Honored
Luke 14: 7 - 14
Intro: Two men interviewed for the same position. The potential employer felt the candidates were equally qualified. In order to make a decision she decided to invite each to dinner on separate occasions. The 2 dinners went well making it easier for the employer to make her decision. When the 1st man was not chosen, he asked why he was not chosen. The employer responded, “When your food came to the table, you seasoned the food without tasting it first and I felt you might make similar assumptions in your job.
I VS. 7 & 8 contain the words “places of honor” which in GK is protoklisia (p??t????s?a).
A In some translations the word is translated as highest places or highest room.
B The custom of the time was that pillows were placed in the shape of a “U” and the host would recline at the top of the “U” while the guests were seated on either side.
C Social standing was determined by 3 things: a) where one sat, b) with whom one ate, and c) whether one washed before eating.
Those higher up or closer to the host were considered to be “Honored.”
II The GK word for “HONOR” is doxa (d??a) and is usually translated as “glory” which points people beyond recognition received from others.
A The “HONOR” or “GLORY” does not rely on others but is the glory that belongs to God and that God can give.
B In other words, true honor cannot be gained by seizing prominence. It is a natural part of the human experience to want the best seat.
C “Honor” is a blessing from God. It was considered something that Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit did for people.
III Jesus not only speaks about where one should seek to sit; but also, in VSS. 12 – 14 he suggests who should be the invited guests.
A Those NOT to invite: your friends, your brothers and sisters, your relatives or your rich neighbors.
B Those who SHOULD be invited: the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind.
C The custom of the time dictated that if you were invited, then you must reciprocate.
Concl: VS. 14 “You will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Inviting to the table is quite different from sending food to those who have neither property nor place in society. We are comfortable giving food to our Stockpot ministry; but, we don’t want to go there and eat with THOSE PEOPLE. At thanksgiving or other holidays, how many of us would invite to our home THOSE PEOPLE, who if they have a meal, have it at a homeless shelter or church rather than in our home? Yet, these are the very people who are nearest to the heart of God. These are the HONORED.
