A businessman goes to attend a business meeting, and he sees the seats at the long table, right by the speaker’s seat. They are empty, so he scurries to grab one of them. He wants to be seen sitting right near the speaker, even though his role in this particular project was rather small. As more and more people enter, he smiles, quite content with himself. A few minutes later, though, he is asked to give up his seat, as it is reserved for a more important man on the project. So this fellow now has to seek out, with much embarrassment, one of the last remaining seats in the room.
In another conference room a similar business meeting is going on. In this one, seated in the back corner sits a gentleman. Shortly after the start of the meeting, the speaker asks him to step forward and take a seat right next to him. As he approaches, people nod with commendatory comments. We don’t even need to ask which situation you would rather be in. Our Gospel reading for today speaks of similar situations. Let’s see what Jesus had to say about these scenarios.
As we open the Scripture passage, Jesus had been invited to a Sabbath dinner at a Pharisee’s home (vs. 1). Even though many of the Pharisees openly opposed His ministry, and tried to trap Him as they were here, Jesus always accepted their invitations. This gave Him more opportunities to speak the truth of the Gospel to them, and try to reach their hardened hearts. We, too, should not isolate ourselves from the lost or deceived. As Jesus said, we are to be salt and light to the lost.
As more guests arrived, and people were preparing for the meal to begin, Jesus noticed how they all scrambled to get the best seats at the table (vs. 7). No one wanted to sit far from the host. Everyone wanted seats of honor. Jesus then told a brief parable of how it is better to first sit in a lower seat and have the host honor you by calling you forward to have a better seat, than to have the host request you give up your nice seat for someone else, and you have to move to a lower seat (vs. 8-11).
Pride can cause people to do some shocking things. Imagine attending a wedding reception, and some random guest just decides that he wants to sit at the head table with the bride and groom! Or some ordinary person at a State banquet just decides that he wants to sit at the seat right next to the President! You or I would never think to do that, but some egotistical person, filled with pride might. Pride is the root of so many different sins.
Jesus taught that true honor comes from God, not from our self-promotion. His words are also reminiscent of a statement of Solomon in Proverbs 16:18. The world is always striving for the highest positions. And ambition, even if it is achieved by trampling over others, is esteemed. Believers, though, should reject such thinking. God will rightly honor those who serve quietly and faithfully.
Jesus then concluded His short parable by stating that if we give a nice dinner party, we shouldn’t invite those who can reciprocate by inviting us to their nice dinner parties. Instead, we should invite those who can’t, such as the poor, the sick, those with disabilities (vs 12-14). That way, instead of being invited to more dinner parties, God will give us His blessings in heaven. Are you always looking to be repaid for everything that you do? If you know that someone can’t or won’t invite you to her party, do you avoid inviting her to yours? Jesus said that instead of spending your time picking who from the society people to invite, do some good for the poor and vulnerable. That is where you’ll find God’s blessings.
This Scripture passage reflects the heart of God’s grace. Salvation is not earned or repaid. It is freely given to the undeserving (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our homes and hearts should be open to those in need. Hospitality is not a social strategy, but it is a spiritual discipline (Romans 12:13).
In closing, we need to remember that entry into God’s Kingdom is by grace and not by status. Being concerned by one’s status will often lead to sinful pride. As God’s Word states, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Don’t be obsessed with status and self-glory, but instead reach out to the poor, the broken, and the lost, showing them the love of Jesus and His message of salvation.
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