All three stories in the house of the prominent pharisee raise the same question, i.e., why am I doing that which I am doing? Is the primary concern of life to do the right thing to those who have the image of God in them, regardless of their social status? Or is life about kissing up to those higher up on the social ladder so that I can climb as well.
It is interesting to me that Jesus was even in the home of a prominent Pharisee. How did he get there? Why did they invite him? It seems a logical conclusion that he was invited in order to raise their status somehow. Yet his teaching in the house were no different than his teaching on the streets. Jesus did not change who he was or how he lived based upon the people around him.
It is hard in this life to not become concerned about social standing. From an early age we learn that "who you know" is a major feature of obtaining prominence. Yet the one who knew everyone, did not promote that teaching. He treated everyone with respect and honor because he saw the image of his father inside them.
What do my eyes see?
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