A Little Humbling

Introduction

Read Luke 14:7–24

David Murray, a pastor in Michigan, would say we come to the Lord in three ways.

Come Humbly

Come Empty

Come Immediately

How many of you have a funny or embarrassing story of a wedding?

Explanation

Luke 14:7–11 ESV

Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “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, 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. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, 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. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Come Humbly

Have you ever sat in the wrong seat and been asked to move? Mortifying, right?

This man sat at the seat of honor, and he was told to move.

We often use this parable to talk about how we deal with other people. And we say, “Someone will eventually see your value and put you in that seat.” That comes from a place of pride.

The parable is actually discussing how we relate to the gospel.

The one who humbles himself will be exalted. The one who realizes his need for God will be with him in glory.

When did you realize in your own life that you couldn’t save yourself?

Luke 14:12–14 ESV

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

Come Empty

The banquet table is for anyone and everyone. Not just for the people we like or the people who are like us.

We want to love all people and share Jesus with others.

“We come empty to be filled.”

Paul at one point in his letter to Corinth says, “The wrath of God is coming because of _____. Then he says, “And such were some of you.”

We care for all people, and we are humble because apart from the cross… we would not be there.

Luke 14:15–24 ESV

When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’ ”

There is an urgency to respond to Jesus.

Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees and Jewish leaders. He is saying, “You have the first chance, but this message isn’t for you.”

My party is going to be full, whether you are there or not.

Invitation