Place of Honor:

Luke 14:8-11 “...When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted...”

Context:

• Jesus was dining with a ruler of the Pharisees.
• He had healed a man of dropsy, and sent him away.
• Others had been invited to dine with the Pharisee, and Jesus had been watching them.

What suggestion did Jesus make?

• Don’t presume to take a place of honor.
• Allow others to be in control of your position.

Why did Jesus offer this counsel?

• People like to elevate their own status (disciples wanting to be great in the kingdom).
• People like to be in control of their status.

Is this counsel new with Jesus?

• Proverbs 25:6-7 “...Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble...”

Does Jesus watch how you go about living?

Is there an appropriate way to go about living?

How can we live our lives more appropriately?

• John 14:6 “...Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life...”

• By learning from the one who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Why is it important to pay attention to Jesus?

• Romans 12:2 “...Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect...”

• The world’s way of thinking is typically upside down and backwards.
• We tend to be conformed to the world’s way of thinking.
• We must be transformed by the renewal of our minds.
• Transformation leads to discerning God’s will.
• Transformation reveals what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Luke 14:11 “...For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted...”

Is it more important to exalted by man or by God?

• Isaiah 2:12 “...For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up - and it shall be brought low;...”

• Works of charity are more important than works of show.