5. . V . Elitism

14:15-24

one reclining

"certain man a great supper"

14:15-24 One of those who were reclining there on hearing these things said to him (Jesus). "Blessed is the one that eats bread in the kingdom of God." And He said to him "A certain man made a great supper and invited many people. When the time for the supper came he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited. Come because it is now prepared. And they all began with the same frame of mind to make excuses. One said "I have bought a farm and I have to go out to see it. I ask that you excuse me." Another said "I have bought a yoke of oxen and I am going to test them out. I

ask that you excuse me." Another said "I have married a wife and therefore cannot come." So coming up to the lord the slave reported these things to him. Then the house-master was angry. He told his slave. "Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city to the poor and the maimed and the blind and lame. Bring them in here." (Later) the slave said "Lord what you commanded has been carried out but there is still room. " So the Lord said to the slave. "Go out into the roads and hedges and compel them to come in so that my home may be filled. For I tell you that not any of those people who had been invited shall taste of my supper. "

6. . V(versus, i.e. against) Ideological foundations

14:25-35

Crowds, many

"lay foundation of house"

14:25-35 Many crowds came together (around him) Turning he said to them. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and his mother and his wife and children and brothers and sisters and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For who amongst you who wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost if you want to actually complete it. Otherwise after laying a foundation you cannot finish. Then all those who see such a one will mock him saying "This man began to build and was not able to finish." Or what king,

going out to attack another king in war, would not first sit down and deliberate. Will he be able to meet the other when he has ten thousand (soldiers) and he comes upon the other who has twenty thousand?" In such case while still at a distance he would send a delegation to negotiate for peace. So therefore any one of you who does not say farewell to his possessions cannot be my disciple. Salt is good. But if the salt becomes useless what can it be seasoned with? It is neither any good for soil nor for manure. They take it outside and throw it away. Let the one who has ears to hear this, let him listen."

Again Luke is developing a line of argument from paragraph to paragraph. He has developed the idea of a 'container'. He has developed the understanding of the sense of the 'word' or 'logos' of the Lord as something which is kept. Listening to the 'logos' is like receiving it c/f in a house at a meal. Now Luke (through his arrangement of what Jesus has taught) shows that the 'kingdom' of the Lord is something quite different to former, familiar social structures. A big break with one's past is needed if one is going to engage in building one's life around the "hybrid" society which is Christianity. Every relationship and connection has to be re-interpreted into it.