Sacred Roots Thriving In Ministry - Apprenticed by the Early Church

A ppendix • 97

1. Disciples snacking on corn on the Sabbath

2. The Pharisees disputation: “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.”

3. Jesus’s retort: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.”

a. Mercy to the poor and broken, not ritual faithfulness

b. Compassion for the broken, not religious discipline

C. Ministry to the poor is the litmus test of authentic salvation.

IV. Jesus Identifies Himself Unreservedly with the Poor.

A. Those who cannot repay you, Luke 14.11-15

Luke 14.11-14 (ESV) - “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” [12] He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. [13] But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, [14] and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” Matt. 25.34-40 (ESV) - Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. [35] For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, [36] I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” [37] Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? [38] And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? [39] And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” [40] And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

B. The Judgment Seat of the King, Matt. 25.31-45