Teaching With Food

Neal Pollard

Jesus is the master teacher. One reason was His masterful use of stories. He could take the relatable  events and situations and impart heavenly truths through them. Preachers joke that they can re-preach their sermons as long as they change the illustrations. We sometimes remember the “story” longer than the lesson. The best illustrations contain the lesson. Jesus does that in Luke 14, centering His thoughts on food or at least dinner parties. Notice three things He teaches through this commonly understood analogy.

DEVELOP A TASTE FOR HUMBLE PIE (7-11). Jesus was watching a pitiful, prideful act among His disciples. They were trying to pick out places of honor, apparently feeling pretty self-important and entitled. Jesus urged the very opposite approach to honor and recognition. He says it is better to take the lowest seat and to be asked to come up higher than to take a seat of honor and be asked to yield to one greater. Jesus asserts that reaching for greatness brings disgrace, but assuming a humble posture brings honor. He summarizes this principle, saying, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (11). 

TAKE MEDICINE TO AVOID HEARTBURN (12-14). Jesus’ next illustration also focuses on what’s in the heart. This deals more with one’s motivation for hospitality. The worldly impulse is to do for those who can return the favor, to get something back from those you show kindness to. Jesus teaches them to extend kindness and hospitality to those who cannot repay you so that you can be eternally rewarded by God in the end. This is a basic heart issue, and Jesus dispenses the remedy. 

DON’T LOSE YOUR SENSE OF TASTE (15-24). The longest of the three illustrations regards accepting the invitation God extends to sit at His banqueting table in His eternal kingdom. Jesus illustrates how some inexplicably rejected the invitation to this “big dinner.” At the appropriate time, the call comes, “All things are ready, come to the feast” (cf. 17). But, notice the profoundly sad response: “But they all alike began to make excuses” (18). They chose finance and family, but these represent any excuse that keeps one from accepting the heavenly call (18-20). Then, the Master extends the invitation to any and all who will come (21-23). But, those who had no taste for what only the Master can give will miss out on what only He offers (24). 

The first two stories illustrate the kind of character and ethics that should characterize a disciples. The third represents the kind of decision a true disciple will make. The culinary character of the stories should help it live in us. Jesus wants us to get and incorporate His lessons, so He makes them palatable. May we digest them and receive the intended nourishment.