The Parable of the Lowly Place

Luke 14:7-11

Review

• Jesus sometimes used parables to teach non-disciples– “The Two Debtors” to teach a Pharisee– “The Good Samaritan” to teach a lawyer– “The Rich Fool” to teach a greedy listener– “The Barren Fig Tree” to teach about calamities

• In this parable we will see Him again teaching lessons to non-disciples

The setting

• Luke 14:1-2– Jesus invited to dine at home of a ruler of the

Pharisees– They watch Him closely– A man with dropsy (a swelling of tissue caused

by excess water retention) is also invited• Perhaps a setup to see if Jesus would heal on the

Sabbath

The setting

• Luke 14:3-6– Jesus asks a question• Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?– They WOULD not answer

– Jesus then healed the man and asked a new question• Which of you would not help a work animal in

danger of injury on the Sabbath?– The COULD not answer

The best places• Lk 14:7– Jesus noted that everyone wanted to be at the

“best places” at the table• The best spot was at the incline of each couch

• The worst spot was at the foot of each couch

The parable

• Luke 14:8-10– A wedding feast ( a common social event)– Don’t choose best place• You may be asked to move to lower place for

someone more important–Shamed in front of all the guests

– Choose lowest place• You may be asked to move up–Honored in front of all the guests

The fundamental truth

• Luke 14:11– For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and

he who humbles himself will be exalted. – The same lesson is taught in many places • Lk 18:14, Mt 23:6-12, Ps 18:27, Pr 18:12, 29:23,

Jms 4:6, 1 Pet 5:5

• Remember the story is a parable– Not advice on etiquette– The truth is the spiritual lesson taught by the

parable

The lessons of the parable• The danger of pride– Prov 16:18, 29:23– The danger is not just social embarrassment as

in the parable– Pride will ruin our relationship with God• Prov 8:13• Mark 7:21-23• 1 Jn 2:15-17

– Pride caused the Pharisees to use the man with dropsy

– Pride kept them from answering Jesus’ question

The lessons of the parable• The importance of humility– The Lord blesses the humble• Ps 25:9; Prov 3:34

– Humility is a sign of wisdom• Prov 11:2

– Humility precedes honor• Prov 18:12, 22:4

– Jesus displayed humility by being willing to discuss the healing both before and after the healing

Applying the lessons

• Are we willing to discuss spiritual issues?– Or like the Pharisees, are our minds already

made up and closed?

• Can we humbly ask others for their opinions and ideas before expressing our own?

• God expects true humilty– Col 3:12; 1 Pet 5:6; Phil 2:3– Even when dealing with those who oppose us• Titus 3:2; 2 Tim 2:24-25

Conclusion• The parable was simple– An unbeliever could hear it and accept it as a

rebuke on social etiquette– A believer will hear and understand the true

lesson• Pride has no place in our lives

• All need to learn and practice humility

• Micah 6:8

“He has shown you, O man, what is good;       And what does the LORD require of you       But to do justly,       To love mercy,       And to walk humbly with your God?”