THE HUMBLE WILL BE EXALTED

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. A word to the guests (7-11).

What Jesus saw at the banquet spoke volumes about their priorities and their lives. As the guests came to the table, they sought the places of honor. It is our sinful nature to promote ourselves and claim the honor, and status we feel that we deserve. But Jesus told them to take the lowest place so that the host would invite them to a better place. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. This is the pattern our Lord himself followed. He humbled himself even to death on the cross. But God exalted him to the highest place that is above all others.

2. A word to the host (12-14).

The host of the banquet was a prominent Pharisee. No doubt, his guests were prominent as well. He liked to hobnob with the rich and famous. But instead of inviting those who will repay you, Jesus says to invite those who can’t repay – the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. When we extend our hospitality to those who can’t repay, we will be surely blessed. The only repayment we should desire is the one we will receive at the resurrection of the righteous. This reward is the only one that matters.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give us a heart like yours.

One Word: Humble yourself before others