Be Generous and Hospitable

0:00 We are continuing our Series today in the Book of Luke But before we get into where we are in the Book of Luke. I just want to remind you like I do every week. a few things number one the author is attributed to the the person Luke named Luke. I will just I realize this week during the week. I was thinking about it. I always get up here and say the author is Luke. The author is Luke. Really The Scribe is Luke. The author is the spirit of the Living God.

0:50 Luke Luke chose to scribe according to the prompting of the spirit and and we now have the Book of Luke. So yes, I do understand and and I and I agree with Luke as a as a literary presentation he take he utilizes particular principles in the presentation, but still I I just want you to understand it is inspired. It's really breathed forth. through the Breath of God and that's what we read the purpose we find for the Book of Luke in Luke chapter 1 verses 3 through 4. The reason I always come back to this. You know last Sunday we did we did the vision class

1:36 for Brooke Hashem. What is the vision of Brooke Hashem? We always come back to something so that we can remember where we're going. So Brooklyn we come back to the vision so that we we make all of our choices what what sort of activities do we do at Brook Hashem based upon the vision of Brook Hashem. This is what we do and what we don't do and that may be a great idea, but it doesn't it doesn't align with the vision and therefore we're just gonna leave that one out. Well, that's somebody else do that. Good thing. This is the same thing with a purpose when we have a purpose for the book. Luke lays out the purpose in it all comes into alignment for the for the enrichment of that purpose and the purpose is stated here in Luke chapter 1 verses 3 through 4 Therefore your Excellency, by the way, the the recipient is known

2:23 as Theophilus in the in the previous verses and here he's addressed by your Excellency. Theophilus you can hold the position that he's a specific person or even representative of us as Believers. I hold that he's a particular person and that this is written to him for a particular reason but that reason I think is still applicable to us. So here's the reason since I have carefully investigated all these things from the beginning in other words the the story of Yeshua. From the beginning it seemed good to me that I too should write you an accurate in ordered narrative so that so here this is the purpose when you

3:09 see so that this is where it's you're beginning to be revealed the purpose. so that or for the purpose of so that you might know how well-founded how for sure. Are the things about which you have already been taught you see so I know I say this every week and I'm going to continue to say it while we're in the Book of Luke. It's my opinion that Luke is already a follower of Yeshua. And now Luke, I'm sorry Luke. Theophilus is already a follower of Yeshua and Luke is writing to Theophilus because whatever is going on in theophilus's life, perhaps there's struggles or tests or trials perhaps his faith

3:54 is he's beginning to question his faith, whatever it is. He needs to know for sure the the ground upon which his faith rests. And so Luke writes him and says I'm writing you these things so that you know for sure. How many of us go through trials or or daily problems where we question ourselves? We question the Lord. It's important for us to always know for sure. About the things that we have been taught. about Yeshua Luke continues through the book and he and he's he's addressing in a in a big picture way. He's addressing the inbreaking of the kingdom of God.

4:40 Here on Earth as it already exists in heaven. So the Kingdom of Heaven is breaking in but that's the kind of like what I would call a downward motion, but also the kingdom of Earth has to come from here and come upward. In other words. We the Kingdom of Heaven is both coming down in is a kingdom, but it's also us aligning ourselves with the King and his his precepts or the way. He he instructs us to live. So it's the two together and when the two fully meet then the kingdom of God will be here fully on Earth as it already is you see the kingdom of God the kingdom of God is already how many of you heard that the kingdom of God is already here, but it's not yet.

5:27 It's not yet, because it's not yet to its fullest moment. In the fullest moment that the the realization when the kingdom of God is here is when the rest of the world will see Yeshua sitting up on the throne in Jerusalem. So that's where we're going. This is the kind of the big picture as Yeshua going to be sitting on the throne here, but also at that moment when yeshua's kingdom is is in in full. It means our lives will be in full alignment with him. You see so the two will meet. fully we talked last week about we're in this process of Yeshua going up to Jerusalem. You see I'm telling you these different things because it's important to remember particular

6:15 things as you're studying scripture like location or who it is who's talking who's in the who's in the crowd? All of these items studying scripture isn't just picking up a book and reading. I mean that that's a good start. But it's really slowly and recognizing what's going on. and who's a factor here and so in terms of location Yeshua is has been in the Galilee and is now in the Jewish mind going up to you up to Jerusalem. He's going up to in the Jewish mind because everybody goes up to Jerusalem. You never go down to Jerusalem to even if you're in the north and you're going south you always go up to

7:00 Jerusalem. You know, we in Texas we talk about we go down to Austin. But we'll go up to Amarillo. That's not the case in Jerusalem. It's always we go up to Jerusalem. So Yeshua is in the process of this journey from the Galilee. He's in chapter 9. It says that he turns his face and sets his face towards Jerusalem. You know when you set your face towards something. I don't I it's always makes sense to me. I don't know but it's it's an idiom. It's a Jewish idiom when you set your face towards something. It's like you said it like steal like like Flint or you you determined you're gonna keep going no matter what goes on. Yeshua turns his face and sets his face toward Jerusalem in

7:45 chapter 9 and so he's in this journey from the Galilee to Jerusalem. And he's going from town to town and now last week we talked about him being at a meal a Shabbat meal. He's out of Shabbat meal of a of a leading, Pharisee whether it's a Friday evening, or Shabbat after service or it doesn't actually specify but he's at the meal and last week. This is what we talked about. He was at the meal and Yeshua stands up and he asks questions about about what we would call holoca about regulations regarding healing on Shabbat. And of course, there's no response and there's

8:32 a man who's sick in front of him and Yeshua heals the man. And then he provides the rule from the Torah. That permits him to heal the man. And so what he's doing is he's setting is so fascinating. He's setting helak rulings about how we as his followers are to live our lives. And he follows that ruling. with several parables So we covered two of those maybe three of those parables. We covered several Parables on Wednesday night. First of all, we covered the parable concerning

9:18 where one is to where one sits when invited to a wedding banquet. It says Yeshua says to me some of some go up to the most important spots. He has let me just tell you when you come into a banquet go to the least important spot not the most important spot that way if you choose wrong then the host honors you in front of everyone. But if you go to the most important spot and you choose wrong then the host dishonors you in front of everyone. You see honor in in that in that Society was well, I think honor. In our society is perhaps gone but it should be or even at that time honor was more significant thing than

10:03 it is today in our society. For Better or For Worse And Yeshua ends it and he ends that Parable and he says the one who exalts themself will be humbled. And the one who humbles himself will be exalted. Then he comes to another one another Parable and he says in this Parable he talks about those who are invited to a meal. And he says he says you should invite those who can't repay you. Because then when when you invite those who can't repay you. When they leave you see when you invite your friends that can repay you and they and this was kind of a cultural thing at the time also as you could go from banquet to banquet to banquet and you know, if I invite you you're gonna

10:48 invite me to yours, so that's called a repayment. But if you invite those who can't repay you then what they do is when they leave they speak so much to the generosity of the host that they honor the host everywhere that they go and so the hosts then becomes honorable among everyone. But that's not the purpose because actually Yeshua says at the end of that Parable. He says your generosity even if that doesn't happen you're generosity will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. In other words when the kingdom is fully here. That's when you'll be repaid.

11:34 So now we come I just gave like a oh good. It wasn't that long. It's like a five minute intro now we come. To this week's section of scripture. We're looking at verses 16 of Luke chapter 14 verses 16 through 24. But he replied. Once a man gave a banquet and invited many people. When the time came for the banquet remember, he's already he's already given two Parables about Banquets and now we're coming to another one. When the time came for the banquet he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited come everything is ready. But they responded with a chorus of excuses. The first said to him. I've just bought a field and I have to go see it.

12:20 Please accept my apologies. Another said I've just bought five yoke of oxen and I'm on my way to test them out. Please accept my apologies. Still another said I have just gotten married so I can't come. The slave came and reported these things to his master. Then the owner of the house in a rage told his slave quick go out into the streets in the alleys of the city bring in the poor the disfigured the blind the crippled the slave said sir, what you have ordered has been done and there's still room. The master said to the slave go out to the Country Roads and the boundary walls and insistently persuade people to come in so that my house will be full. I tell you not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.

13:09 This is the parable of the banquet. Well, at least that's what I'm calling it. a banquet parable just as I just told you. We're going to do an exercise real quick. I started off the reading it says but he replied. Which means we're in the middle of something. Which means we have to go back and look what Yeshua is replying to otherwise, we're we're left wondering or if we're not wondering then maybe we're just gonna take the text and read it everything. Something that's totally different than what's meant. So in the previous verse

13:56 someone a guest at the banquet where Yeshua is. Responded to the previous Parable. So again, what was the previous Parable the previous Parable was inviting those to when you host a luncheon or dinner. This is in verses 12 and don't invite your friends or your brothers your relatives or your Rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may revite it may invite you in return as your payback. But when you host them banquet invite the poor the crippled the lame the Blind and you will be blessed since they cannot repay you you'll be repaid at the Resurrection The Righteous then there's a guest to responds now. I just want to say if you haven't gotten it yet. Everybody there is getting uncomfortable in their seats. Yeshua is attacking.

14:44 Openly or hiddenly to be it's up to you. I think it's pretty plain. But Yeshua is is addressing what's going on at the moment? And he's he's talking about. Who haven't you invited? Who are you supposed to be inviting? Don't be making me as a host or even a guest of someone else's house really uncomfortable. I don't know about you guys. Maybe you guys like uncomfortable situations. This will be making me a little bit uncomfortable. So a guess or someone it doesn't say. Says how blessed are those who break bread in the kingdom of God, you know, this is an opportunity. Let's let's move the conversation along Yeshua.

15:29 I'll help. Just going to point out every time someone comes to Yeshua and tries to help like this. It never ends. Well. Or rarely ends well. He says how blessed are those who break bread in the kingdom of God? You see he's setting now Messianic Kingdom expectations. Yeshua started it and he's now continued it. Yeshua said you're going to You'll reap your reward in in the when at the resurrection of the righteous and he says how blessed are those who are gonna be, you know, reaping their reward and breaking bread in the Kingdom of the Messiah.

16:15 In other words, let's move on. Let's have some food. Let's have the main course. I'm getting a little hungry here. It's almost like a Passover dinner you get an hour in and you're like always had is parsley. That can can we have something else? So he's moving the conversation on here. And now let's get into this parable. So let me just recall for you. I know I just read it, but I'm just gonna recall some plain details that are here. first of all, there's a banquet and a lot of people have been invited or so we can so we assume and not only have they been invited but they've submitted an RSVP. This is not like one of those Facebook invites

17:01 to your friends birthday party where you can choose Maybe. this is I'm coming to this banquet. By the way, those babies are the worst. This is a banquet that people of rsvp'd and now it comes to the time of the banquet. And the host is met with the chorus of excuses as to why some of the guests cannot attend. So what we're provided with here in this text are three excuses or three reasons if you will. the first one I just bought a field.

17:48 Well, I don't know that any of us can relate to that. So let's let's just keep that keep that one in your mind. I just bought a field and we'll just go on to the next one. Maybe we can relate to this one. I just bought five yoke of oxen. golly, gee I just bought five yoke of oxen yesterday. That's so relatable to me. I don't know what you guys but I don't buy yoke of oxen. But five yoke of oxen. Is a lot of ox. in fact, it's to the point where from a couple different commentaries. I understood that

18:34 really having one or two yoke of oxen would have been you would have been wealthy. This person has now just purchased five additional yoke of oxen who knows it could be two per yoke or it could be four could be I could be more who knows but we're talking about a lot of ox and this person is clearly wealthy because he's now bought five. So now we come to the the final one. I just got married. Well, some of us in here can relate to that. And some of us by the end of the year will be able to relate to that. But I just got married. I just want to pause here.

19:20 I don't know about you guys. But to me, these are these are seemingly weak excuses. First of all, if I bought it if I bought a piece of land if I bought a field great it's not going anywhere. I'd love to come and eat your wonderful food. Too I bought five more yoke of oxen. Well, if you bought five more then you already got some which means you have somebody who's watching over them. So come enjoy the brisket. That was intended. third

20:05 I just got married great bring her along. Or if you don't want to say I already are stupid. I gotta go. I want to enjoy some good food. It seems to me really weak these excuses. I don't know about you, but it seems to me that but in all of these what is being revealed. about the respondent is that there's something in their lives that is of a higher priority than being at the banquet. Whether it's a field oxen or I just got married something. Is of a higher priority.

20:53 Now I just so happened this week. to be listening to a podcast the podcast is called into the verse. If you if you like podcasts I highly recommend is fantastic podcast. But I happen to be listening it deals with the Torah portions. It goes through the different tour portions. And this is this is why I'm telling you this. This is not this week's story portion that I was listening to. I happen to tune in to a different tour portion. They isn't going to be until I think it's in August. Maybe you're September. It just wasn't a random. I happen

21:39 to listen to something different. and and so I'm listening to it and it's it's on parshot shelf team Which you find in Deuteronomy includes Deuteronomy chapter 20. And Deuteronomy chapter 20, it talks about when the community goes to war. and when the community goes to war I just want to read you this. When the community goes to war, let's see. Here we go. The officers are to speak to the Troops saying. What man has built a new house but has not dedicated it. Let him go back to his house. Otherwise, he might die in the battle in another man would dedicate it.

22:25 What man has planted a Vineyard? But has not put it to use. Let him go back to his house. Otherwise, he might die in the battle in another man would begin to use it. What man has become engaged to a woman? But has not married her. Let him go back to his house. Otherwise, he might die in the battle and another man would marry her. The officers will speak further to the Troops and say what man is afraid and faint-hearted. Let him go back to his house. So he does not weaken. His brother's heart like his own. I don't know about you, but there's some striking resemblance here. Some striking similarities to what Yeshua was talking about. first of all when you buy a field

23:11 Generally, you're probably if it's your first field you're gonna build a house. You got to build a house. So you have a place to live. Rabbi Foreman whose is the primary source into the verse podcast Rabbi Foreman addresses these three different instances. You see these three interesting these three different ones in Deuteronomy. There's the first three and then the final one the final one the one you just missed because of fear it's because if you don't dismiss him, it's going to destroy the community. The first three are very individual related causes. so Rabbi Foreman breaks it down and he says You see these first three, they're good for the individual and if they're good for the individual to the point that they

23:56 need to be released from their obligation then whatever it is is so important for their own life. That they have to be released. for this and he goes further he says. his I'm going to take some words from him here. He says. If a man plants a Vineyard and before he can have some fruit and he goes to battle and he dies. He's dead. That's the worst thing that can happen to him. What's worse than death? And if a man isn't married and goes into the battlefield. But he's engaged and he dies what's worth it? What's worth that? He's dead.

24:41 And if a man has a hasn't built has built a home, but he hasn't dwelt in it yet. What's worse than death? He can't dwell in it. He's dead. And all of these cases he's dead. What's worse than he's dead? Well, what's worse according to Rabbi David form a rabbi David for? Rabbi Foreman what's worse than death? Is the discontinuation of a legacy? And the way you have a legacy? Is you find meaning in your life? And that meaning then goes from generation to generation. So in these cases what he points out is when you go and you build a home, that's when when

25:29 you begin to when you begin to develop meaning in your life and then once you build a home, what's the next thing you do? You have a garden. when you have a garden you you start to plant the garden you have you enjoy the garden and and if you've done this by yourself all along this way, what's the next set the next best thing to do when you have a garden is you need someone to enjoy the garden with? So you get married? And you have these three different things and he says he says but this isn't it. He says these three things mirror. our creator you see in Genesis at the very beginning. our creator by some land

26:17 What's the Creator do after that? He creates a garden. And after he creates a garden, what does he do? He creates someone to be in relationship with. And so we have these three things that mirror. According to Rabbi Foreman that mirror our creator and in fact, we are created for the purpose of being little creators. Of modeling of of mimicking the Lord. So when we build a home we create and we're being like God and it gives us great meaning in our lives when we plant a garden which we couldn't have done if we didn't have the home. then now we want to share this wonderful Bounty with someone and so we get married and when we get married this gives our life ultimate

27:04 really ultimate meeting because now we have relationship with the one that we love and then You have children. in the Legacy is built So you see in this portion in Deuteronomy, we have Legacy. but in the Luke portion They're not quite the same. If you notice they're just a little bit different. It's almost like a weaker version. But in but in either case the servant then comes back to the master. Now. I'm coming back to Luke the servant comes back to the master and reports these excuses and the master says He gets upset. He's he's been Dishonored by these by the by the refusal of these guests to come and

27:51 it's clearly a week excuse for him also, and he says go out into the streets and into the alleys get the poor the disfigured the blind the crippled and they come and now they're still room in the banquet hall and he says go out to the highways and the boundary walls or the hedges. So the Masters house will be full. We're going to come back by the way to Rabbi foremans. connection this means now that they've gone out to the highways the byways the beyond the hedges Over the Hedge. I know you who have children. or were children This means now that the invitation is out to

28:38 those once it's out to the highways and oh and Beyond The Hedge it's now out to those who may not even know the host. You see even in the streets in the alleyways. This host it seems to be well known enough. That they would recognize who's inviting them. But now he's the invitation is going out to the highways and Beyond the hedges and to those who seemingly wouldn't know the host. Or have ever even heard of him. There may be an illusion here by the way to the inclusion of Gentiles those on the highways and Beyond the Hedge. And those who come in from the highways and Beyond the Edge, they fill the banquet hall and there's no longer any room remaining.

29:23 So we're left with. some questions What is this Parable concerning? And I'll tell you I I discovered basically. predominantly two different views and I'll agree with both of them because I'm a good Jewish man. number one Is this Parable is addressing? honor and caring for others in this world and number two. It's addressing the Messianic Kingdom or the kingdom that is coming. So let's talk about how it's it's looking at these two and then we'll finish up. number one

30:09 a banquet is supposed to be an evening and honor so we're now looking at honoring and caring for others in this world. A bank was supposed to be an evening of Honor. The host is the most honored when he invites those who cannot repay his invitations. Why I already told you why because when they eat and they enjoy the food and they go back out. They're gonna go. Oh that dude. can smoke a brisket let me just tell you. About the food that I had there. This man was amazing. He invited all of us. He didn't even really know me. I'm surprised even knew my name.

30:55 And then he called me and ride me into his home and he made dinner for me and and you can see how he's getting on her through all of this. Because he the host is now being talked up among everyone. More so really than if it would have been his friends that he invited. Because if it's his friends, man, I got those good food this week next week. I'm gonna top you. We're gonna have brisket chili. I'm just I'm making up dishes as I go and I'm partially I'm getting hungry but the first get chilly Frank that sounds like a good idea. We should have some of that. If anybody wants to make some chili for tomorrow brisket chili,

31:42 I'm interested to try some of that. Anyways, where was I beyond brisket chili? These people they go out and they share about the generosity of the host and they're honoring him and his reputation is continuing to be built up everywhere where they go. In this final Parable the master goes above and beyond invites all those in the city who cannot repay his invitation and follows it up by inviting those outside of the limits of the city. How do we know it's in the city? Because there's a there's a limit. There's a there's an outer boundary. There's the Hedge. And he goes and he invites

32:27 those who are on the highways and even beyond the Hedge. And he proclaims that those who were originally invited but turned them down will not even taste his food. first of all I just want to point out that's exactly what they wanted. He just let them have it. Because if they wanted to taste his food they would have come. They wouldn't have provided a weak. Excuse if they wanted to enjoy his brisket chili. Listen, I know this man makes really good brisket and now he's making chili. I'm gonna want to try that. I know I just bought a new field, but I'll take care of that later. Let me go try it.

33:14 You see they don't even want to taste his food. Because they've provided an excuse and so now they're getting exactly what they want. He says there's no more room. Even if you want to come you can't taste my food. He fills the room to overflowing so that for the very purpose that there's no leftovers. No leftovers that can even be shared with those. Who didn't want to come in the first place? so you see it's about number one honoring and caring for those in this world. Is what we're looking at the this host

34:00 caring for those throughout the city and those who are even beyond the city limits Beyond his his influence if you will. and he's beginning to care for them and he's beginning to share his provision with them. So that's what we can do in our lives. We'll come to that. We'll come to application here in a few minutes. But secondly I said we could talk about it as if it's the Messianic Kingdom. So let's look how is it the Messianic Kingdom. First of all, I just want to remind us. what Yeshua responding to he's responding to how blessed are those who break bread or eat bread in the king in the Messianic Kingdom in the kingdom is to come. And so to me at least to an obvious Point here that this is is addressing the kingdom to come.

34:50 And in this process there are those who have reserved their space. And they have left. Because they're priorities were out of order. They've removed themselves from the kingdom. Because they are more concerned. With their personal Legacy now, I'm coming back to Rabbi Foreman. They were more concerned with their personal Legacy rather than the Fulfillment of all things. you see In communal life it's it's good. You have to have an Legacy you have to be able to establish that. but when it's in regards to the Fulfillment of all things our Legacy is nothing.

35:38 Our Legacy is worthless. But in this regard they're talking about their legacy is worth a piece of land or five oxen. Five yoke of oxen. Excuse me. They have already received their blessing. Those who responded and said we can't make it. Their blessing is as they got their land. They received their five yoke of oxen they received their wife. But in the Gathering of their personal Legacy, they forfeit the kingdom of God. In the realization hasn't yet hit them at least in the parable.

36:30 They have received their birth their blessing already and they are not even concerned. about this man's honor or blessing that will be poured out to everyone. Because this master this this host took the energy to compel so many people his honor likewise will spread beyond the walls of the city and throughout the Nations. You see someone who comes in off of the highway. Isn't just from this city or this town. You know, it would be kind of like we had a banquet here brush and we invited all the neighborhood. They would know us. For better for worse than neighborhood would know us.

37:18 But if somebody drives in off of 635 635 is only what is it a mile and a half away. Maybe two miles. It's not even the edge of the city. But if you get somebody off of 635, they're like, who are you? They what do you what? You're you're what you're Jews White. That's weird. but those people then would be released after having attended a banquet here my goodness. Have you ever seen Hospitality like that in Brooklyn? And then they drive to wherever they were driving to in the first place. And they begin to tell those people and let's just say somebody. Was driving through. And they were from a different part of the state. They go to a different part of

38:05 the state or maybe somebody was driving through and they're from a different part of the country. or a different part of the world and you can see how quickly The honor for the host would be extended Beyond just the neighborhood beyond the local city. You see the kingdom. the Messianic Kingdom is not just for Jerusalem and the Jewish people It's to go beyond. The hedges the boundaries of the peoples it's to go throughout all of the Nations why for the purpose of honoring and and lifting up the name of the god of Israel?

38:51 in all of the Nations not just in one. You see last week? We talked about a man drowning in his worries and anxieties his own health conditions. We prayed for each other even in this congregation. We prayed for each other about having Yeshua draw out our anxiety our worry our health issues. Whatever issues it is that we're going through in our own lives. This week. I want us to ask two questions. Number one. How do we live in this life? You see because this man. this host

39:36 lived generously inhospitably instead of word think so. Was full of hospitality. Full of generosity full of hospitality. He opened up his home to all of the city. And then to those who he didn't even know. He opened up his home. Do we walk in this Avenue of generosity and hospitality? Let us be sensitive to the leading of the Ruah when he speaks to us to reach out and help others or invite others in. Let's be generous with what we have. But let's let's be generous with the guidance of The Rook. Otherwise, we're just throwing things out.

40:21 Because the ruach can lead us the spirit of the Lord can lead us to those to those moments those people who really need it. And when we're generous and we're hospitable. All of a sudden the kingdom of God is more here on Earth than it was 10 minutes earlier. Because we're giving honor to his name. With what we have been granted. secondly first was how do we live in this life? Secondly, how do we respond to the invitation? For the Messianic Kingdoms in other words, who are we in this parable? Now, I know I say this all the time. I'm gonna say it again.

41:08 Oftentimes when we watch movies when we read books when we when we have a story and there's a hero and there's a what's the what's the other guy called? The villain thank you. It's a antagonist. Thank you. It's a protagonist and the antagonist. Yeah, right. I'm getting I'm getting my literary stuff here. We always view ourselves as the protagonist. We're the hero of the story. I just want to dispel any notion that that's true. because at at the most we are a side character in the story that we are a part of.

41:53 I mean, that's at the most we're a side character supporting actress or actor. because the protagonist the one who's the hero? That's not us. That's Yeshua. The antagonist also is not necessarily us. Though we can behave like him sometimes. You see more often than not we're we're the ones that have villain traits. In the story. We just don't recognize it because we don't look at ourselves. That way we look at ourselves. Oh, look how nice I look today. I look so nice. I have these nice pants on these nice clean shoes.

42:39 It's nice sweater vest. The just keeps me nice and warm up here on the stage. I just look so nice today. I'm such a nice person because I look so nice. I can't think of anybody who's nicer than me. But you see you laugh because I'm making it I'm making it ridiculous, but that's how we think. Oh, no, but that person over there is that's a bad person. That's not that's not me. But we're the ones. Well, I don't want to get too hard. Let's put it this way.

43:26 Did we already accept the invitation? To the feast and then did we get caught up in our own importance? And turn it down. Because I have a field. That I just purchased. Or I have five yoke of oxen that I just purchased. I have five yoke of oxen I just purchased because we're gonna have the best brisket at my banquet. Or I'm married now. I don't need to attend to that. you see we can provide excuses. but our excuses reveal our misaligned priorities

44:17 When we begin to view ourselves more importantly. Than the kingdom of God. I think I'm safe to say that our priorities are misaligned. You say well, I'm not that person in the story. I'm one of the ones from the alley in the in the streets in the you know, or I'm not even Jewish. I came from the highways and Beyond The Hedge like that's day like that's not even me. Well if that's true. If we are that person. Do we express our gratitude for being welcomed into the house of the master? or Perhaps through our acceptance.

45:05 We've extended judgment upon those who are not at the feast. Who've already provided excuses. But you see by by doing that now we're beginning to miss a line our own priorities. How are we treating others during our lifetime here on Earth? Because you know what? one day The Lord will come and each of us will give an account. I don't give an account for you. Sorry, my fingers not pointing in just somewhere over here. I don't give an account for you, and you don't give an account for me. We each stand up and give our own account. my question is how will you feel when you stand up and in our

45:51 account? What is it that you're gonna have to account for? That you're ignoring at this moment. No, I don't need to do that. I don't know. That's that's definitely not I don't have time for that. I just bought a field I'm building a house guide. I just got married. I don't have time for that. I have a new spouse. We're enjoying life together. I don't have time for that. You see all of that's gonna come back around and we're gonna have to give an account. So let me encourage you. Be like the one who invites everyone.

46:36 Not so that you can be repaid. But so you can extend your generosity and Hospitality which is reflecting our makers generosity in the hospitality. You see when he blesses us and we can extend and invite others in. What we're doing is we are acting on his behalf. And we're reflecting his name. But let's not be like the ones who are misaligned in their priorities. And concerned only about ourselves and our own legacy. Let's come to the banquet. Let's Feast with our master and let's celebrate with him. avinasha, Mayim Our Father in heaven

47:23 Lord I Thank you for this Shabbat where I think you for or I thank you for Luke writing. This account to Theophilus Lord, whatever the whatever precipitated this or we don't know exactly but the Lord I just thank you for for this endeavor by Luke so that we can learn. That we can grow. That our faith can be nurtured and and set Upon A firm foundation. Lord I pray that you would draw Us near to you today. Lord I just just ask that you would speak to each and every one of us on this Shabbat Lord. allow us to to ask difficult questions and to seek your guidance. in our interactions in this world

48:11 Lord we bless you and we praise you and yeshua's name. amen The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. give our recognal night surveys from Iraq Are here I don't know if an avalaka movie hones.

48:56 Ka there's some left shall Hello. bechemy schumachikanu in the name of our Messiah Yeshua shabbat shalom