…when you are invited (to a dinner), go and sit in the lowest place, so that, when your host comes, he may say to you, “Friend, move up higher.”
Luke 14:7-11
Jesus was invited by “a ruler of the Pharisees” to a dinner on the Sabbath. However, Jesus was more of a “suspect” among this crowd of religious leaders because they watched Him carefully, seeking for anything to charge Him of violating the “traditions of the elders.” Jesus did not disappoint them for, He healed a man at the dinner and, then silenced these evil men with common sense logic that most people would do necessary “work” on the Sabbath to pasture/feed their animals or help a child who had fallen into a pit. Jesus, next, tells the parable of the guest at a wedding feast who sits in an inappropriate seat. The guest is embarrassed by the host who makes the guest move to a seat in a lesser position. Here, Jesus is using this parable to reveal the hypocrisy of these religious leaders who “esteem the highest seats” in the synagogue or any other public event they attend. Jesus continues the parable by telling these Pharisees that, when one is invited by a host, he is to take the lowliest seat available and, when the host sees where you have seated yourself, he will come to you and seat you where you are supposed to be seated. Jesus ends by telling these Pharisees that the one who “exalts himself will be humbled” and the one who “humbles himself will be exalted.” Regardless of one’s “station in life,” the Christian is under the Authority of his Savior and Lord, Jesus. Jesus set the example for His disciples, all Christians, by being humble. The Creator of the universe humbled Himself to become a human and, then, humbled Himself unto death on a cruel cross, all to atone for the sins of His people! The Christian life should be marked by humbleness. How are you doing with your humbleness?
Source: S C Ball March 2, 2023
Leave a Reply