7 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: 8 “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; 9 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. 10 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. 11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 12 Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
In verses 7-14, Jesus offered the parable of the ambitious guest. Occasionally religious leaders vied for important seats at the dinner table. Jesus delivered the parable of seating arrangements at a meal to the Pharisees to expose their pride and hypocrisy. The Pharisees had come to the dinner to inspect Jesus, but He turned the tables on them and examined them.
14:7
So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them:
Jesus offered a parable on people seeking the most important seats at the table. A parable is an illustration or metaphor to clarify a point. At the dinner, Jesus referred to the Pharisees, who sought the highest place of honor.
14:8
“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;
Jesus challenged the Pharisees for seeking a seat of higher importance at the meal. The seat of prominence was closest to the host.
14:9
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.
If the Pharisees would choose the higher place, it would humiliate them if they had to move to a lower seat because someone of higher rank took their seat. The closer one sat to the host, the greater his honor at the meal. Status begets power, and power begets pride; it is a vicious circle.
14:10
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.
Instead of promoting themselves, the Pharisees should humble themselves. There would be a greater likelihood of honor than of humiliation in seeking the best seat first. To be demoted from a higher-ranking seat would be a dishonor.
14:11
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
It would be a shame if a person had to move from a seat of prominence to a lesser seat. On the other hand, those who humbled themselves had a possibility of being exalted. If the person seeking to be seated sought the more-humble seat, the head of the meal might ask him to be seated in a better place at the meal.
14:12
Then He also said to him [the host] who invited Him,
Jesus turned to the lead Pharisee to ask how to create a guest list for dinner.
“When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid.
Rather than invite the elite, invite the social outcast—something the Pharisees would not be able to do. This action would demonstrate that the person inviting the down-and-outers to the meal served others rather than himself.
14:13
But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.
Jesus brought the social outcasts to the lead Pharisee. The best hosting is what one gives, not what one exchanges.
14:14
And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
The lead Pharisee would be blessed by inviting the social outcasts because they did not have the means to repay the Pharisee for inviting them. God will repay His people at a future judgment (Dan 12:2). Eternal glory is greater than temporal glory. We need unselfish motives in what we do. We do not render service for personal gain. That kind of ministry is rewarding.
PRINCIPLE:
It is better to trade momentary honor here for eternal glory in heaven.
APPLICATION:
The Pharisees exploited the meal as a place of pride or self-glory. Seeking honor or recognition for oneself is futile. Jesus’ preference is exaltation by God rather than men. God exalts those who humble themselves. We are to value others above ourselves (Php 2:3). Jesus did this (Php 2:5-11). Humility marks the disciples of Jesus.
