7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honour at the table, he told them this parable: Luke 14, See also Proverbs 25:6, 7
This is another parable that is unique to the Gospel of Luke, the doctor. Jesus taught a lot from things around Him, so the people could relate to His words. Jesus observed people taking the best places, the most important seats at the Pharisee’s house. No one else had criticised them for doing that. Derek Prince pointed out that there tends to be two categories of sin within the church, respectable and unrespectable. Pride, which God detests, often goes overlooked, but smoking, drinking etc are definitely not regarded as respectable and are often talked (or gossiped) about the most.
8 ‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honour, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, “Give this person your seat.” Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.
Ultimately the person who hosts the banquet, has the final say where the guests should sit, though some took the most prominent seats for themselves and Jesus reprimanded them for their selfishness.
9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, “Give this person your seat.” Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.
11 FOR ALL THOSE WHO EXALT THEMSELVES WILL BE HUMBLED, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’ Luke 14
Self-exaltation should not be not a welcome trait in the Church, yet it’s very prevalent. Grasping and taking things into our own hands can lead to humiliation, often a hard lesson, but if truly learned it can bear good fruit.
10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, “FRIEND, MOVE UP TO A BETTER PLACE.” Then you will be honoured in the presence of all the other guests. Luke 14
Someday there will be a banquet in heaven, the wedding supper of the lamb. The seats will be allocated for all the guests and as scripture says, ‘So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’ Matthew 20:16 I suspect that those who are the most honoured guests will surprise many.
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.