Studies by Book
Luke 14 12-14 Friend of the poor 01 Merciful and kind to the unthankful and evil
📖 Luke 14:12-14
29Nov19 - *Merciful and kind to the unthankful* - _Luke 14:12-14_ - Bible reading: _Luke 6:32-36_
Friends, we have completed our study of _Luke 14:7-11_ , which we have entitled as *Humility for His glory*. We learnt a few applications of humility. The first application that we examined was the principle of justification. The second, was the application of experiencing God’s grace. The third application of humility that we considered was the application of the meek inheriting the earth and the fourth application that we considered yesterday was that the Lord will be exalted.
We now move on to the next paragraph, which is _Luke 14:12-14_ and we will title this paragraph as *Friend of the poor*.
As we begin to look at this paragraph, let us take a moment to consider the context in which our Lord is giving this teaching. _Luke 14:1 Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely._ Our Lord was at the home of the ruler of the Pharisees. This was an important man in society. There were guests, who were invited and it was to them that the teaching on humility was given. We can imagine the politics and undercurrents that would be playing out in such a setting. Everyone jostling and elbowing for significance and recognition.
It was to this audience that our Lord was giving this teaching of being a *friend of the poor*. The poor, about whom this particular group was the least concerned, except to use them for their advantage.
_Luke 14:12-14 Then He also said to him who invited Him, "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid._ This was exactly what people in this group were doing and the Lord told them not to do so. Are we any different? Our Lord is confronting us. _(13) But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind._ The poor were not in the radar of the people at this mean. What about us? Do we consider the poor? _(14) And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."_ Our focus in life is to build our rewards in heaven. Where are we building our rewards today, here on earth or for eternity?
_Luke 6:32-36 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. (33) And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. (34) And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. (35) But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. (36) Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful._
God is merciful and kind to the unthankful and evil. We are the children of our Father in heaven and so we carry His qualities and traits.
*Thought to ponder*
```We can only represent Him unless we are filled by His Spirit.```