and forgiveness toward those who wish to repent and return to him. HE justifies us through the blood of CHRIST, HIS sacrificed SON, and HE begins to treat us as if we never sinned at all. The FATHER celebrates the return to life, of any of HIS children who were “dead” (separated from HIM), due to their pursuit of the people and things of this world.

    The older son, who had been working in the fields, returned home to the sound of loud music and celebration for his long lost brother’s return. He became very angry at his father for accepting his younger brother back into the family, and was very jealous and envious about him being given a party after he abandoned the family to seek after the pleasures of the world. In fact, he was so angry that he wouldn’t even go into the house (Vs.25-27).

    When his father came out of the house to plead with him to come in and help celebrate his brother’s return, he rebuked his father saying, “All these years I’ve worked hard for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to do. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when “this son of yours” (here he disowns his younger brother) comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have” (Vs.29-30 – NLT)).

    Here we see the evil elements of “pride” (he still felt that his father owed him something for his service), “envy” (toward his brother), “greed” (because he too had received his inheritance), “selfishness”, and even “narcissism” (he thought too highly of himself) all come pouring out of the heart of the older son. Many people feel the same way about GOD, as this young man felt about his father, they think that through their “good works they put GOD into their debt”.

    The wise and understanding father replied to his older son, “Look my dear son, you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life again! He was lost, but now he is found!” (Vs.31-32 - NLT).

    It is never too late for any person, who still has blood running warm through their veins, to return to the FATHER GOD, WHO, will always have a place prepared for us. The “right time” to come to the FATHER is always “right now”, and the “right way” to come is always, “just as you are”. And GOD will always celebrate with open arms, the return of even those who may be considered by others to be “the least of HIS children” in society. 

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander 

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Legendary Locals of Grand Prairie - Google Books Result

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

 

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday March 10, 2019

Over 192,000 readers worldwide

larrydalexander.blogspot.com

CALLED TO SACRIFICE

(The cost of being a disciple)

(Mark 1:14-20 and Luke 14:25-35)

   The arrest of John the Baptist by King Herod Antipas triggered the beginning of JESUS’ three years of ministering here on earth. After John’s incarceration JESUS went to Galilee and began preaching GOD’s Good News, announcing that the Kingdom of GOD was near, and urging people to repent and turn from their sin (Mark 1:14-15).

    One day as JESUS was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee HE came upon two commercial fishermen, Simon and his brother Andrew, going about their work, fishing with nets in their boat just off shore. JESUS shouted out to them, and invited them to come and let HIM teach them how to fish for the souls of men. As if through divine discernment, they immediately came to shore, left their boat, and began to follow JESUS (Mark 1:16-18).

    A little farther up the shore they came upon Zebedee’s sons, James and John, who were sitting in their large boat with their father and several hired men, mending their torn fishing nets. JESUS called them out of the group and invited them also, to come and follow HIM. And just like Simon and Andrew, they immediately left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with his men, and began following JESUS (Mark 1:19-20).

    People commonly believe that JESUS was just calling these men from their jobs. However, what was happening here in this passage was that, JESUS was actually calling them out of the Church, which had been contaminated by the teachings (yeast) of the Pharisees and others for years, so that HE could teach them the pure undiluted Word of GOD, and then send them back into the Church to fix it, and make it a righteous and holy place of worship, teaching, and prayer again.

    Here JESUS was calling these men to a greater occupation (fishing for men) that would call for them to not just use their physical and mental prowess, but for this task that they were called to, it would take all of their hearts, all of their soul, all of their minds, and all of their hands to accomplish. And so we will now go to the Gospel of Luke, where JESUS explains exactly what it takes to become a disciple of HIS. 

    In Luke 14, verses 25-35, JESUS parted from the house of the unnamed Pharisee, after teaching them on the subject of Salvation, and how it is available for all people who wish to partake in its eternal benefits. When HE left, although throngs of people followed HIM, not all of them were interested in the spiritual things which HE had spoken about earlier. Some people hung around only to see JESUS perform more miraculous acts, while others just wanted to be fed physical food, or hoped to obtain physical healing from HIM. Very few were interested in truly following in the spiritually disciplined lifestyle that JESUS was calling for people to live.

    Taking up at verse 25 of Luke 14, JESUS, now sensing how lightly people were taking the responsibility required by one who seeks to be HIS follower, stops along the side of the road and begins to preach about “the cost of being HIS disciple”. Here JESUS clearly makes a distinction between “salvation” and “discipleship”.

    While at the house of the Pharisee, JESUS had taught basically that “salvation” meant “coming to cross and trusting HIM”. However, in this passage (Vs.25-35), HE is clearly saying that “discipleship” means “picking up your cross, and actually following HIM”.

    JESUS wants us to clearly understand that, while salvation is “free”, when we actually pledge ourselves to follow HIM in discipleship, we must be willing to “pay a very steep price”. Disciples must carry a cross, and that means that we must be willing to identify with CHRIST in suffering and complete surrender to GOD’s Will.

    In verses 26-28, JESUS, no doubt, thins the crowd out considerably when HE lays down the criteria for being HIS disciple. Here HE tells the people, in no uncertain terms, that, “Anyone who wishes to be MY disciple must love ME more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even, more than your own life. Otherwise you cannot be MY disciple. And you cannot be MY disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow ME” (NLT).

    Taking up at verse 28, JESUS explains HIS point further using the well-known analogy of how any sensible person should approach the task of a “building project”. If every 21^st century protestant pastor followed the advice that JESUS renders in verses 28-30, they would never have the weight of a “Church mortgage” hanging over their heads. The very word “mortgage” is a French term that means, quite literally, “death note”, and there is no place for it in the Church that says it represents GOD.

    There is also no successful biblical example of a Church or Temple of GOD being built with borrowed money, especially from a secular source (banks etc.), or any other financial source. In fact, the only biblical account of a temple being built for worshippers of GOD using pagan money at all, was built by King Herod the Great in the first century, and GOD promptly allowed it to be destroyed completely, “with not even one stone left standing on the other”, in A.D. 70. JESUS had earlier foretold to HIS disciples (Luke 21:6, Matthew 24:1-2, Mark 13:2).

    The temple built by Herod, at that time, covered one third of Jerusalem and took over forty years to complete. The problem with this magnificent building project was that it was “not authorized by GOD”, and so, it could not stand as a place where GOD’s name was represented.

    Here in this passage, JESUS gives good solid advice for anyone who wishes to be HIS disciple, however, here HE uses the common-sense analogy that nearly everyone in those days could relate to, and that is, “you don’t begin to build anything, let alone a church building, unless “you already have enough money to finish the project”: Here JESUS advises; “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if there is enough money to pay the bills? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of funds. And then how everyone would laugh at you! They would say, “There’s the person who started that building and ran out of money before it was finished!” (NLT).

   In this day and age we tend to think we can overcome JESUS’ advice by borrowing our way out of our financial shortages. However, it shouldn’t ever be done that way, particularly with the Church. The biblical examples that we see are that dedicated people pool their available assets and monies together until the full estimated cost of the building project has been actually received (not promised), and that’s prior to laying, even the foundation. 

    In JESUS’ second analogy, of “a king going to war against seemingly insurmountable odds”, in verses 31-33, HE tells us that we must be able to use wisdom, not physical force, in battling our only true enemy, who is satan, and, who is spirit. In the “spiritual battle” that must be embarked upon by all of HIS followers, we must rely on the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD, and must depend heavily upon our communication with GOD through our learning of HIS Word, and, through our prayers and supplications, as we desire, and aspire, to ultimately obtain peace through HIS council.

    And finally, in verses 34-35, JESUS renders yet another saying using the element of “salt”. Before man comes to CHRIST, he is only mere “dirt”, or “clay”. The acceptance of CHRIST into our lives gives us “salt”. We then become, as JESUS says, “The salt of the earth”, and are able to overcome the difficult challenges of this life.

    Unlike today, salt in those days would lose its favor after a while and become flat, pretty much in the way we become flat, or “bored” with where we are in life, and, with what we are doing. We can refresh ourselves by doing something different, however, after a while we become bored again (lose our salt), and begin to fizzle off again, in our enthusiasm.

    Anyone who accepts the calling of CHRIST must be prepared to go the distance, just as CHRIST did. We cannot afford to lose our “flavor” over time, as we are still fighting the spiritual battle, lest we render ourselves unable to finish the building project (the spiritual Church body of CHRIST), or, in effect, are unable to overcome in our battle against the true spiritual enemy, satan.       

    JESUS uses the analogy of “salt”, because salt is strong. Salt is used to “cure”, and “preserve”, and, it also continues to “make us thirsty”. Through the strength that the salt of CHRIST gives us, we can be as strong as we need to be, for as long as we need to be, and, at one and the same time, continue to thirst in our quest to seek and know GOD better and better as we move along our Christian journey. And anyone, who is willing to hear, should listen and understand. However, first and foremost, JESUS says that, “We must count the cost” before we embark upon our quest to “follow HIM”.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                                 

                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday March 3, 2019

Over 191,000 readers worldwide

larrydalexander.blogspot.com

CALLED TO SERVE

(Disciples of JESUS must serve with humility)

(Luke 14:7-14)

   William Barclay once wrote, “Many a preacher has been humbled almost to despair when he has heard a real saint of GOD speak. And if we set our lives beside the life of the LORD of all good life, if we see our unworthiness in comparison with the radiance of HIS stainless purity, pride will die and self-satisfaction will be shriveled up”.

    In the Jewish community of the first century, seating arrangements at gatherings were made according to the community status of the individuals who were attending. Occasionally someone would have to be re-seated if a person of a higher status than them showed up. This could leave the person of lower status feeling embarrassed and debased in front of everyone who was attending the event.

    In Luke 14, verses 7-14, after JESUS had noticed how all the quests were jockeying to be seated in a place of honor at the head of the table, HE began to advise them with a parable aimed at teaching them some of the advantages of “being humble”. Here HE gives them an illustration of how pride can set a person up to be humiliated, or knocked down and embarrassed.

    In verses 8-9 JESUS advises the dinner quests not to always head for the best seat in the house at the head of the table. Here JESUS poses this thought to those who were attending the dinner; “What if someone, more respected than you, has also been invited”, HE asks. “Then, the host will have to come and tell you to let that person sit there instead, and you might be embarrassed and have to move to whatever seat is left at the foot of the table” (NLT).

    Instead, JESUS suggests that they find them a place at the foot of the table, and that way, HE says, you put yourself in a position where you can only be “moved up” to a more honored seat, closer to the head of the table. Here JESUS is showing how, “the proud person sets himself up to be humbled”, and how “the humble person can set himself up to be honored”.

    After JESUS voiced this bit of wisdom to the guests, HE turned HIS attention to the host of the gathering and offered up to him, a similar object lesson.  In verse 12, JESUS advises him not to always invite only people who can afford to return the favor, to his events. Instead, HE advises him to try inviting those who are poor, cripple, lame, or blind. Then, at the resurrection of the righteous, JESUS says, GOD will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.

    Giving or extending opportunities to others purely with motives of self-interest is nothing more than “rationalized selfishness”, and that is not the way, or reason, why GOD commands that we do things for others, especially those who are in need of help in the Christian community.

        We should never give for “self-interest”, “self-promotion”, or “because we feel superior to those whom we are helping”. We should give only if we truly are concerned about the person, or “cause” that we are giving to. And if we give also with a mind-set that we are putting others, or even GOD (some do) into our debt, we are giving only so that we may satisfy our own over-blown, distorted vanity, or egos, and to do so is purely narcissistic behavior.

    In these two parables JESUS shows HIS opposition to the pride and self-interest of the Church leadership, the Pharisees. At one and the same time, HE is showing those who are called to be HIS followers, how to do “good works” without needing to have public acknowledgements and awards, or “pats on the back” for their help, time spent, or largesse.

    Followers of CHRIST must be able to serve humbly in both, the foreground, and, in the background, as GOD may call us to work in both situations. And, as dedicated Christians, we must always be able to see those who are “lost”, and, those who are considered to be “the least of our society”, equal to ourselves. And remember, a “lost” or “wrinkled” dollar has the same value as those that “neatly folded” and “saved” in our pockets, or, in our bank accounts.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Legendary Locals of Grand Prairie - Google Books Result

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia