LUKE 14:1-14 HIDDEN AGENDAS A number of important subjects were addressed in one day in chapters 14, 15 and 16. All of them in one way or another, expose things that people thought were hidden. It is important to remember our God not only knows what we do, but "the thoughts and intents of the heart" are all known to Him. The prominent Pharisee and his group had laid the Sabbath day table as a trap for the Lord to yet again seek a legal way to condemn Him publicly. We are never free from attempts on the part of the world, the flesh and the devil to find areas of accusation and condemnation to stop our Christian testimony. The man who was so full of body fluids that he had dropsy, even though he was obviously sick, was not likely to die that day. In the scheme they had made, he was put there to see if the Lord would wait a day to heal him or if He would heal him on the Sabbath day. The Lord Jesus Christ knew exactly the motives behind this set-up plan. The opposition had learned not to ask questions of the Lord. He had used those occasions to denounce them and expose their hypocrisy. This time He put into words in the form of a question what He knew was the point of their orchestrated challenge against Him. Often the reason behind a matter that comes against us will never be articulated so that when one is challenged, they can say, "I never said a thing." Events that happen and the surrounding setting can make us well aware of the reason behind them even though challenging words weren't spoken.
When the Lord Jesus healed the man with dropsy and sent Him away, He exposed them revealing the fact He knew their objective. Again, He asked another question which cut to another motive behind their actions. In their materialistic minds they were willing to rescue a possession (an animal) that had material value to them even though the animal could be kept alive in a pit until the following day. Rather than leave a dumb animal to suffer and perhaps create a financial loss to them, they would lift it out of a pit - but not a human being in a worse condition. Again, they would not answer the Lord's question because they knew He saw right through them to another deceptive motive. Some silences are more telling than spoken words when we are dealing with those who oppose the Gospel and the Word of God.
As evidence of the spiritual departure of those people, the Lord saw how, though they would not prepare a feast on the Sabbath, they would gladly eat the food and not hesitate to make it a social occasion. They had made what was intended to be a day of rest and reflection on the things of God and the ways of God, into a time for visiting and feasting. The things of God to many even today are not taken seriously if they interfere with the seeking of pleasure or personal gain. Watching this scene, the Lord noticed the way the guests were moving about seeking preferred places for their own advantage. With obvious insight He again reveals a hidden agenda that people have when they seek privilege and position for themselves and forget the Lord knows every thought they use for personal advantage. It is not uncommon for people to seek to impress others by the way they dress, the home they build, the car they drive and the people they want to associate with.
Instead of trying to impress others with our importance and looking for prestige, the Lord taught just the opposite. Look for a place where you can humbly serve God out of the lime-light and praise of people. A person of honor and true humility will not seek to exalt himself. He is not looking for a place to show off his perceived self-worth. His self-evaluation is neither the appearance of humility to manipulate others, nor is it self-exaltation to impress others. True humility is a realistic assessment of one's self and involves a willingness and a desire to be of service to others.
In further insight into the hidden agenda of the Pharisee, the Lord Jesus exposed his reason for giving this dinner in the first place. He was seeking an invitation from someone else who was perhaps higher on the social scale than himself. Bad motives and bad manners are still common practices today. It really is a form of rudeness to offer hospitality expecting to be repaid in kind. The Lord indicated the value of good motives and good manners being shown toward those who are unable to repay your kindness. We need to remember that those things done for people in need have eternal consequences. Every motive behind every action is known and evaluated by God. There will be a recompense in the future even though you may see no reward now.
We may not ever know what is behind some person's actions. Our response is up to us, we can only control our reaction. I am not in a position to pass judgment on another person's motive, But I can learn by paying attention to what my own response is.
Those unseen things we try to hide from men will someday be exposed. What we may think is well hidden now, our Lord and Master knows. It helps us to stop and consider the goal before in haste we act, That He who knows all things we plan, sees each one as a fact.
It may not come to a deed, but if the motive in the heart Is unbecoming to me as a Christian, I should never start To even think about doing something over which I cannot pray And ask God's fullest blessing on an action or what I say.
To seek to impress people with blatant boldness instead of humility Is to reveal outward in an offensive way what is hidden internally. Prestige is earned by integrity, not gained by subtle manipulation. Underhanded activity will only ruin a person's reputation.
In God's way of doing things the proud man is resisted. And he will lose forever that for which he once insisted. When in a future day the results of what was hidden is revealed. There will be no question as to motive, nothing will be concealed.
On the other hand, there are eternal rewards for the truly humble. Their quiet obedience to God's will is a safeguard lest they stumble. God is determined to put the proud man down and lift the humble up. Though in worldly eyes they are low, at the head-table they will sup.
"Father, my prayer today is that I will truly be humble and yet not groveling, wise and yet not conceited, useful and yet not demanding. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."