Find Your Seat

Greetings

I'm continuing my examination of Luke 14 today.  Jesus is in the home of a Pharisee and he has just healed a man of his abnormal swelling, and now goes on to make some observations aobut the behavior of the Pharisees. Here is my translation of the verses 7-14:

7 Noticing how those who had been invited, chose the places of honor, he told them this parable. 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor.  It is possible that someone more important than you has been invited. 9 Then one who invited you may come to you and say, ‘Give this person that seat.’ Embarrassed, you will have to sit in the least desirable place. 10 Instead, when you are invited, go and sit in the least important seat, then the one who invited you will come to you and say, “My friend, move over to this better seat. That way, you will be honored in front of all of the other guests. 11 All of those who honor themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be honored. 12 Then Jesus said to the one who had invited him, “When you are having a dinner or and a banquet, don’t invite your friends, your brothers and your relatives. Don’t invite your wealthy neighbors. They can, in return, invite you over, and then you will be repaid. 13 Instead, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the disabled and the blind.  14 You will be blessed because they do not have the ability to repay you. So your repayment will come at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Earlier in verse 1 we saw that the Pharisees had been watching Jesus closely.  Now, we see in verse 7 that Jesus has been watching them as well.  He notices that they go quickly to the places of honor, the seat next to the host or the master of the house.  Luke says that noticing this, Jesus tells them a parable. The point of the parable is obvious.  "Don’t assume that you belong in the palace of honor."  Darrell Bock states that the most honored guests tend to arrive after everyone else.  (Bock, 1263)  Jesus' point is that it would be embarrassing to take the place of honor, only to be asked to give that seat up when the most honored guest arrives.  Bock states it well.  “Jesus tells them that it is better not to overestimate one’s importance, which can put you at risk of public disgrace.” (1264.) 

In fact, Jesus tells them to do the opposite.  Sit in the lowest seat.  Assume a humble position.  That way, you can only move up.  In taking the more humble approach and sitting in the last seat, a person who is moved to a better seat is honored , rather than humiliated, in front of everyone. Humility is never wrong, and our place should be recognized by others, not seized upon by us. 

We see in verse 11 that we have choices to make, whether to proceed humbly or to proceed in a self-seeking prideful manner.  Befroe we make our choice, we should understand that God honors humility.  Those who seek to honor themselves will ultimately be humbled.  Those who humble themselves will be honored.  

In verses 12-14 - Jesus follows the talk of not seeking to honor oneself with talk of graciousness toward those who may not be able to repay kindness that is offered.  Certainly, we should offer kindness to all, but understand that those who can repay the kindness, often do, and their reciprocation serves as our reward.  Jesus says that when we offer kindness to those who cannot repay it, we will receive our reward later.  It is a lasting blessing that comes from God.  Bock says “God honors such selfless graciousness.” (Bock, 1266.)

Jesus, in his observation of the Pharisees points out some things to them that is obviously against their nature. Don't seek the place of honor. Show kindness to those who cannot repay it. These are mandates that require both humility and love. Ultimately, Jesus is just calling the Pharisees to be like him, a man of humility and love.

Tom