– PARABLES OF JESUS –
The Parable of the Lowly Place
Jesus went to the house of a ruler of the Pharisees to eat on the Sabbath in Luke 14.. Typically a dinner invitation infers an amicable relationship, but this was not the case here. The latter part of verse 1 tells us that the Pharisees “…watched Him closely.” It seems they had also invited a man with dropsy, though it is doubtful he was there to participate in the dinner. They wanted to see what Jesus would do. Would He heal this infirmed man on the Sabbath or not?
A Sabbath Healing
Verse 3 tells us Jesus answered their challenge with a question: “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” No one answered Him, so “…He took him and healed him, and let him go” (v 4). He went on to teach them why it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” (v 5; cf. Exodus 23:5; Deuteronomy 22:4).
An Observation
Verse 7 reads:
So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places. (Luke 14:7)
As much as they were watching Him, He was watching them. What He noticed was their tendency to exalt themselves above others, even among themselves. They took the best seats as they entered the dining room, rather than taking a lowly place. So, Jesus shared this parable with them:
When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 14:8-11)
A Warning
Our Lord’s concern was not to instruct the Pharisees or us on proper etiquette at a formal dinner, rather His concern is entirely about humility. Those who are servants of God ought to be humble. And yet the Pharisees, who were the religious leaders among the Jewish people, were proud and self-righteous; high-minded and pretentious.
Sadly, pointing out their propensity to take the best seats and saying they ought not do so would accomplish nothing, likely met with a shrug of the shoulder or a flippant, “So what?” Thus, to teach them about humility or diffidence, Jesus an embarrassing situation from a different event.
A Walk Of Shame
Today it is common to have pre-appointed seating arrangements at a wedding. It is doubtful such was the case among the first century Jews, and yet the acknowledgment of a pecking order is certain. Imagine the insolence and brazenness one must have to go sit down at the head table! From what we know of the Pharisees as revealed in the Scriptures, it is not surprising they would exalt themselves beyond measure. They were lofty and arrogant bunch.
Imagine the disgrace and humiliation of the master of the feast asking you to vacate your seat, for indeed, it was not your seat! Ouch!! Talk about a walk of shame. As a result of a presumptuous choice, the seat you initially deserved may be otherwise occupied, and thus the master seats you even further down the table. As the Lord said, “…whoever exalts himself will be humbled…”
Choose Humility
It is much better to enter the event with humility, choosing a lowly seat, and then have the host invite you to be seated higher. There is no disgrace or humiliation—on the contrary, there is exaltation and dignity and blessing. It is not a walk of shame but a walk of advancement and betterment. We are receiving an upgrade rather than an abasement. “He who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus shared wisdom which He had given to Solomon, the son of David,
Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of the great; for it is better that he say to you, 'Come up here,' than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen. (Proverbs 25:6-7)
May we be the humble and lowly servants God has called us to be—He will exalt us in due time.
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