Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.54LIKELY
Disgust
0.13UNLIKELY
Fear
0.13UNLIKELY
Joy
0.5UNLIKELY
Sadness
0.56LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.51LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.27UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.76LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.87LIKELY
Extraversion
0.17UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.71LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.76LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Luke 14:15-24
Intro: This is a chapter about hypocrisy.
It opens with Jesus being invited to the home of one of the chief Pharisees, v. 1.
It was common for teachers to be invited home for a meal after services at the synagogue, much like people in our area used to have the preacher home for Sunday lunch.
This was a not a time for hospitality; it was a time for hypocrisy.
The Pharisee had also invited a man with “dropsy”, v. 2. The host made sure that this man was placed where Jesus could not miss him.
“Dropsy” is a condition in which the tissues of the body retain water.
It was caused by problems with the heart, the kidneys, or the liver.
In that day, it was an untreatable, incurable condition.
The Pharisees brought the man there that day to catch Jesus in a trap.
If He merely ignored the sick man, they could claim that He lacked compassion.
If Jesus healed the sick man, they would accuse Him of breaking the Sabbath.
Jesus, knowing what was in their hearts, turned the tables on them, v. 3.
He asked them if it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath, then Jesus healed the sick man and sent him away for the man’s safety.
The Pharisees refused to answer, v. 4.
In v. 5 Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of their hearts.
He reminded them that they would go out of their way on the Sabbath to save a valued animal, but they lacked the decency to help a fellow human who was created in the very image of God.
They were left speechless, v. 6.
So, Jesus told shared a couple of parables with His hosts in verses 7-14.
These parables were designed to teach these hard-hearted men the value of true humility.
Instead of trying to promote self by seeking the seats of honor in a feast, they were to just take a seat and leave their advancement to the host of the feast, vv.
7-11.
Then, He challenged them to reach out to people who could not return the favor, instead of only reaching out to those who could benefit them, vv.
12-14.
This brings us to our text.
One of the guests hears all this talk about breaking bread and he tried to be super-spiritual.
People do that all the time!
They try to act spiritual, but all they do is reveal how unspiritual they truly are.
This man basically says, “Praise God, we are going to a real feast some day!”
The Jews believed that the Kingdom of God was like a feast.
They believed they would sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and break bread.
This fellow talked like he believed that he would be there.
Jesus used this opportunity to confront the hypocrisy of the Jews; to challenge the false confidence of those who believed they were right with God; and to teach them how the invitation to God’s feast really worked.
I want to take a look at these verses today because they confront us as well.
They remind us that God is on a mission.
He is on a mission to save the souls of lost men and women and He has commanded us to join Him in this mission.
I. v. 16-17 THE INVITATION EXTENDED
A. The Splendor Of This Event-vs.
16– We are told that this would be a “great supper”.
This indicates that it would be an opulent, grand event.
It would be a time of lavish entertainment for those attending.
B. The Scope Of This Event – Surely the people who were invited to this feast were the cream of the crop.
They were the rich and the influential.
They were the movers and the shakers.
They were the who’s who of the who’s who.
Everyone that was anyone would have been invited to come.
(Ill.
Jesus is using this feast to illustrate the glory of God’s kingdom.
For those who will attend the Lord’s feast in Heaven, it will be an event so grand and so glorious that we cannot even begin to comprehend it.
Look at the grandeur of this world, and remember that this world is tainted and spoiled by sin.
Then, imagine if you will a world that is perfect.
A world that is free from sin, free from the influence of the devil, free from pain, suffering, sorrow and tears, Rev. 21:4
Imagine a world that is lit by the very glory of God.
Imagine a world that is filled with holiness and righteousness.
Imagine a feast attended by the great saints of the ages.
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be there.
David and Solomon will be in attendance.
Ruth, Rahab and Bathsheba will be at the table.
The Apostles and all the saints of the ages will take their seats at this feast.
If you can imagine a scene like that, then you have a small idea of where we are headed and of what we will see and experience when we arrive there.
It will be the social event of eternity, and you do not want to miss it for the world!
The only way to get on the guest list is to be invited by the host and have a personal relationship with His Son!
I haven’t attended many fancy dinners down here, but I am going to a feat hosted by God the Father one day!)
I.
The Invitation Extended
II.
v. 18-20 THE INVITATION EXTINGUISHED
(Ill.
When a feast of this magnitude was planned in the ancient world, it was not a spur of the moment event.
All of those invited would have been informed of the date of the event well in advance.
Each one of them would have already promised that they would attend the event.
The host would need to know how much food to prepare.
So he would need an accurate account of who was coming.
When the date for the feast arrived, the host would send out his servants to call those who had been invited to come to the feast.
They knew the date and they were to be prepared and ready.
As we will see in these verses that is not exactly what happened.
When the servant came to those invited, they began to make excuses as to why they could not attend the feast.
The primary context of these verses points to Israel and their call to come into the Kingdom.
Just like the people in the parable, they had been notified of the upcoming event beforehand.
Yet, when the time came to go to Messiah, they refused and would not come, John 1:11-12
When this happened, God turned to others to fill up His household – Rom.
11:11; Rom.
1:16
Their response to the call to come did not catch God off guard.
There is an application in these verses to this present age of grace.
God the Father has prepared a means of salvation for all who will come.
He did so by sending His Son Jesus to die on the cross.
Now, He has sent His Holy Spirit into the world and it is He who invites sinners to come to Jesus.
Yet, like Israel of old, men turn a deaf ear to the pleading of the Spirit of God.
Most men do not realize, however, that without His call and His wooing, man cannot be saved – John 6:44
Let’s examine the excuses offered by those who were invited, but who refused to come.
These are just a few excuses, but they represent the areas of life people use as reasons why they cannot come to God.)
A. Vs.
18-The Excuse Of Material Possessions – This man had purchased a piece of property, without seeing it first.
Who does that?
Then, who goes to look at this mystery property in the evening?
This man and his excuse picture the sinner who is so materially minded that he refuses the call of the Gospel so that he can continue to live for this world and all that it gives.
God has a Word for this type of individual – Mark 8:36-37
B. Vs. 19-The Excuse Of Professional Advancement – This man had bought 10 oxen, without trying them out, and he can’t come to the party because he has to go and plow a field.
He is trying to get ahead in the world.
Of course, his excuse is a lame one at best.
Who buys oxen without trying them out?
Who buys oxen and then tries them out at night?
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9