Human Nature Doesn’t Change

Luke 14:1-6

As we read about Jesus’ ministry in the gospels, it is amazing how often the same basic conflicts recur. In chapter 13, the ruler of the synagogue got upset when Jesus healed a woman on the Sabbath. Just a few days later we find a very similar incident.

“And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day? And they could not answer him again to these things.” (Luke 14:1-6)

Time after time we confront the same situations because human nature doesn’t vary with time or culture. People still have the same basic nature, but culture may affect how it appears, just as a layer of paint may conceal what a piece of furniture is made of. As a result, the same issues arise over and over. They will continue to arise until a change is made in the underlying attitudes. Just telling people, or forcing them to do differently will never solve the problem. Jesus addresses the need for a fundamental change in attitude after observing the actions of the people present at the dinner.

“And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.” (Luke 14:7-9)

During the last election, having Bill Clinton or Sarah Palin appear in a campaign ad was a sought after goal. It was viewed as a major coup because it might give a major boost to one’s ratings in the polls. It is not a new phenomenon. Like the couple who attended the White house events uninvited to make them selves appear more important, the Jews were doing the same thing at the dinner, two thousand years ago. Jesus warned that such a strategy could backfire.

“But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 14:10-11)

The couple who crashed the Obama’s party were arrested and escorted from the grounds, which should have been pretty humiliating, as it made it clear they had no right to be there. Jesus said the proper attitude was one of humility, taking the least important position and allowing others to promote you, rather than taking seats that others have earned. It is the same pride that makes us believe we are qualified to judge or impose our standards on others.

James 4:6 warns, “… Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” God will actively oppose those who try to set themselves above others. We are repeatedly told that Christians are not to set themselves above others, and in Revelation 2, God says he hates both the attitude and the actions of those who set themselves above others. The clergy are not to be held above the lay people. They still have the human nature, and it is only held in abeyance by the power of the holy Spirit. Paul’s statements in Romans 7 make us painfully aware of our tendency to turn back. It is only pride that makes us believe we are above that.

I cause plenty of problems for myself as a result of ignorance. Why would I want to deliberately do something that I know will incur God’s opposition?