PARABLES OF JESUS - THE SEATS AT THE WEDDING

We are taking a 25 week walk through the parables of Jesus. Week 8 was one of the most famous parables, The Good Samaritan and we looked at how a Jewish lawyer was not only testing Jesus, but then tried to justify his life to the Lord. We saw that religious attitude is not as important as action – knowing about God is of little importance unless you KNOW God and if you KNOW God, then you do His Will – show mercy, help those in need, forgive. The lawyer, the priest and the Levite knew about God but they did not put into practice God’s Very Words – the lawyer was even looking for a backdoor out of doing God’s Words.

Last week we covered a parable that has always confused me, may it has confused you as well or maybe just how to implement it in your own life. It is the parable of the friend who arrives at midnight and the two main points – see a need – meet a need and be persistent in prayer!

This week we look at the seats at the wedding and how Christians’ worst enemy is self.

As we begin – Let Us Pray!

The number one enemy of the Christian is self! Satan uses self to destroy the Christian through: (1) ambitions and desires which oppose God’s will, (2) attitudes which control our lives, (3) affections for “things” (1 John 2:15–17 – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever). If Christ is our Lord and master, self will not be in control. We cannot serve two masters—

Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Luke has two of Jesus’ parables together that deal with the ethical behavior of someone who claims to follow God – the first one is today’s message Luke 14:7-11 dealing with the guests and next week is verses 12-24 that deal with the host. While both are not typical parables – they deal with hypothetical situations so many scholars put them here in the category of parables.

The setting is Jesus is at the house of a one of the ruling Pharisees and everyone is watching Jesus carefully as he was there for a Sabbath meal. Jesus heals the man and then Jesus watching the people as they sat down to eat this meal – noticed how people chose their seats –

That takes us to verse 7 – so let us pick up the reading here –

THE SEATS AT THE WEDDING

Luke 14:7–11 – 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.”

I. Selfishness—v. 8

When Jesus noticed how they all chose where to sit – Jesus spoke

When you are invited – remember you are not the only one invited

Pride and selfishness – the root problem and the cause of every sin issue

A. Seeking—v. 8a. Don’t seek the best for selfish reasons. Don’t elevate yourself over someone else

Proverbs 22:4 – The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.

Paul was humble he constantly said, “Not I, but Christ …”—

Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

B. Sharing—v. 8b. Shame of displacement may come to him who seeks to take highest honors for himself.

Someone else is also invited –

There is always someone more important than you – keep a realistic Paul was a great man, but he said he was the chief of sinners—

Proverbs 11:2 – When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Paul practiced humility.

1 Timothy 1:15 – The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

II. Shame—v. 9

A. Reservation—v. 9a. “The host will bring him over to where you are sitting and say, ‘Let this man sit here instead’ ”—LB. Learn to live the crucified life—Gal. 2:20.

Humiliation is not the same as humility – humiliation occurs because we lack humility

Proverbs 18:12 – Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 16:11 – Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

B. Result—v. 9b, “And you, embarrassed, will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table”—LB.

Spell JOY … J—Jesus O—Others Y—Yourself.

(JOY Award at camp)

Remember when you try to start at the top – the only way to go is down –

But when you start at the bottom – the only way to go is up

III. Sincerity—v. 10 – But when you…So that… the latter is contingent on the first

A. Humble acceptance—v. 10a. Accept the low, unimportant place.

1. Practice—James 4:10 – Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Humble yourself. This involves denying self—

Luke 9:23 – And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

2. Personality—1 Peter 5:5 – Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Note what Peter says –

(a) Submit to the elder

(b) Be clothed with humility

B. Humble advancement—v. 10b.

1. Promise—1 Peter 5:5b. He gives grace to the humble.

Then Peter continues 1 Peter 5:6 – Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

2. Position—James 4:10b – he will exalt you – If we humble ourselves, He will lift us up.

Proverbs 27:2 - Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

Psalm 147:6 – The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.

IV. Spirituality—v. 11

A. Self-honor—v. 11a, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,

1. Satan’s pride—Satan wanted to be above God and was cast out of heaven.

Isaiah 14:13-14 – You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

Proverbs 11:2 – When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 16:18 – Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

2. Selfish pride—James and John wanted to sit on the right hand of Christ in heaven.

Mark 10:35–37 – And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”

Proverbs 29:23 – One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

James 4:6 – But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

B. Spiritual honor—v. 11b, “and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Philippians 2:3 – Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Psalm 25:9 – He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

Be faithful in small things— Then you will receive greater responsibilities.

Luke 19:17 – And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’

Psalm 91:14-15 - “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

When Christ is first in your life, you will not seek honor or fame—you will seek to please Him. As you do this, you will remain humble before Him. Humility will be rewarded both in this life and in eternity.