October 14, 2025
The Feast - Part 2
Luke 14:7-9
10/14/2025
7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited,
when he noticed how they chose the places of
honor, saying to them,
8 ``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,
9 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.''
(ESV)
Jesus was invited to a Sabbath dinner at the home of a ruler
of the Pharisees.
Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when
he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying
to them, ``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.''
Why would someone presume to be deserving of a place of
honor when invited to a banquet? At the root of all sin is the
desire to be like God, to replace God, to be honored by one and
all. Pride and arrogance are evidence of a sinful nature.
Is this parable realistic? Consider the person who comes
into your house as a guest but ignores the rules and standards of
the household. They put their feet on the coffee table, they
light a cigar even though you ask them not to smoke, they make
demands to be served without offering to help. Will you invite
them back?
Consider someone who comes into the church building as a
guest. When they demand to be served the Lord's Supper when they
are not members of the church, when they demand the pastor or
priest ignore doctrine and practice, are they not being just as
arrogant?
The host of the banquet, the host of a guest, the pastor or
priest who is responsible for the proper teaching and practice in
the church do not take delight in asking the guest to abide by
the rules. They are looking for the best interest of all
concerned.
May our Lord grant us humility in our dealings with others.
Amen.