Jesus’ Meal in Luke 14:1-24 as a Challenge to Pharisaic Elitism

Date
2024-12
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Stellenbosch University
Abstract
This study examines Jesus' table fellowship in Luke 14:1-24 as a challenge to the elitism of the Pharisees in first-century Palestine. Utilizing both social-scientific and literary critical approaches, the research situates Jesus' meal practices within the broader context of Greco-Roman symposia. The study argues that Luke intentionally employs meal scenes as a literary device to portray Jesus' radical inclusivity and critique social hierarchies. The research focuses on three key aspects: (1) how Jesus' actions and teachings during meals subverted social norms and religious hierarchies, (2) the core values of God's kingdom revealed through these meal practices, and (3) the theological implications for the contemporary church. By analyzing the honor-shame dynamics, purity regulations, and patron-client relationships of the first-century Mediterranean world, the study demonstrates how Jesus' table fellowship created transformative spaces that embodied the arrival of God's kingdom. The findings reveal that Jesus consistently challenged the Pharisees' elitism by emphasizing humility, generosity, and inclusivity. His meals demonstrated radical hospitality, extending God's grace to the marginalized and outcast. The early church's continuation of these inclusive practices further underscores the transformative power of table fellowship in fostering communities that transcend social barriers. This research contributes to the theological understanding of Jesus' meals from a social-scientific perspective and offers insights for the contemporary church to practice radical hospitality and address modern societal issues. It calls for a reexamination of church practices and attitudes, especially towards the marginalized, and emphasizes the creation of inclusive spaces that embody the transformative power of the gospel.
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