Luk 14:7 | KingComments | STEP | says that they are watching Him closely, but in reality it is the other way around ( ). He watches them and notices how the guests are picking out the places of honor at the table. Such people, who have no sense of the need in which they find themselves, not only want to prevent Him from doing good to others, but are also always aspiring to exalt themselves. It is a reason for the Lord to continue teaching . He continues with this until Luke 17 where He does another work of grace in the healing of ten leprous men ( ). With His teaching He wants to place their conscience in the light with the goal that they learn to see themselves in God’s light and come to repentance. It is also important to us because the tendency of everything He points out is also present in us. If we do not take His teaching to heart, we will fall into the same evil. To us, His education contains many warnings. When we look around us, we see happen what He says, but often we are not able to testify against it because we so often notice the same faults in ourselves. The Lord gives His teaching through a parable. He presents it in this way, that there is an invitation for a wedding. For a wedding, certain places are reserved for distinguished guests. The pride of man desires a place that clearly shows his importance to others. If we sit in a place that we’re not entitled to, we will be taken from there, because a more distinguished person has come who has already been allocated this place. We might have entered through the narrow door, but still get thoughts of pride about ourselves again. The old nature has also entered with us, but we must keep it at the place of death ( ), that is, we must not give in to it. If we give in, we will be put in our place by the person who sent the invitation, because he has also allocated the places. He knows where everyone belongs. If we have taken a place in the front row that is destined for another person, we will have to leave when the other person comes. Red of shame, we’ll have to take last place, far away from the center of the feast. Therefore it is better, if we are invited, to take the humblest place. When we are then told: “Friend, move up higher”, it is a tribute that is noticed by all. We will get it without having searched for it ( ). The Lord’s sympathy goes out to those who take the lowest place, the place of serving. It is identification with the place He Himself has always taken. All other guests also have respect for someone who has taken the lowest place and is addressed by the Lord as a friend and invited to a higher place. The Lord closes the parable with an important principle. The seeking of oneself will inevitably lead to a deep fall. Whoever takes the lowest place will ultimately be allowed to take the highest place. The Lord Jesus has humbled Himself and has been exalted at God’s right hand ( ). This will happen to all who follow Him in that mind of humility ( ; ; ). With satan and his followers the first thing will happen. They have exalted themselves and will be humiliated.

‏ Luke 14:7

Teaching for the Invited Guests

Lk 14:1 says that they are watching Him closely, but in reality it is the other way around (Lk 14:7). He watches them and notices how the guests are picking out the places of honor at the table. Such people, who have no sense of the need in which they find themselves, not only want to prevent Him from doing good to others, but are also always aspiring to exalt themselves.

It is a reason for the Lord to continue teaching. He continues with this until Luke 17 where He does another work of grace in the healing of ten leprous men (Lk 17:11-19). With His teaching He wants to place their conscience in the light with the goal that they learn to see themselves in God’s light and come to repentance. It is also important to us because the tendency of everything He points out is also present in us. If we do not take His teaching to heart, we will fall into the same evil. To us, His education contains many warnings. When we look around us, we see happen what He says, but often we are not able to testify against it because we so often notice the same faults in ourselves.

The Lord gives His teaching through a parable. He presents it in this way, that there is an invitation for a wedding. For a wedding, certain places are reserved for distinguished guests. The pride of man desires a place that clearly shows his importance to others. If we sit in a place that we’re not entitled to, we will be taken from there, because a more distinguished person has come who has already been allocated this place.

We might have entered through the narrow door, but still get thoughts of pride about ourselves again. The old nature has also entered with us, but we must keep it at the place of death (Rom 6:11), that is, we must not give in to it. If we give in, we will be put in our place by the person who sent the invitation, because he has also allocated the places. He knows where everyone belongs.

If we have taken a place in the front row that is destined for another person, we will have to leave when the other person comes. Red of shame, we’ll have to take last place, far away from the center of the feast. Therefore it is better, if we are invited, to take the humblest place. When we are then told: “Friend, move up higher”, it is a tribute that is noticed by all. We will get it without having searched for it (Pro 25:5-6).

The Lord’s sympathy goes out to those who take the lowest place, the place of serving. It is identification with the place He Himself has always taken. All other guests also have respect for someone who has taken the lowest place and is addressed by the Lord as a friend and invited to a higher place.

The Lord closes the parable with an important principle. The seeking of oneself will inevitably lead to a deep fall. Whoever takes the lowest place will ultimately be allowed to take the highest place. The Lord Jesus has humbled Himself and has been exalted at God’s right hand (Phil 2:8-9). This will happen to all who follow Him in that mind of humility (Jam 4:10; Job 5:11; Jn 12:26). With satan and his followers the first thing will happen. They have exalted themselves and will be humiliated.