Receiving the Lord’s Dinner Invitation

1. And it came to pass as He came into the house of one of the ruling Pharisees to eat bread on a Sabbath, they also watched Him closely.

2. And behold, there was a certain man with dropsy in front of Him.

3. And Jesus answering said to the lawyers and Pharisees, “Is it permitted to cure on the Sabbath?”

4. And they were quiet; and taking [hold] [of him], He healed him and sent [him] away.

5. And answering He said to them, “Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull it out on the day of the Sabbath?”

6. And they were not able to answer Him again as to these things.

The previous episode ended with the words, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” In the literal sense, this refers to the Lord’s coming into Jerusalem to declare Himself to be king. More deeply, however, this also refers to the Lord’s coming into our lives as the ruler of our inner world, a mighty king who rules over our lower desires, and gives us the divine law as a guide for our lives.

The simple truth is that God is perpetually striving to enter our understanding (signified by “Jerusalem”) with comforting, reassuring truths. That is why He says, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings.” In other words, God is continually desiring to feed us with His love and truth, even as a mother bird instinctively feeds her young—but we are not willing. ¹

It is because of our unwillingness that Jesus says, “See! Your house is left to you desolate.” In the language of sacred symbolism, a “house” refers to the human mind; it is left desolate whenever God is not received. But Jesus never abandons us, and never leaves us in desolation. Even though we may stubbornly refuse to admit Him “who comes in the name of the Lord,” He keeps showing up in our lives, just as He keeps showing up in the lives of the scribes and Pharisees. He keeps knocking on the door of our “house”—our mind—ready to come in, ready to break bread with us, ready to share the goodness and truth He yearns to give us.

It is for this reason that the next chapter begins with the words, “Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely” (Luke 14:1). As we have seen before, “they watched Him closely” not because they want to learn from Him, but because they want to catch Him in some violation of Mosaic law. It’s clear that as far as the Pharisees are concerned, this is not going to be just another meal; it’s going to be another opportunity for them to find fault with Jesus.

Healing dropsy

As the episode begins, we learn that there is a man at the meal who suffers from a condition called “dropsy.” This is an old medical term for any abnormal swelling caused by the build up and retention of fluid in the body. Sometimes known as “edema,” it describes a medical condition in which fluid is trapped in body tissue and cannot escape. While dropsy normally affects the skin, it can also affect the eyes, heart, lungs, and brain. The excessive build-up of fluid in these areas can lead to blindness, difficulty breathing, heart-failure, and even death. “Dropsy,” then, or the body’s abnormal retention of water, can be life-threatening.

Spiritually seen, especially in the context of the preceding chapter, the abnormal retention of water in the body relates to the abnormal retention of truth in the mind. Water, as we know, corresponds to truth. What water does for the body truth does for the mind. Water, however, is not taken in merely to be stored up; rather, it is taken in for the physical uses that the body performs.

Similarly, truth is not taken in merely to be stored up, but rather to be put to use. Like a fig tree that is filled with leaves but does not bear fruit, a person who is “filled with truth” but who does not perform useful service through that truth, suffers from “spiritual dropsy.” The truth is, so to speak, “trapped” in the person’s mind and prevented from performing its use. In this way, truth, which is intended to serve as a healthy guide for doing good becomes perverted into something that can not only damage but eventually destroy a person’s spiritual life. Truth is meant for use. ²

This, then, is the spiritual meaning of the illness called “dropsy,” or as it is written in Greek, ὑδρωπικὸς (hydrōpikos) which means, literally, “full of water.” Biblical commentators suggest that the Pharisees invited the man with dropsy to the sabbath meal with a specific purpose in mind. They were eager to test Jesus. They wanted to see if Jesus would perform another healing miracle on the Sabbath. They may have been wondering, Will Jesus once again violate Mosaic law by working on the Sabbath? After all, He just healed a woman who couldn’t straighten up. Is He about to do something similar—and on the Sabbath no less? Let’s see if we can catch Him in the act and condemn Him for violating the Sabbath commandment.

Fully aware that the lawyers and Pharisees are closely watching Him, ready to condemn Him, Jesus first questions them about the Sabbath. He asks, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” (Luke 14:2). While it is true that the Hebrew scriptures forbade working on the Sabbath, there was no specific law that forbade healing on the Sabbath. Most people knew, intuitively, that animals still needed to be fed on the Sabbath, children needed to be cared for, and an injured person needed to be helped. Therefore, the lawyers and Pharisees do not respond to Jesus’ question. While they remain silent, Jesus, takes hold of the man with dropsy, heals him, and sends him on his way (Luke 14:3-4). Then, turning to the lawyers and Pharisees, Jesus asks, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” (Luke 14:5).

The mention of the donkey and the ox brings to mind a similar example given just a few verses earlier: “Does each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?” (Luke 13:15). Loosing the donkey and ox from the stall in order to water it refers to the basic biological need for water as a sustainer of physical life. More deeply, this image corresponds to the basic spiritual need for truth as a sustainer of spiritual life. But in the case of the man with edema, the problem is too much water—a massive accumulation of fluid in the body.

Spiritually, an excess of truth in our minds, is a sort of “spiritual swelling” which results when truth is merely stored up and not put to use. Instead of being used for spiritual health it becomes a source of spiritual harm. The truth of the Lord’s Word is intended to teach us how to do good for others. But when it serves to merely swell our egos, enhance our reputations, accumulate wealth, its fundamental use has been perverted. ³

In healing the man with dropsy, Jesus is giving the scribes and Pharisees an important lesson about how to rightly interpret God’s law concerning the Sabbath. At the same time, He is also giving them a deeper lesson about the importance of humility which is the opposite of excessive pride. But they are not yet able or willing to understand Jesus’ teaching. The best that they can do is simply not answer. Therefore, it is written “They could not answer Him regarding these things” (Luke 14:6).

Responsibilities of the Dinner Guest

7. And He spoke a parable to those who were invited when He observed how they chose out the first places to recline, saying to them,

8. “When thou art invited by anyone to a wedding, recline not in the first places to recline, lest [one] more honorable than thou be invited by him,

9. And he that called thee and him, coming, shall say to thee, ‘Give this [man] a place’; and then thou begin with shame to have the last place.

10. But when thou art invited, go recline in the last place, that when he that invited thee comes, he may say to thee,’ Friend, go up higher.’ Then shalt thou have glory before those that sit with thee.

11. For everyone that exalts himself shall be humbled, and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.”

The object lesson, in which Jesus heals the man of dropsy, has little effect on the lawyers and Pharisees. On the literal level, He is instructing them about the Sabbath, showing them that their extreme strictness—even to forbid healing—is diametrically opposed to the spirit of the commandments. More deeply, the object lesson is about excessive pride and the exaggerated states of self-importance that result from having a knowledge of truth without a desire to put it into one’s life. Their only response is silence.

Jesus, however, is undeterred by their lack of response. Instead, He goes on to give them another, more obvious lesson. Noting how the people who have come to dine at the Pharisee’s house have chosen the best places for themselves at the table, He gives them some practical advice: “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast,” He explains, “do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place” (Luke 14:9).

This appears to be a straightforward, and practical lesson. The scribes and Pharisees, who pride themselves on their learning, and who love seats of honor, might be interested in advice about how to avoid shame. After all, it is in their self-interest to guard their reputations and avoid public embarrassment. They would also be interested in ways they could advance their reputation in the eyes of others. Therefore, Jesus tells them how to do this: “But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest places, so that when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher’” (Luke 14:10). Note how Jesus appeals to their love of having a good reputation, honor, and glory: “Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you.” ⁴

We would be mistaken, however, to conclude that Jesus is merely giving lessons in how to protect and promote one’s reputation. The kingdom of heaven is not about social climbing; it’s about humbly receiving what flows in from God. It’s about removing ourselves from excessive pride, recognizing our lowliness, and allowing ourselves to be lifted up by God. That’s why Jesus deepens the lesson by adding this eternal truth: “Whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). ⁵

Responsibilities of the Host

12. And He said also to him that invited Him, “When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brothers, nor thy kinsfolk, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite thee back, and a recompense be made thee.

13. But when thou makest a reception, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind;

14. And thou shalt be happy, for they cannot recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.”

Having dealt with the responsibilities of the dinner guest, Jesus now addresses the responsibilities of the dinner host. He says, “When you give a dinner, or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor your rich neighbors, lest they invite you back and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind” (Luke 14:12-13). Once again, Jesus is turning upside-down the customs and practices of His day. It was almost unthinkable to invite the poor, maimed, lame and blind—these were the social outcasts, the ones purportedly despised by God, and therefore punished with poverty and physical disability. To associate with them, and especially to eat a meal with them, would be to risk contamination.

But Jesus knew this was a false belief and an evil practice. He knew that wealth and poverty were not signs of favor or disfavor with God. Similarly, He knew that physical health and physical affliction were not blessings or curses from God. While it is true that disease can have a spiritual origin, it does not follow that people who are afflicted by diseases have brought those diseases upon themselves. Nor does it follow that God punishes people by cursing them with poverty, disease, and affliction as penalties for their sin. God never punishes and never casts anyone into hell. On the contrary, God is love itself, wisdom itself, and mercy itself. He intends nothing but good, and wills only good for everyone. ⁶

On one level, inviting “the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind” to the feast might seem to flagrantly defy the social customs and mistaken religious beliefs of the day. In reality, it is to practice true benevolence and inclusiveness, welcoming all people to the table, regardless of their social status or physical condition. More deeply, the “poor, maimed, lame, and blind” represent the various spiritual disabilities that are prevalent among people who lack an understanding of spiritual truth and the power to live according to that truth. This also applies to the places within ourselves that are in spiritual need. These are the people whom the host should invite to supper. ⁷

And for those who do so, thinking of gaining nothing in return, there will be a great blessing. As it is written, “And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be paid at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:14). The idea here is that true heavenly joy is in serving others without any thought of reward or gain. ⁸

Rejecting God’s Invitation

15. And when one of those that sat with [Him] heard these things, he said to Him, “Happy [is] he that eats bread in the kingdom of God.”

16. And He said to him, “A certain man made a great supper, and invited many.

17. And he sent his servant at the hour of supper to say to those that were invited, ‘Come, for all things are already prepared.’

18. And they all as one began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I have the necessity to go out and see it; I beseech thee, have me excused.’

19. And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to test them; I beseech thee, have me excused.’

20. And another said, ‘I have wedded a woman, and therefore I cannot come.’

21. And that servant, having come, reported these things to his lord. Then the householder, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’

22. And the servant said, ‘Lord, it is done as thou hast ordered, and there are still places.’

23. And the lord said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain [them] to come in, that my house may be filled.

24. For I say to you that none of those men that were invited shall taste of my supper.’”

When Jesus speaks about the duties of the host, one of the people sitting at the table seems to understand, for he cries out, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” (Luke 14:15). The “bread” that we shall eat there, of course, is not physical bread—but rather the bread which comes from heaven, the deep feelings of love that feed our spirit, and the refreshing truth that quenches our spiritual thirst. These are the feelings and thoughts that flow in from God whenever we are engaged in unselfish service. This differs greatly from having a dinner to impress friends or curry the favor of influential people. This is the dinner that is provided for the spiritually poor, maimed, lame, and blind states within us. It is a heavenly feast in which we “eat bread” in the kingdom of God. ⁹

In this parable, God is the host for the great supper, and each of us is an invited guest. Jesus puts it like this: “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many.” The “great supper” is the opportunity to receive the goodness and truth that the Lord freely offers to everyone. This is represented by the man telling his servant to go out and say to the invited guests, “Come, for all things are now ready” (Luke 14:17). The “servant” is the truth of God’s Word. It is a constant invitation to feast on God’s love and drink in God’s truth as one would eat and drink at a wedding celebration. ¹⁰

Unfortunately, people do not always accept the invitation. Some, like the person who had just bought a piece of land, politely ask to be excused. He says, “I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go see it. Please excuse me” (Luke 14:18). The second person makes a similar request, saying, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. Please excuse me” (Luke 14:19). While they are polite, their excuses seem flimsy. After all, who would buy land without seeing it or oxen without first testing them? On the literal level, then, this sounds like mere excuse-making—the shallow justifications we concoct to avoid responding to God’s call.

We come now to the third person. He also cannot accept the man’s invitation, but he is less polite. He does not even ask to be excused. He merely says, “I have wedded a woman, and therefore I cannot come” (Luke 14:20). At first glance, this seems to be a fairly acceptable excuse. After all, it could be viewed as a good thing to focus attention on one’s wife, to look after her needs, and to be there to support her. But notice how the master responds when the servant comes back and reports on the refusals to accept his invitation. As it is written, “Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind’” (Luke 14:21).

Why would the master be angry? For some, this is an image of God’s anger with us for not accepting His personal invitation to come to the great feast. Seen from the perspective of our own humanity, it can be very upsetting to have prepared a great feast, and then, after having made everything ready, the invited guests decide not to come. We might even be angry. Seen merely at this level, the parable could have a powerful impact, warning people to beware the wrath of God if they do not respond to His invitation. This is what it means to understand scripture according to our own state of consciousness—a state in which we see God as capable of anger. The truth is, however, that God is never angry. No matter how often we refuse His invitation, He never ceases to offer it. The anger that is attributed to God is a projection of our own human states. People see God according to the state of their own consciousness. ¹¹

It is important to understand the different ways we have seen God, at different times in our lives, and at different eras in the advancement of humanity. Otherwise, we might come away from the Word with an understanding that is written for people who are unable to lift their minds above the idea of an angry father—a father who would be so incensed by a refusal to attend his dinner that he would say, “None of these men who were invited shall taste my supper” (Luke 14:24). In spiritual reality, it is our own refusal to accept God’s invitation that shuts us out of the rich banquet He has prepared for us. Therefore, this parable is not about “Divine anger”—there is no such thing; it is, rather, about our refusal to receive the love and wisdom that the Lord desires to share with us. ¹²

Three types of refusal

We also need to take a deeper look at the three types of refusal that are given. Each refusal pictures a particular way in which we go about refusing God’s invitation to come to the feast He has provided for us. In the first example, the man says that he has just bought a field and wants to go “see it.” The word “see” suggests that this excuse relates to the understanding. More specifically, it is about a tendency in each of us to be preoccupied with our own ideas, our own insights, and our own thoughts about spiritual reality. Sometimes referred to as “the pride of self-intellect,” this tendency prides itself on being able to see what’s true without the aid of revelation. When we are in this frame of mind, we have “bought into” our own way of seeing things and believe that the way we see things is true. Therefore, there is no need for the Word of God, and no time for biblical study. Why bother? says this mindset. I can find all the answers I need within myself. This is the biblical equivalent of these words from the Hebrew scriptures: “In his pride the wicked man does not seek the Lord; in all his thoughts there is no room for God” (Psalms 10:4).

When this is the case, there is no desire to listen to what God has to say or to accept His invitation. Believing that all answers can be found within oneself, there is no need for revelation. This, then, is the “intellectual” denial of God; we would rather “see” for ourselves than to trust in what God has revealed in His Word. This is the person who says, “I have bought a piece of ground and must go and see it. Please excuse me” ¹³

The second person asks to be excused because he has just bought “five yoke of oxen.” In the Word, “oxen” represent our natural affections. These are the affections that plod along, head down, like the ox, faithfully doing its job, hauling logs, plowing fields, pulling carts, while being unaware of anything higher than natural charity. People like this believe in doing good, not because the Lord teaches so, but simply because they have an inherited inclination to do what is good. They have, so to speak, “bought into” the idea that they are naturally good and therefore have no need of God.

When we believe that the good we do is from ourselves rather than from the Lord, we will have little interest in going to the Lord for spiritual nourishment. Instead, we will decline the Lord’s invitation, saying in our hearts, I’m basically a good person, and I have all the power I need to do good. Therefore, I have no need for God. In the parable, this is the person who says, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. Please excuse me.” ¹⁴

To sum up the first two refusals: The man who wanted to “see the field” represents self-intellect, the stubborn belief that we can think for ourselves without instruction from God’s Word. The man who wanted to go and “test the five yoke of oxen” represents the part of us that believes that we are basically good and can do everything, just fine, under our own power. Taken together, these two parts of the human mind represent the pride of self-intellect and the belief in one’s own power. This illusion of self-sufficiency leads to the idea that there is no need for God in one’s life. When this is the case, God’s invitation to come to the table is declined.

We come now to the third person whose excuse is that he has “wedded a woman.” This person’s excuse represents the part of us that is so “wedded” to our beliefs and attitudes that we don’t even bother with asking politely to be excused. Instead of saying, “Please excuse me,” this part of our mind says, quite bluntly, “I cannot come.” This represents the worst of the three refusals. When both the intellect and the will are convinced that they have no need for God, an “infernal marriage” of falsity and evil takes place. We have become confirmed in our belief that we can know truth without revelation and that we can be good without God. In the language of sacred scripture, this is represented in the words of the third person who says, ““I have wedded a woman, and therefore I cannot come.” ¹⁵

These three kinds of refusal represent the various ways we refuse to accept the Lord’s invitation to come to His table for spiritual nourishment. Whether it is intellectual arrogance (I can figure this out for myself) or belief in our own goodness (I can do all things by myself), or the infernal marriage of falsity and evil within us, we will have no reason or desire to accept the Lord’s invitation. Whenever this happens, it is not the Lord’s fault, but our own, if we fail to taste the joys of heavenly life. This, then, is what is meant in the closing words of this parable when Jesus says, “None of those men who were invited shall taste my supper” (Luke 14:24). The Lord has not rejected them; they have freely chosen to reject the Lord. ¹⁶

On Becoming a Disciple

25. And many crowds went with Him, and turning He said to them,

26. “If anyone come to Me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, yes, and his own soul also, he cannot be My disciple.

27. And whoever does not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.

28. For which of you that wills to build a tower sits not [down] first and counts the cost, whether he has [‘sufficient] to complete [it]?

29. Lest when he has placed the foundation and is not able to finish, all who behold begin to mock him,

30. Saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’

31. Or what king, going to wage war with another king, sits not [down] first and consults whether it be possible with ten thousand to meet him that comes against him with twenty thousand?

32. Otherwise, while he is yet far away, he sends an embassy, and asks for peace.

33. So, therefore, any of you who takes not leave of all his own belongings, he cannot be My disciple.

34. Salt [is] good, but if the salt become saltless, with what shall it be seasoned?

35. It is suited neither for the earth nor for the dunghill; [and] they cast it out. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The previous episode, which we titled, “Responsibilities of the Host,” began by describing whom the host should invite to dinner. But as we have seen, this episode involves much more than a discourse on table etiquette, or a plea for being inclusive as we consider our circle of friends. It calls us to remember the banquet which God has provided for us and not to neglect it. It calls us to beware of getting so caught up in our own ideas, and our own desires—however well intended—that we forget about our most important friend, the One who gives us the ability to think and the power to do.

In fact, as the narrative continues, Jesus makes it abundantly clear just how important it is to keep God in mind as our highest priority. As Jesus puts it, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26-27).

Jesus is here emphasizing how important it is for us to separate from anything that is evil and false in our lives, especially those evils that we have come into through heredity (father and mother) or have acquired through the choices we have made in this world. If we have known that something is wrong and have done it anyway, we have, so to speak become “wedded ” to it. It has become, spiritually speaking, our “wife.” Out of that infernal marriage come further evils and falsities, represented by “children.” All of this, and everything related to it (“brothers” and “sisters)” must be hated. In fact, Jesus says that we must even “hate our own life.” This is not about hating ourselves; rather, it’s about hating those aspects of ourself that are unwilling to follow God. ¹⁷

This is what it means to be a true disciple of God. It is the willingness to forsake every form of selfish love and to fight against our own evils. This is our “cross.” And this is what Jesus means when He says, “Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27).

Discipleship requires total devotion and total sacrifice. We cannot simply say that we want to be a disciple without being willing to follow through. In other words, we must begin our spiritual journey with a firm commitment to finishing it. As Jesus puts it, “For which of you intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it” (Luke 14:28). Notice that the emphasis here is not just on starting but also on finishing. Similarly, Jesus says, “What king going to war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?” (Luke 14:31).

At first glance, the parable about building a tower and the parable about going to war seem to be no more than interesting comparisons to drive home the point about dedicated discipleship. More interiorly, however, they relate to the two parts of the human mind. The “tower” relates to the intellectual faculty. The higher the tower, the more we can see. Therefore, this part of the two parable-set is about taking the time to study God’s Word in an intellectual effort to elevate our understanding and sharpen our spiritual faculties. If we are serious about fighting and overcoming the heredity evils that we have acquired and spawned, we must arm ourselves with the spiritual truths and the heightened understanding we will need in that battle. ¹⁸

The next parable, closely allied to the first, speaks of the effort on the part of our will to enter the battle, even if it looks like the odds are overwhelming—twenty thousand against us, and ten thousand for us. The one king who is going to war with ten thousand at his side represents truth. The other king, who opposes him with twenty thousand at his side, represents falsity. It appears as though it is going to be a tough battle. Perhaps we will not have the courage to fight. Instead, “while the other is still a great way off” we may choose to send “a delegation and ask conditions of peace” (Luke 14:32).

While this might sometimes be advisable on the natural plane of our lives, it is never advisable on the spiritual plane. On that level, where the war is against hell itself, there is no compromise, and no room for negotiation. Alcoholics must never negotiate with the demons that drive them to drink. Adulterers must not bargain with the demons that seduce them into adultery. The chronic liar and the habitual thief must not broker deals with the demons that drive them to lie, cheat and steal. No delegation sent to these demons, asking for conditions of peace, can ever be successful. That’s why we must not avoid this battle.

Nor can we wage combat in a haphazard or partially committed manner. It must be an all-out effort. Just as God requires no less than a one hundred percent commitment from us, we too must make a one hundred percent commitment to cast out everything that is evil and false within us. We cannot “make peace” with our own evils. We must separate from them completely. We must turn away from every shred of selfishness, ego, and conceit. As Jesus puts it, “Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:33).

The truth is that help is always on our side. No matter how overwhelmed we might feel, God is there to sustain and protect us. In this regard, the number “ten thousand” represents every state of good and truth that God has laid up within us from the moment of our birth, and throughout our lives. These states, which are called “remains of good and truth” are God’s presence with us. They are being laid up in us continually as we are gradually prepared to receive what flows in from the Lord. Every true thought that has ever come to us and every loving emotion we have ever felt is part of this divine arsenal that the Lord has been building within us. Through this divine arsenal of goodness and truth the Lord fights for us against the evils and falsities that assail us—even when the odds appear to be overwhelming. ¹⁹

If we do not take up the struggle, if we choose to diminish, ignore, justify or excuse our evils, we become like tasteless salt. We may have plenty of truth, but if we have no desire to use that truth for self-examination and useful service, we are useless. As Jesus puts it, “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?” (Luke 14:34). Jesus could not be more forceful in His use of language here. To be a disciple we must be willing to make a total commitment; we must be willing to surrender all selfish attachments, love God above all, and love our neighbor as ourselves. A partial commitment is useless. It is good for nothing, or as Jesus puts it: “It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out” (Luke 14:35). ²⁰

These are powerful words. The call to one hundred percent commitment allows for nothing in between. One sometimes wonders whether this is asking too much of mere human beings who try and falter and try again. But God is continually there extending His invitation of support, and assuring us that no battle is too great for Him, and no situation in our lives, no matter how overwhelming it may seem to us, is too much for Him.

In His great mercy, God equips us for every battle. He builds the tower—though we think we are doing it; and He wages the combat—though it feels as though the effort is all our own. This is the continual message of the Lord’s Word. It is a spoken invitation, extended to everyone: “Come to the great supper. Everything is ready.” This is Jesus Himself reaching out with His message of love to all who are willing to hear it. “Come to the great supper,” He says. “Come and dine with Me.”

And so, this episode closes with a final invitation. It is an invitation to hear the Word of the Lord calling us to a new life of love, gratitude, and selfless service. It is an invitation to “come up higher.” As Jesus puts it in the closing words of this episode, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke 14:35).

A practical application

Sometimes it may seem that the odds against us are overwhelming. It’s as if we are among the ten thousand who must go into battle against twenty thousand. But it’s reassuring to know that the Lord is on our side, and that He has perfectly equipped us for any battle we must face. Every truth we have learned with affection and every loving experience we have ever had will become the means through which the Lord will win every battle for us. At such times, it might be useful to remember this verse from the Hebrew scriptures: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalms 23:5) and combine it with the Lord’s words in this episode, “Come and dine with Me.” ²¹

Footnotes:

3708. 'And you will break forth towards the sea, and towards the east' means infinite extension of good, while 'towards the north, and towards the south' means infinite extension of truth - thus every state of good and truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'breaking forth' as extension, here infinite extension since it has reference to the Lord; from the meaning of 'the sea' or the west as good which is as yet obscure and so at only an initial stage; from the meaning of 'the east' as bright and so perfected good; from the meaning of 'the north' as truth which is still shrouded in obscurity; and from the meaning of 'the south' as truth bathed in light.

[2] Many references are made in the Word to the sea or west, the east, the north, and the south. But because nobody up to now has known that, as with every other single expression, these possessed an internal sense in which they did not mean things to do with the world, as they do in the sense of the letter, but spiritual and celestial things, and that in the highest sense those expressions meant Divine things belonging to the Lord Himself, what else could people have known therefore other than that west, east, north, and south are used in the Word simply to mean the four quarters? What else other than that 'breaking forth' towards those four quarters means a multiplying? But the fact that they do not mean the four quarters or the multiplying of any group of people, but states of good and truth, and the extension of these, may become clear from all the places in the Word, especially those in the Prophets, where reference is made to them. For what west, east, north, or south are is totally unknown in heaven. There the Sun, which is the Lord - unlike the sun of this world which rises and sets, reaching its highest point at midday and its lowest at night - is visible all the time, though how visible depends on the states of those receiving its light; for the light from it holds wisdom and intelligence within it, see 1619-1632, 2776, 3138, 3167, 3190, 3195, 3222, 3223, 3339, 3341, 3485, 3636, 3643. Consequently it is visible to each individual according to the wisdom and intelligence existing with him. Among those with whom good and truth are present - which are warmth and light, but of the celestial and spiritual kind - the sun is as it is when rising and at midday; but among those with whom good and truth are not present the sun is as it is when setting and at night. From this it is evident that in the internal sense of the Word 'east, south, west, and north' means states of good and truth.

[3] It should be recognized that the Word does not use only the four quarters, as indicated, to describe states of good and truth. It also uses both the annual seasons or states of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and the daily times or states of morning, midday, evening, and night. These are used for a similar purpose; but when the subject is the extension of good and truth, the four quarters are employed to describe it. What each one means specifically however may be seen from the places where they are mentioned in the Word. 'East' means the Lord and also the good of love and charity, which comes from the Lord, as shown already in 101, 1250, 3249, and 'south' means the truth bathed in light, in 1458, 3195.

[4] But what 'west' and what 'north' mean in the genuine sense, and what they mean in the contrary sense, may be seen from the following places: In Isaiah,

Fear not, for I am with you; from the east I will bring your seed, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Do not withhold. Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the end of the earth. Isaiah 43:5-6

This refers to a new spiritual Church, meant here by Jacob and Israel. 'Bringing the seed from the east and gathering from the west' stands for people governed by good; 'saying to the north, Give up; and to the south, Do not withhold' stands for those governed by truth.

[5] In David,

The redeemed of Jehovah will speak, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy and gathered together out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the sea. They wandered in the wilderness, in a desolate way; they did not find an inhabited city. ¹ Psalms 107:2-4.

This refers to people who are without knowledge of good and truth. 'From the east and from the west' stands for those without knowledge of good, 'from the north and from the sea' for those without knowledge of truth. Those without knowledge of good are referred to as 'wandering in the wilderness', and those without knowledge of truth as doing so 'in a desolate way'. And those without knowledge of both are referred to as their not finding an inhabited city - 'a city' meaning doctrinal teaching consisting of truth, see 402, 2449, 2943, 3216, and 'a habitation' being used in reference to good, 268, 2451, 2712.

[6] In Isaiah,

Behold, these will come from afar, and behold, those from the north and from the west, and those from the land of Sinim. Isaiah 49:12.

'The north' stands for people in obscurity as regards truth, 'the west' for those in obscurity as regards good. They are said 'to come from afar' because they are remote from the light which flows from the Lord.

[7] In Amos,

Behold, the days are going to come in which I will send a famine on the land. And they will wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east they will run to and fro to seek the Word of Jehovah, and will not find it. Amos 8:11-12.

'A famine' stands for a lack and absence of cognitions, 1460, 3364. 'Wandering from sea to sea' stands for searching for the place where cognitions may be found - 'seas' meaning cognitions in general, 28, 2850. 'Running to and fro from the north even to the east' stands for going from those cognitions that are in obscurity to cognitions that are in the light. As regards cognitions being meant, this is evident because the words 'to seek the Word of God and will not find it' are used.

[8] In Jeremiah,

Proclaim these words towards the north, and say, Return, backsliding Israel; I will not cause My face to fall upon you, for I am merciful. In those days the house of Judah will go to the house of Israel, and together they will come out of the north land over the land I gave as a heritage to your fathers. Jeremiah 3:12, 18.

This refers to the restoration of the Church from among the gentiles. 'The north' stands for people without knowledge of truth but who lead a good life. It is evident that neither the north nor the north land is meant here for the reason that Israel did not exist any longer.

[9] In the same prophet,

The living Jehovah who caused the children of Israel to come up out of the north land. Jeremiah 16:15.

'North' in a similar way stands for being without knowledge of truth. In the same prophet,

Behold, I am bringing them from the north land, and I will gather them from the furthest parts of the earth, among them the blind one and the lame. Jeremiah 31:8.

The 'north land' stands for no knowledge of good because of no knowledge of truth. Now because the land of Canaan represented the Lord's kingdom - and therefore also represented good, see above in 3705 - and places within that land, such as Zion and Jerusalem, represented inmost good to which truth was joined, the places which lay away from that land consequently represented obscurity so far as good and truth were concerned. Everything that lies in obscurity is called 'the north land' and also 'the furthest parts of the earth'.

[10] In addition to this, since all good that flows in with light from the Lord is confined within man's obscurity, the north is also called 'an assembly' as in Isaiah,

You said in your heart, I will go up the heavens, above the stars of God I will raise my throne, and I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the furthest parts of the north. Isaiah 14:13.

In the same prophet,

Wail, O gate; cry, O city; you have melted away, O Philistia, all of you, for smoke comes from the north, and not a solitary person in the assemblies. Isaiah 14:31.

In David,

Great is Jehovah and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, the mountain of His holiness - the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, the furthest parts of the north, the city of the great King. Psalms 48:1-2.

And again in the same author,

The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours. The world and the fullness of it You have founded; the north and the right hand ² You have created. Psalms 89:11-12.

'The north' here stands for those who are more remote from the light of good and truth, 'the right hand' for those who are closer to them. For the latter are on the Lord's right hand, see 1274, 1276.

[11] In Zechariah,

He saw four chariots coming out between two mountains of bronze. The horses coupled to them were reddish, black, white, and mottled - strong ones. The angel said, These are the four winds of heaven, which go forth from standing before the Lord of the whole earth, the black horses going into the north land; and the white have gone out after them, and the mottled have gone out into the south land. Those going towards the north land have caused My spirit to rest on the north land. Zechariah 6:1-8.

'Chariots coming out between two mountains of bronze' stands for matters of doctrine concerning good. For 'chariots' means matters of doctrine, as will be shown elsewhere, while 'a mountain' means love, see 795, 1430, 2722, and two mountains therefore two kinds of love - celestial love, which is love to the Lord, and spiritual love, which is love towards the neighbour. 'Bronze' is good originating in those loves as it exists within the natural, 425, 1551; 'horses' things of the understanding, and so an understanding of matters of doctrine concerning good, 2760-2762, 3217; 'the south land' stands for people who possess cognitions of good and truth, 1458, 3195, 'the north land' for those who are without knowledge of good and truth but who lead a good life, as upright gentiles do among whom, when a new Church is established, God's Spirit is said to rest.

[12] In Jeremiah,

Jehovah who brought up and led back the seed of the house of Israel out of the land towards the north and out of all the lands to where I have driven them, so that they might dwell on their own land. Jeremiah 23:8.

'Out of the land towards the north' stands for away from the obscurity that is due to a lack of knowledge about what is good and true. In the same prophet,

Can one break iron, iron from the north, and bronze? Jeremiah 15:12.

'Iron' stands for natural truth, 425, 426, 'bronze' for natural good, 425, 1551. These are said to come 'from the north' because they derive from the natural which, though lying in obscurity compared with other degrees, serves as the outer limit of these. It is evident without explanation that this prophetic utterance does not mean the use of iron and bronze from the north, for what would be Divine about that, indeed what connection would it have with what goes before and after if no more than iron and bronze from there were meant?

[13] In Matthew,

I tell you that many will come from the east and from the west and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Matthew 8:11; Luke 13:29.

'Many from the east and from the west' stands for those who possess cognitions and lead a good life, and also for those who are in obscurity and have no knowledge of such cognitions; and so it stands for people inside the Church and those outside it. It has been stated above that states of good are meant by the east and the west. 'Reclining with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob' means being with the Lord, see 3305 (end). And the Prophets in a similar way speak of people coming from east and west who are going to be with the Lord in His kingdom or Church, as in Isaiah,

From the east I will bring your seed, and from the west I will gather you. Isaiah 43:5.

Elsewhere in the same prophet,

They will fear the name of Jehovah from the west, and His glory from the east. Isaiah 59:19.

Elsewhere in the same,

From the rising of the sun and from its setting they will know that there is none besides Me; I am Jehovah and there is no one else. Isaiah 45:6.

Elsewhere in the same,

I will stir up one from the north, and he will come; from the rising of the sun he will call on My name. Isaiah 41:25.

[14] In addition one may see that east, west, south, and north have these meanings from the following: The Construction of the Tabernacle; The Children of Israel when they were encamped and when they journeyed; The Description of the Land of Canaan; also, The Description of the New Temple, New Jerusalem, and New Land:

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TABERNACLE

Everything in it was positioned according to the four quarters, see Exodus 38 - what went on the east and west sides, and what on the south and north, is stated in Exodus 26:18, 20, 22, 27; 27:9, 12, 13; and the requirement that the lampstand was to be placed towards the south across from the table, the table itself being on the north side, Exodus 26:35; 40:22.

[15] THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WHEN THEY WERE ENCAMPED AND WHEN THEY JOURNEYED

Here also positions were determined according to the four quarters. That is to say, they encamped around the Tent of Meeting, with the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun towards the east; the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad towards the south; the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin towards the west; and the tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali towards the north, Numbers 2:1- end. In addition to this, the Levites encamped with the Gershonites towards the west, the Kohathites towards the south, the Merarites towards the north; and Moses, Aaron and his sons in front of the Tabernacle towards the east, Numbers 3:23-38. In this way the heavenly order which in the Lord's kingdom exists in accordance with states of good and truth was represented. Towards the south side also they were to sound the call for them to begin their journeys, Numbers 10:6. And even as they took up specific positions when they encamped, so they did when they journeyed, Numbers 2:34.

[16] THE DESCRIPTION OF THE LAND OF CANAAN

First Moses described its border lands - those indeed in the south, those in the west, those in the north, and those in the east, Numbers 34:2-12, as they were again described when the land had been apportioned to the tribes by lot, in Joshua 15 Chapters-19 of Joshua. From these circumstances, and also from the most ancient people who dwelt in the land of Canaan, all places in that land became representatives and meaningful signs determined by their position, distance, and boundaries in relation to the four quarters, 1607, 1866.

[17] THE DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW TEMPLE, NEW JERUSALEM, AND NEW LAND

These also are described in Ezekiel in relation to the four quarters. The structure of the city, for example, started from the south. When dealing with the gateway to the building he says that its sides faced towards the east, towards the north, and towards the south, Ezekiel 40:2, 6, 19, 20-46. When dealing with the measurement of the Temple, he says that its doors looked towards the north and the south, Ezekiel 41:11, while the outer court looked towards the north, the east, the south, and the west, Ezekiel 42:1, 4, 11, 16-19. He also says that the glory of Jehovah the God of Israel came in from the way of the east, Ezekiel 43:1-2, 4. The gates to the outer court are dealt with in Ezekiel 44:1-2, 4; 46:1, 9, 10, 19, 20; and the boundaries of the Holy Land in Chapter 47 - towards the north in verses 15-17, towards the east in verse 18, towards the south in verse 19, towards the west in verse 20; while Chapter 48 specifies in relation to the four quarters the territories allotted to each tribe. And in the description of the Holy Jerusalem it is said that the gates were on the east, north, south, and west, Revelation 21:13. From these references it is quite evident that the four quarters of the world in relation to which those holy things, or representatives of what is holy, were arrayed do not mean in the internal sense the four quarters but states of good and truth within the Lord's kingdom.

[18] In the contrary sense 'the north' and 'the west' mean falsity and evil, as may be seen from the following places: In Jeremiah,

The word of Jehovah came to me a second time, saying, What do you see? I said, I am seeing an open pot with it's face towards the north. And Jehovah said, From the north evil will be opened over all the inhabitants of the land. Lo, I am calling all the families of the north to come. Jeremiah 1:13-15.

In the same prophet,

Set up a standard towards Zion; assemble, stay not, for I am bringing evil from the north, and a great destruction. Jeremiah 4:6.

In the same prophet,

The sound of crashing; behold, it is coming, and a great commotion out of the land of the north to reduce the cities of Judah into a waste. Jeremiah 10:22.

In the same prophet,

In Tekoa sound the trumpet, for evil stares from the north, and great destruction. Behold, a people coming from the land of the north, a mighty nation will be stirred up from the furthest parts of the earth. Jeremiah 6:1, 22.

In the same prophet,

I took the cup from Jehovah's hand and made all the nations drink it - Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, and its kings, Pharaoh king of Egypt, and the whole western crowd; all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the west, dwelling in the wilderness, and all the kings of the north, far and near. Jeremiah 25:17-26.

[19] In the same prophet,

The swift will not flee away, nor the strong man escape. Northwards on the bank of the River Euphrates they have stumbled and fallen. Who is this coming up like a river? Egypt comes up like the river, for he said, I will go up, I will cover the earth, I will destroy the city and those who dwell in it. But that day is to the Lord Jehovih Zebaoth a day of vengeance - for the Lord Jehovih Zebaoth holds a sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates. A very beautiful heifer is Egypt, but destruction from the north has come. The daughter of Egypt has been put to shame; she has been delivered into the hand of a people from the north. Jeremiah 46:6-10, 20, 24.

In the same prophet,

Thus said Jehovah, Behold, waters rising out of the north which are like a deluging stream, and they will deluge the land and all that fills it, the city and those who dwell in it. Jeremiah 47:2.

[20] In the same prophet,

[The word which] Jehovah spoke against Babel: There will come up against her a nation from the north, which will make her land a desolation so that none may dwell in it. Jeremiah 50:1, 3.

In the same prophet,

Behold, I am stirring up and bringing up against Babel an assembly of great nations out of the north land, and they will array themselves against her; from there she will be taken. Behold, a people coming out of the north, a mighty nation, and many kings will be stirred up from the furthest parts of the earth. Jeremiah 50:9, 41.

In the same prophet,

Then the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them, will sing over Babel, because those who lay waste will come out of the north. Jeremiah 51:48.

In Ezekiel,

Say to Gog, You will come out of your place from the furthest parts of the north, you and many peoples with you. You will come up against My people Israel, like a cloud to cover the land. Ezekiel 38:14-16.

In the same prophet,

Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince. I will make you turn back and will split you into six, and make you come up from the furthest parts of the north and bring you onto the mountains of Israel. On the mountains of Israel you will fall. On the surface of the field you will fall. Ezekiel 39:1-2, 4-5.

In Zechariah,

Ho! Flee from the land of the north, says Jehovah, for like the four winds of the heavens I will spread you abroad. Ho, Zion! escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babel. Zechariah 2:6-7.

[21] These quotations show what 'the north' means in the contrary sense, namely falsity which is the source of evil, or falsity which is the result of evil. Because falsity which is the source of evil originates in reasoning about Divine things and against Divine things, which reasoning is based on factual knowledge belonging to the natural man, it is called 'a people from the north out of Egypt' - 'Egypt' meaning such factual knowledge, see 1164, 1165, 2588 (end). And because falsity which is the result of evil originates in worship which to outward appearance is holy but interiorly is unholy, it is called 'a nation from the north out of Babel' - 'Babel' meaning such, see 1182, 1283, 1295, 1304, 1306-1308, 1321, 1322, 1326, as well as that which lays waste, 1327. Both types of falsity - that which is the source of evil, and that which is the result of evil - are said to come out of Gog, for 'Gog' is worship consisting in external observances devoid of anything internal, which is idolatrous worship, as at all times was that of the Jews. That 'Gog' means such worship, see 1151.

[22] Out of the obscurity in which the natural man dwells either truth can arise or falsity can do so. When anyone allows himself to be enlightened by means of the Word from the Lord his obscurity is turned into brightness, for the internal path is opened and so influx and communication from the Lord by way of heaven takes place. But when he does not allow himself to be enlightened by means of the Word from the Lord, but by his own intelligence, his obscurity is turned into darkness and so into falsity, for the internal path is closed and no influx and communication from the Lord by way of heaven takes place, apart from such as enables him to be seen outwardly to be human, when he thinks and so speaks from evil and falsity. This is why 'the north' means truth with those who allow themselves to be enlightened, falsity with those who do not. For the former come up from obscurity, that is, they are raised up to light, but the latter go down from obscurity, that is, remove themselves from light. The former are accordingly brought into [the light of] the south, the latter into [the gloom of] Tartarus.

[23] The fact that 'the north' means the thick darkness of falsity and 'the south' the light of truth is quite evident in Daniel where the ram and the he-goat are the subject, and also where the king of the south and the king of the north are. Referring to the ram and the he-goat it is said that the ram butted with his horns towards the west and towards the north and towards the south, so that none of the beasts could stand before him, and that a he-goat came from the west across the surface of the whole earth, and out of one of his horns there came forth a [little] horn which grew exceedingly towards the south, and towards the east, and towards the glorious [land], Daniel 8:4-5, 9. And referring to the king of the south and the king of the north in the place where 'the king of the south' means those possessing cognitions of truth, and 'the king of the north' those who are governed by falsity, it is said that

After some years they will make an alliance, as a result of which the daughter of the king of the south will come to the king of the north to negotiate equitable terms but her arm will not gain strength. One will rise from that stem who will enter into the fortress of the king of the north and will prevail and will carry [the gods] they have captured into Egypt. The king of the south will come into the kingdom and fight with the king of the north, and the king of the north will return and raise a multitude greater than the former. Many will stand up against the king of the south. The king of the north will come and take the fortified city and destroy much. The king of the south will be stirred up to battle with a great army, but he will not stand, for they will devise plots against him. After that he will return, but it will not be as previously. The people consisting of those who know their God will stand firm. At length, at the time of the end, the king of the south will clash with him; therefore the king of the north will rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen. In the glorious land many will fall. But rumours will terrify him from the east and from the north, so that he goes forth with great fury. He will come to his end, with none to help him. Daniel 11:1-end.

The fact that 'the king of the south' means those who dwell in the light of truth, 'the king of the north' those who first dwell in shade and then in the thick darkness of falsity, may become clear from the details in that chapter. So it is a description of how the state of the Church is in course of time perverted. They are called kings of the south and of the north because 'kings' in the internal sense of the Word means truths, and in the contrary sense falsities, 1672, 2015, 2069, while 'kingdoms' means things that belong to truth, and in the contrary sense those that belong to falsity, 1672, 2547.

Footnotes: