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Text: Luke 14: 7-11

ANOTHER POWERFUL PARABLE

1. The Parables of the Lord Jesus were truly powerful.

a. They are insightful.

b. They are memorable.

c. They are sound and relevant.

2. Addressing a common problem.

“So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: ‘When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honourable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.’”

Luke 14:7-9

a. In the context of an Invitation.

b. A wedding Feast was used as an example.

c. A common problem:

i. Some tend to choose “the best place”.

ii. The person may feel that he deserves the most important seat.

d. This may prove embarrassing.

i. There could be a person who is “more honourable”.

ii. The person “in the best place” may be asked to vacate his seat to another person.

iii. There would be shame felt if one is asked to seat elsewhere!

3. A better approach:

“But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you.”

Luke 14:10

a. It is wise to take “the lowest place”.

b. This reflects true humility.

c. The host may invite the individual to take “a higher seat”.

d. This would reflect on the invitee and would add some “glory” to the individual.

4. There is a vital principle to bear in mind.

“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 14:11

a. The person who exalts himself will be humbled.

i. The person who exalts himself may have an inflated opinion of self.

ii. He may not be as important as he may think.

iii. Thus, he may end up being humbled.

b. The person who humbles himself will be exalted.

i. The person who is humble does not have grandiose ideas of himself.

ii. He is not looking to being exalted.

iii. If he is “exalted,” well and good.

iv. If he is “not exalted,” he is not affected at all.

经文：路加福音 14：7-11

另一个强大的比喻

1. 主耶稣的比喻的确强大

a. 他们很有见地

b. 它们令人难忘

c. 它们合理也具相关性

2. 解决一个常见的问题

“耶稣见所请的客拣择首位，就用比喻对他们说：‘你被人请去赴婚姻的筵席，不要坐在首位上，恐怕有比你尊贵的客被他请来，那请你们的人前来对你说：‘让座给这一位吧！’你就羞羞惭惭地退到末位上去了。‘”

《路加福音 14：7-9》

a. 在受邀的情况下

b. 婚姻的筵席为比方

c. 一个常见的问题：

i. 有些人会选择坐在“首位”上

ii. 这个人也许认为他应该得到最重要的座位

d. 这可能会令人尴尬

i. 或许有“更尊贵”的客人

ii. 这坐在“首位”上的也许必须让座给另一位

iii. 让座退位也许会令人羞惭！

3. 更好的方法：

“你被请的时候，就去坐在末位上，好叫那请你的人来对你说：‘朋友，请上坐！’那时，你在同席的人面前就有光彩了。”

《路加福音 14：10》

a. 坐在“末位”上是有智慧的选择

b. 这反映了真正的谦卑

c. 主人可能会邀请这人“上坐”

d. 这将反映在受邀者身上，并为这人增添一些“光彩”

4. 要牢记一个重要的原则

“因为凡自高的，必降为卑；自卑的，必升为高。”

《路加福音 14：11》

a. 那自高的人，必降为卑

i. 自高的人可能对自己有夸大的看法

ii. 他可能没有自己想象的那么重要

iii. 因此，他最终可能必降为卑

b. 那自卑的人，必升为高

i. 谦虚的人对自己没有宏大的想法

ii. 他并不需求升为高

iii. 若他“升为高”，那很好

iv. 若他“没有升为高”，他也不会为此而受到影响