The Parable of the seat of Honor
Opening Prayer
Father God, again we gather to study the teachings of Your Son our Lord Jesus. We pray that you will open our hearts and minds to your word, and help us to garner from this study these things that you would have us learn. We pray a blessing for those of our group who cannot be here tonight, we miss them and pray for their well being. Bless us now as we enter into this study. Amen
The scripture reading
Luk 14:7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 "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, 9 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. 10 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. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." 12 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.13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just." 15 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!"
In these verses we see the historical development of the plan of salvation. (1) Prophetic announcement represented by the first invitation. (2) Second The assumption that one is chosen over another, when all are equally called. (3) Then as Christ explains, the extension of the invitation to the hitherto uninvited lesser guests, the Gentiles.
Humility is a grace within the reach of every true Christian. Not everyone has the resources, time or opportunities for working directly for Christ. We don’t all have gifts of speech and knowledge for preaching and teaching. But everyone can demonstrate his commitment to Christ by his humility. What gifts we have surely must include humility.
Q.1 What reason is given as to why Jesus spoke this parable?
Q,2 What does Jesus mean by saying we should not exalt ourselves?
Q.3 How is that done in our world today
Q.4 What in your opinion makes humility different from our other gifts of the Spirit?
How is one tempted?
Luke 14:7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them,8"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, 9 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.
Pg.2
Jesus has noticed one obvious trait that seems to go along with the self righteous Pharisees who are driven more by their social status and the details of the law than by their grace and humility. They were each one seeking the place of honor. This was simply responding to a need that all of us have for recognition and the feeling of self worth. Those are natural instincts, and are just two of the several Spiritual Gifts that God gives to us
But there are drawbacks to allowing these instincts to direct our lives, our daily routines, our social behavior, even our worship. Jesus considered these guests to be among those who were seeking recognition, more for self gratification and the selfish desire to appear important among their peers. Our world is filled with many who are like that, and Jesus saw that in these Pharisees. This parable tells us that we are to be humble in our place among our peers.
Q.1 Why is humility so important to a Christian? Can we not be self motivators, self made, proud and successful, and still enter our salvation?
Q.2 How is it that we can come to the end of our days, thinking that we can be anything other than who we really are? Are there those who think otherwise?
Q.3 What, if any, of your actions today relate to how you wish to be remembered?
Q.4 What is the thing that drives one to want success, fame and fortune?
Q.5 During Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness, Jesus was tempted by Satan in 3 ways, What were those temptations? Read Matthew 4:3-10
Q.6 And for what purpose did Satan offer these temptations to Jesus?
The proper attitude
10. 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. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
It is quite useless to attempt to be humble with one of our peer group unless in our heart we are really humble with God. So if you are humble, and allow that you speak charitably to all those within your sphere of influence, there is the chance that you will attain a place of greater influence by having a Christian influence with your humility
Sympathy is power, but there is no sympathy where there is self. Self must step back and give way to a more humble and sympathetic view. There are times in our day to day living where we take issue with certain things or events, where our actions prove to be abrasive rather than diffusive, Where discretion would have been better served had we remained silent, and humbled ourselves. Everyone has experienced such times, we should learn from our mistakes and let humility guide our actions, words, and deeds
Q.1 What are the instances in your day to day living that sometimes try your humility?
Q.2 What is there about being humble that does not sit well with some people?
Q.3 Are there times in your life, when you are more humble? when might that be?
Pg.3
Be Charitable
12 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.13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."
Jesus is telling us that we are not to be so exclusive as to overlook some who might be more appreciative of such things, The question is one not at all of social fellowship, but one of graciousness and of the objects to which our charity should be devoted. When you would lavish time and resources, says Christ, let the lavishing be not for your own personal gratification, but for the blessing of others.
But the admonition of the text reaches beyond social gatherings, it applies generally to the habit of laying out freely, profusely, and graciously, in order to comfort, profit, or draw attention to ourselves, and exhorts us instead to confine such laying out to generous and benevolent projects—to the work of giving pleasure, of rendering service, of communicating good, which is the very principle and Spirit of Him who, when He poured out His soul unto death, did it to bring us to God.
Q.1 What should be a Christians approach to social gatherings?
Q.2 What are some of the worthy causes that we can support as a social group?
Q.3 Do you feel that some of our social events compare to what Jesus is telling his host?
Who is entitled?
15 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”.
We do not know how Jesus felt about this man, he did not say about him one way or the other. We can presume him to be a Pharisee, or just another guest, and either way his words are true, and it is to be desired that we are blessed enough to “eat bread in the Kingdom of God”.
If this man was truthful and humble then surely he will be thought to be included in his statement, and would be invited to “eat bread in the Kingdom of God”.
If however this man was presuming that because of his birth or that he was Jewish, or a Pharisee, and deserved to be one who will eat bread in the Kingdom of God. It then could be said of him that he was making a presumption that he was entitled, and felt that he deserved it by his birthright or because of his social status, or his rank as a Pharisee. Jesus answers him with another parable, about wedding guests who were not included.
Q.1 What are some suppositions one might make about being Christian?
Q.2 What are some circumstances where ones worthiness might come into question?
Q.3 What does humility mean to you in reference to this study.
Q.4 What does the word “entitlement” mean to you?
Q.5 Jesus words were spoken to those at the feast for their benefit. What are his words to us from this parable?
Pg.4
Scripture Verses
Matthew 4:3-10 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
Mat 4:6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
Meditation
Who wants to be last? Isn't it only natural to desire respect and esteem from others? Jesus' parable of the guests invited to the marriage feast probes our motives for seeking honor and position. Self-promotion is most often achieved at the expense of others! Jesus' parable reinforces the teaching of Proverbs: Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great; for it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of the prince (Prov. 25:6-7).
What is true humility and why should we make it a characteristic mark of our life and action? True humility is not feeling bad about yourself, or having a low opinion of yourself, or thinking of yourself as inferior to others. True humility frees us from preoccupation with ourselves, whereas a low self-opinion tends to focus our attention on ourselves. Humility is truth in self-understanding and truth in action. Viewing ourselves truthfully, with sober judgment. It means seeing ourselves the way God sees us (Psalm 139:1- 4). A humble person makes a realistic assessment of himself without illusion or pretense to be something they are not. One regards oneself neither smaller nor larger than they truly are. True humility frees us to be ourselves and to avoid despair and pride. A humble person does not have to wear a mask or put on a facade in order to look good to others who do not know who they really are. They are not swayed by accidentals, such as fame, reputation, success, or failure.
Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues because it enables us to see and judge correctly. Humility leads to knowledge, honesty, realism, strength, and dedication to give ourselves to something greater than ourselves. Humility frees us to love and serve others selflessly, for their sake, rather than our own. Paul the Apostles, gives us the greatest example and model of humility is the person of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, ...who humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:7-8). The Lord gives grace to those who seek him humbly. Do you want to be a servant as Jesus served?
Closing prayer, "Lord Jesus, you became a servant for our sake to set us free from selfishness, fear, and conceit. Help us to be humble as you are humble and to love freely and graciously all whom you call to serve. Be with those of our friends and loved ones who need your healing touch.______________ We pray that your tender loving mercies will give healing, comfort and peace to those we have named, and others of our acquaintance who need your healing touch. " Bless us now as we go our separate ways, in Jesus name we pray Amen.
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