Why do you call me LORD and not do what I say? Remember the Sermon on the Mount - give in secret, pray in private, give to those who cannot repay. We must understand that it was the rejection of the Jews of the authority of Jesus which led to empty seats at the table. Jesus turned to the halt, the blind, the lame - us (the Gentiles). Don't boast against the natural branches. We are less than the guests expected by Jesus.

***

71: Jesus is Warned of Herod

Luke 13:31-35

On the same day certain Pharisees came to Jesus, saying:

            “Get thee out and depart hence. For Herod will kill thee.”

            Jesus answered them, saying:

            “Go ye, and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’ Nevertheless I must walk today, and tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

Behold, your house is left unto you desolate; and verily I say unto you, ‘Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”’”

***

72: Jesus Teaches At The Table Of A Chief Pharisee

Luke 14:1-24

Jesus Heals A Man With Dropsy

On a Sabbath day Jesus ate in the house of one of the chief Pharisees. He was being watched closely.

            A man came before him who was afflicted with dropsy. Jesus spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, asking:

            “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?”

            The lawyers and Pharisees remained silent. Thereupon Jesus healed the man and let him depart. Then he said to the lawyers and Pharisees:

            “Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the Sabbath day?”

            And the lawyers and Pharisees were unable to give any answer.

The Parable Of The Wedding Guest

While he was eating at the home of the chief Pharisee, Jesus, who noticed how certain of the guests always pushed themselves into the positions of honor, said to them:

“When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room: lest a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him; and he that bade thee and him, come and say to thee, ‘Give this man place;’ and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

  Jesus Instructs The Pharisee

Jesus also said to the Pharisee who had invited him to eat:

“When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither they kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind; and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of thejust.”

  The Parable Of The Great Supper

One of the guests said:

“Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.”

Jesus said to the guest:

“A certain man made a great supper, and bade many; and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, ‘Come; for all things are now ready.’ And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it. I pray thee have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them. I pray thee have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.’ And the servant said, ‘Lord, it is done as thou has commanded, and yet there is room.’

“And the lord said unto the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.’”