HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF

Passage: Luke 14:7-14

Key verse: 11

NIV

7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table,(A) he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, 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. 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 honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”(B)

12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,(C) 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”(D)

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Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Parable of the Wedding Feast

7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed (A)how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, (B)so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For (C)everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Parable of the Great Banquet

12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give (D)a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers[a] or your relatives or rich neighbors, (E)lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, (F)invite (G)the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid (H)at (I)the resurrection of the just.”

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 14:12 Or your brothers and sisters
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. He who humbles himself will be exalted (7-11) Jesus saw how the Pharisee guests scrambled for the seats of honor. So he told them a parable about some guests who sought the places of honor at a wedding feast. Those who seek human honor for themselves will be humiliated, but humble people will be honored. The religious leaders should have had compassion for a suffering man, but they didn't care. They only thought about getting human recognition. 2. Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, and you will be blessed (12-14) Jesus cautioned his host not to invite his friends, family and rich neighbors to parties, those who could repay him. Rather, he should invite the sick and needy and serve those who cannot repay him. Then, he will be blessed with a real feast of love and joy. And when Christ comes again, he will be rewarded in his kingdom with the righteous. Likewise, we easily succumb to the pattern of this world to seek honor and social status. But may our hearts be transformed to imitate Jesus' messianic compassion and really love and have fellowship with those who are sick and needy.

Prayer: Lord, give me a humble heart that seeks to make friends with the sick and lost and extend your kingdom.

One Word: Follow Jesus' example of humility and love