Choose the Lowly Place
Rev. Phillip A. Wright
Luke 14:7-14 7 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: 8 "When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9 "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. 10 "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. 11 "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." 12 Then He also said to him who invited Him, "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. 13 "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. 14 "And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just." (NKJV)
Today, we will continue last week’s message. Review vs. 1-6, Jesus is still with the same group of Pharisees in one of their ruler’s home having their Sabbath meal. During the meal Jesus performed a miracle in their presence by healing a man of the dropsy (swollen arms and legs). The language tells us that the Pharisees were in essence dumbfounded and unable to speak.
I. Being an Honorable Guest
A. The Normal Practice
1. Vs. 7-8. Seek to set in the more honored place at a banquet.
2. Be seen by others in a position of honor and favor.
3. To be thought of well by others
4. Culturally the society is similar to the Orientals.
a. The culture is not like ours. Linear, everyone is equal or pretty well ranked the same.
b. In their culture you either bowed, or were bowed to.
c. The culture is hierarchal. The Pharisees liked being viewed as being important to smart and given public praise.
B. The Better Practice
1. Vs. 9-11. Chose your seat in a lowlier place. In the event you are asked to sit in a position of higher honor you will be honored in the presence of all.
2. No one likes to be publicly embarrassed, good or evil.
3. This gives the head of the party the opportunity to seat you in a position of more favor. Unless there is a guest of more importance than you.
4. It is easy for us to want to spend time with those we know and love. Have you ever been an outcast; disabled, needy, new one in the area? The last one picked for the ball team. Unimportant.
II. Being an Honorable Host
A. The Normal Practice
1. Who do you invite? Family, Friends, Coworkers, Neighbors
2. Why you invite them? Relatives, things in common, warm cordial times, strengthen relationships.
B. The Better Practice
1. Who should you invite?
a. Poor, Cripple / Maimed, Lame, Blind.
2. Why you should invite them? Well if you come humbly into your Christian duties it will become the feast which Jesus describes at the end of the passage, there you see all the people around the table reaching out their hands to those near them who cannot provide a meal for themselves but who are still desperately need to share in the Lord’s feast.
a. This is a feast of the poor can you see the hands reach out in need. They are unable to repay you. This is a gesture of giving with no expectation of return.
• ptochos {pto-khos’} Meaning: 1) reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms 2) destitute of wealth, influence, position, honor 2a) lowly, afflicted, destitute of the Christian virtues and eternal riches 2b) helpless, powerless to accomplish an end 2c) poor, needy 3) lacking in anything Origin: from ptosso {to crouch, akin to 4422 and the alternate of 4098);
• They need to share in the feast.
b. This is a feast of the crippled / maimed that may not have hands to share the work. They may have no social ability, unable to get around, could be considered unclean under certain circumstances.
• anaperos {an-ap’-ay-ros} Meaning: 1) disabled in the limbs, maimed, crippled 2) injured in, or bereft of, some member of the body Usage: AV - maimed 2; 2. Note:[
• They need to share in the feast.
c. This is a feast of the lame that may not be unable to walk to get around at all. They may be unable to get around, poor social access.
• cholos {kho-los’} Meaning: 1) lame 1a) deprived of a foot, maimed Usage: AV - lame 10, halt 4, cripple 1; 15
• They need to share in the feast.
d. This is a feast of the blind, whose hands feel around for a chance at life’s realities. Blindness scares me more than all the others. Feelings, unable to physically see loved ones, growing up and seeing their lives blossom; physically and spiritually. The blind can’t share in your world. It is different for them and they know it.
• tuphlos {toof-los’} Meaning: 1) blind 2) mentally blind Usage: AV - blind 44, blind man 9; 53.
• They need to share in the feast.
C. The Reward
1. Vs. 14. God Himself will reward you.
2. Share God’s love and grace with others.
3. The parable speaks of a literal meal and hunger. Remember a parable is a story along another to help explain a deeper truth to those who have little or no spiritual knowledge.
a. Poor: They do not know God. They do not know the danger associated in death outside of the family of God. They do not have salvation. They are poor. They need to know your master and the riches which come from his grace. Share.
b. Cripple / Maimed: They may have been exposed to Christian teaching but were pulled or even walked away. They have had their ability to meet God, cut away for whatever reason. They were headed in the right direction and suffered a crippling blow for one reason or another. Help them.
c. Lame: They have never been exposed. They live in area where there is no gospel ministry, their parents did not teach them or take them or allow them to learn of Christ. They could represent a lot of different peoples. They lacked the ability to walk in here and learn in a free and unthreatening environment. Reach out to them.
d. Blind: These are the pitiful ones. They do not know or believe for a variety of reasons. Lack of priorities on spiritual matters, bad teaching from some false prophet, they are physically blind in one side of the story but they represent those who are spiritually blind. Show them the way.
III. Conclusion:
A. There is a variety of reason why people are as they are.
1. Reach out to them, it is your:
a. Christian duty
b. Privilege
2. Make it a standard practice.
a. Reach out with real feasts, most people like to eat.
b. Reach out with spiritual feasts as well.
3. Have an attitude of spiritual awareness.
a. Pray and ask God to show you other’s needs.
b. Pray and ask God to use you to attend to other’s needs.
B. Servant’s Heart
1. You have been fed and have the ability to grow.
2. Why not reach out to others?
