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Luke 14 : 7-24 "OBSERVATIONS AT THE DINNER TABLE"

Day 183 – Luke 14

Text: Luke 14 : 7-24

OBSERVATIONS AT THE DINNER TABLE

Jesus was invited many times to homes. On one occasion, He was invited to the home of Matthew, a tax collector. On that occasion, Matthew announced his retirement as a tax collector. He was going to follow the Lord Jesus full-time as one of His Disciples (Luke 5:27-31).

On another occasion, Jesus ate at the home of Simon the Pharisee. In that home a sinful woman anointed Jesus with fragrant oil, and washed His feet with her tears (Luke 7:36-49).

On a third occasion, Mary and Martha looked after Jesus. He used every opportunity to teach the Word of God (Luke 10:38-42). In this particular instance, Martha was gently instructed not to become overly distracted when serving at tables.

On this occasion, Jesus was once again invited to the home of a Pharisee. This time He commented on how some dinner guests “chose the best places” for themselves (Luke 14:7).

“WHEN YOU ARE INVITED… TO A WEDDING FEAST, DO NOT SIT DOWN IN THE BEST PLACE” Luke 14:8

What Jesus taught concerning sitting at the dinner table was astonishing. He must have observed that there were some who chose the best seats for themselves, to the consternation of others, perhaps the host who must have planned where he would sit his guests.

Those who chose “the best places” for themselves could end up being greatly embarrassed should they be asked to take a lower place, when others, “more honourable” (Luke 14:8) appear at the dinner and room must be made for them at “the best places”.

Why do people always choose “the best places” for themselves? Several reasons may be suggested:-

1. The individual is presumptuous.

2. He could be full of self-importance, if not arrogance.

3. He has little regard for the seating arrangements made by the host.

4. He pays a very high price for harbouring these attitudes! He might well end up being publicly embarrassed when he has to yield his seat to one more honourable than he is.

“WHEN YOU ARE INVITED, GO AND SIT DOWN IN THE LOWEST PLACE” Luke 14:10

The alternative that Jesus offered would have been difficult for some to apply. Yet, there was no mistaking His words. He actually advised people to “take the lowest place”.

How could a person actually choose “the lowest place”? He would have to possess the following things:-

1. He would have to possess genuine and great respect for his host.

2. He would also have to have a high regard of other guests.

3. He would have a humble opinion of himself.

4. He would have to focus on the occasion, in this case, the wedding feast. On such an occasion, the central focus ought to be on the wedding couple (at a Jewish wedding, it would be the groom and not the bride), rather than on himself.

5. The person who is willing to take the lowest place could well win honour for himself, because the host thinks highly of him (Luke 14:10). If his host for some reason does not recognize him, he is quite contented to be where he is… at the lowest place!

“WHOEVER EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED, AND HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED” Luke 14:11

Was Jesus given the best place at this dinner function? Probably not, for He was invited with an ulterior motive. They were going to watch whether He would heal a man on the Sabbath.

That He was not given the best places is also intimated by this phrase,

“He noted how they chose the best places…”
Luke 14:7

Who could have been more important than Jesus Himself! He had power to heal the man who suffered from dropsy! He was the reknown Teacher of Israel! He had a following that numbered a legion! Yet, He was not perturbed if He was not offered the best places.

If He had chosen the best place for Himself, the Pharisee host could well have attempted to embarrass Him by asking Him to take a lower place. But if Jesus had already taken the lowest place, He certainly couldn’t have been asked to take a lower seat!

Jesus taught an important principle that continues to be relevant for us today. We need to practise genuine humility. How important it is that we do not adopt a proud stance in our life – ever! What a solemn truth to remember. The person who exalts himself will be abased! On the other hand, the person who humbles himself might well be exalted!

Many suffer from an over-inflated opinion of “self”. Self-importance is not usually expressed verbally. It is often expressed in subtle ways, like going to the best places and assuming that you have a right to be there! How we must guard against such presumption and arrogance.

GOOD APOSTOLIC ADVICE

The Apostle Paul espouses this teaching of true humility. His advice on how to regard self is well expressed in this statement he wrote in his epistle to the Romans,

“For I say, through the grace given to me,
to everyone who is among you,
not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,
but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one
a measure of faith.” Romans 12:3