Keith Sharp
As the Lord was eating in the home of a ruler who was a Pharisee (Luke 14:1-6), He observed them, noticing the maneuvering each employed to obtain the petty honor of a better place at the table (verse 7).
In Jesus’ day the Jews had accepted the Greek custom for placing dinner guests. Three low tables were arranged in the shape of a “U” with a flat bottom. The open end allowed the servants to easily serve all the guests. The diners reclined on couches with their feet outward, away from the table, and each leaned against the guest behind him. The guest of honor, usually a rabbi, was seated at the center of the middle table. The closer a guest sat to him, the more honored he was. The Pharisees, in their vain pride, competed for the best places (Matthew 23:6; Luke 14:7).
Luke observes that the Master “told a parable” to them (verse 7). What follows is not a story with a spiritual application as in other parables. Rather, the Lord simply gave some practical advice concerning attending wedding feasts capped by a proverbial expression He used repeatedly. But the Lord wasn’t so much interested in where each of them reclined at a feast as He was in the spiritual principle this illustrated. Thus, His brief message was a parable in the sense of “an example by which a doctrine or precept is illustrated” (Thayer. 479).
Avoiding directly criticizing their efforts to occupy the best places at this feast, He advised them how to seek a place at a wedding feast (verses 8-10). If you take the most honorable place, you might be humiliated when a more important guest arrives, and the host directs you before all the guests to take a less honorable place. Since all the more important places would already be taken, you would suffer the embarrassment of having to take the lowest place as all watched your “come uppance” in amusement. Conversely, if you take the least honorable place, you will be honored before those assembled when the host calls you “friend” and asks you to take a more important place.
The Master interpreted His advice for the guests at this feast and for us. In doing so He stated one of the great principles of the heavenly kingdom. “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (verse 11; cf. Matthew 23:12; Luke 18:14). It summarizes proverbial advice Solomon gave (Proverbs 25:6-7).
After James and John had sought the distinction of sitting on the Lord’s right and left hands in His kingdom, causing the other apostles to react indignantly (Matthew 20:20-24; Mark 10:35-41), the Master taught the principle of greatness in His kingdom.
But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. ‘Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. ‘And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave– ‘just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:25-28; cf. Mark 10:42-45).
Greatness in the kingdom of Christ is the exact opposite of that in the nations of men. It is measured by humble service rather than honorable position.
Jesus Christ Himself is the paramount example. After His last Passover, the Master removed His robes, wrapped Himself with a towel, washed the disciples’ feet, and directed them to follow His example (John 13:3-5,12-17). The Master portrayed in this act of humble service the greatest of all deeds of humility – His own renouncement of the glory and honor of divinity to walk upon earth as a man, a servant, a humble, obedient servant, and to suffer in service for us the greatest humiliation, the death of the cross (Philippians 2:5-8).
We express the mind of humility in the same way Christ Jesus did. When we promote peace and unity among our brothers and sisters in Christ, looking out for the good of others, not our own selfish interests, we are demonstrating the mind of Christ, the mind of humility (Philippians 2:1-4). We must be as Paul, to whom the prospect of a violent death as the result of seeking to instill faith in others brought joy (Philippians 2:17-18). We should imitate Timothy, who sincerely was interested in the welfare of his brothers and sisters (Philippians 2:19-24). We should follow Epaproditus, who gladly served Paul though he was so sick he almost died and was sorrowful only at the heartache his suffering would cause his brothers and sisters in Christ (Philippians 2:25-30).
But we as Christ Jesus also show our humility by willing obedience to the Father (Philippians 2:12-13). We must do this without complaining and arguing (Philippians 2:14). Both of these sins of the tongue are the result of selfishness rather than humility. Complaining demonstrates a lack of gratitude toward God, and arguing shows a lack of love for others. By humble obedience we become “lights in the world,” showing Christ to others in word and life (Philippians 2:15-16).
Because Jesus so humbled Himself:
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).
If we will likewise humble ourselves to obey and serve, God will exalt us with His Son. To willingly obey God regardless of the cost and to gladly serve others no matter how demeaning the service with no regard for self is real humility. It is the mind of Christ. If we are to be exalted with Him, we must humble ourselves as He did (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:5-7). “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Work Cited
Thayer, J.H., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament.
