Luke 13:31-14:24

Luke 13:31 - 14:24

1. What prompted the Pharisees to warn Jesus of Herod’s intentions?

2. Jesus’ life, work, and death were not determined by Herod or the Pharisees. What or who planned and directed his life and mission?

3. Why was Jesus focusing on Jerusalem? Why did Jesus say with respect to gathering its people together, Jerusalem was “not willing” or would not let him? (13:34, 1 Kings 19:10, 2 Chronicles 24:19)

4. How was the meal at the Pharisee’s house set up to trap Jesus? (14:1-2) Did it?

5. What does the parable in Verses 7-11 mean today? Are you eager to raise your social status? To be with the “right” people? To drive a nice car? Who do you try to impress?

6. How can we humble ourselves? (14:11) Does humility mean putting yourself down? Is humility the same as self-degradation? What is real humility?

7. In Verses 12-14, Jesus advises his host to invite people who cannot repay him back. What do you think of this advice? Does this include people who are poor because they are lazy or poor by choice?

8. There are two points in the “who-to-invite” story (vs 12-14). They are?

9. How do you feel when you plan a big event and it is poorly attended?  What kind of excuses do you most resent others using?

10. In Jesus’ days, it was customary to send two invitations to a party - the first to announce it and the second to tell the guests that everything was ready. How does the parable of this party (banquet) fit into Israel’s history? How did the character of the banquet change given the new guest list?

11. There are many people in this story: the master, his servant, those invited the first time, the crippled and blind, others on country roads. Who do you identify with and why?

12. From Luke 13:18 to 14:23, the underlying theme has been the process of entering the Kingdom of God. What are the steps in this process?