Luke 14:7-11--The Parable of the Wedding Feast

Luke 14:7-11
English Standard Version
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The Parable of the Wedding Feast
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.”

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Jesus is still at the house of the Pharisee who invited Him and some others to dinner.  He has just healed the man with dropsy on the Sabbath (for that is the day Jesus and the others were invited over) and the Pharisees were hoping to trap Jesus by having Him heal the man which was against their customs (they would say it was against the Law), but Jesus exposed them and showed that He knew their hearts and He instead turned the tables on them and made them answer His questions, yet they remained silent and refused to answer Him in front of the people because they did not want others to know what they were thinking or plotting.

Jesus then took the opportunity to teach the people by using the setting of the feast and table set before them.  Imagine you were invited to an important function such as a wedding, but they didn't have assigned seating. or, at least didn't have name cards on everyone's seat and didn't tell you ahead of time which table you were going to sit at.  These people at this feast that rubbed shoulders with the Pharisees would have probably been socialites who would imagine any party would be blessed by their presence.

Jesus says that it is better not to think too highly of yourself (as many of these socialites did) and to sit at a seat that denoted a lower rank or position, probably farthest away from the groom (the center of attention in this culture's weddings).  This then leaves the chance for the master of the banquet to promote you and have you placed in a more honorable position for all to see.  So then those who humble themselves will be exalted.

However, if you were like these people who were haughty and full of themselves and took the best seat available because they imagined that they deserved it, then when someone of more importance comes in the room, it is the haughty person who will be told that he is in someone else's seat and that they will have to switch seats with someone else so that they will be humiliated in front of everyone--maybe even having to sit all the way at the foot of the table.  So then everyone who exalts himself will be humbled.

Jesus will speak much of humility in His last days for these are the days in which He will demonstrate such humility.  Read these verses from the book of Philippians, chapter 2 and make the connection with the parable that Jesus just taught on how Jesus is the one who humbled Himself and will be highly exalted for all to see:


Philippians 2:1-11
English Standard Version

Christ's Example of Humility
2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.