The message and meaning of Luke 14:7–14
The message of Luke 14:7–14 talks about what to do to be honored and to be blessed
You can tell from any occasion who is who, or the level of honor the host has given to the guests present on that occasion. This is not limited to a ceremony but also to every gathering even among the religious leaders.
The best place is always in the front seats, even in the Church, we see the Lead Pastors and altar ministers always in the front where they will be seen by everyone. Other ordained ministers like Deacons and Deaconess will be followed, and then leaders of various units, before we finally see the members.
Also in sporting events or any shows, wedding banquets, or dinner parties, the organizers knew everyone preferred to be in front, where they would see every action or where they would be elevated above the general crowd. Sometimes organizers take advantage of this to make more money from the people.
It is expected that everyone would like to sit where they will be noticed and where they will be given respect. No one wants to sit at the back, at the same time it is not good to sit in a place reserved for special people if you are not invited to stay in such a place.
This message of Jesus should be adopted not only in churches today but also in our day-to-day activities. God is interested in the meek; He delights in guiding and leading them for He knows they will hearken unto Him.
“The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.”
Jesus counsels us not to sit in the higher place reserved for important people of high status. The front seat rolls are always a place of honor for special guests of the occasion with higher status. This statement was also mentioned in Proverbs 25 verses 6 to 7,
“Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of the great; For it is better that he say to you, Come up here, Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.”
In the secular, where you belong or the title you carry determines what respect and honour you will receive from the people. This is not so in the kingdom. The real reason behind this message of Jesus was to teach them how things work in the kingdom of God and not how it is in the kingdom of this world.
Luke mentioned this in Luke Chapter 1 verses 50 to 53,
“And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.”
Jesus then nailed it in this message. He assisted in getting us ready for life in the kingdom of God. Some bible scholars referred to this teaching as one of the kingdom rules. In the same way, you prepare when you are planning a trip to any foreign land, learning to observe and to do according to the rules of the land, we believers must also learn and get set for what is obtainable in the kingdom of God.
It is a spiritual call to humble service in our various kingdom advancement endeavors and an easy pathway to our place of dignity.
Jesus’ message was two-sided, He spoke concerning the guests and later turned his attention to the host. More often than not, we are fond of inviting people we know and those who will give us something in return. This is a worldly ethics as mentioned above.
The rules of the kingdom encourage us not to limit our helping hands to only those we know. Jesus specifically mentioned to the host, the four categories of people that should not be considered (friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors) and replaced them with another set of four people ( the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind) that must be invited.
“He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” ( luke’s gospel chapter 14 verse 12 to 14)
This is termed the parable of the Great Banquet.
Luke also confirmed this in chapter 6 verses 32 to 36,
“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”
We are admonished by Jesus to do good to those that cannot pay us back, by so doing, our rewards will be greater in heaven.
Demonstrating Humility
Jesus reminded us of the importance of humility. Most times we tend to seek good things for ourselves. God reserves the best for his children.
We must come to this understanding of who we are.
Jeremiah 29 verse 11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
All we need is to stay in the center of God’s plan and watch as He unfolds his divine plans and purpose for our lives.
To demonstrate humility, we must be good followers or servants to people, especially to the people in authority. Cultivate the habit of loyalty. Jesus humbles himself among his disciples from the beginning till the end of his missionary journey. He made them realize that a disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.
Luke 22 verses 26 to 27, “But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.”
Possess the sense of servanthood to the people and God.
It is more honourable to humble and be promoted than to high–rank yourself and later be disgraced. Jesus simply taught his disciples true humility in this parable.
You do not force respect on yourself, you earn honour and respect. A man with a proud heart will always want to show himself. The Bible says in the book of Proverbs 6 verses 16 to 19,
“These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.”
God does not relate with anyone with a proud heart. Pride is first on the list of what God hates according to the scripture above. The reward of pride is destruction. Jesus our perfect example also taught us the same message and followed it up with a parable. We must not just listen to Him but also follow His steps.
“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” (1 Peter chapter 2 verse 21)
Let us now deep dive into the details of this message.
Who wrote Luke 14:7–14 and when was it written?
Luke 14:7-14 was believed to be written by Luke. It must have been written in the early ’60s due to the necessity of Acts being completed by AD 64.
What is the context of Luke 14?
The context of Luke 14 talks about humility and the eternal reward for those who follow kingdom rules.
This chapter commenced by talking about a certain Sabbath day when Jesus visited the house of a ruler of the Pharisees. On this special day, Jesus healed a man who had dropsy. He knew they would be angry seeing that happened, which is why He asked them if it was the right thing to do or not.
“And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away.” ( Luke chapter 14 verses 3 and 4)
Jesus went ahead and healed the man with a prepared defense. He has a ready-made defense answer for them, asking them a vivid question:
“Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?”
Smart Jesus dumb-folded them with his clear defensive question.
The main message of Jesus in this text is very straight and on point. Take the lowest seats, not the best seats. We all know that the best position to sit on any occasion is the front which some people refer to as the high table.
The head of the table is for the kind of people with greater honor while the very last table is for common guests. The closer you are to the host, the more the honor given to you in any gathering.
Jesus noticed how the invited guests chose the places of honor for the occasion. He spotted this and decided to use another opportunity to teach the people but in the parable, as His custom is.
According to His parable, whenever you are being invited to a wedding feast, do not sit at the front table otherwise a special guest may come and you may be told to leave the sit for such a person which will be shameful.
Go to the last seat in the crowd with a fellow guest unless your name is on the invitation list or guest list to sit in such a better place. It is better to bring you from the last place to the first place in the front than the other way around.
The gospel of Luke chapter 14 verses 10 to 11 says,
“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. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus our perfect example also demonstrated humility. He does not only teach the subject but leads by example.
In Phillippians 2 verses 5 to 8, the Bible says,
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
What is the result of Jesus’ humility?
God exalted Him and gave Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus also admonished the host to consider the poor when He invites people for a feast, family members and thy friends or thy brethren will find a way to pay back. The poor and less privileged cannot but God will surely repay us on their behalf on the last day.
“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. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” ( Luke chapter 14 verses 12 to 14)
One of the people who leaned back at the table heard these words, and he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”. Jesus then spoke about the parable of the great banquet. A man gave a great banquet and invited many people.
On the day of the banquet, the man still went further sending his servants to tell the invitees to come immediately as all things were ready.
According to Jesus, all of them began to make excuses.
“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please excuse me. And another said, ‘I have bought five yokes of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’” (Luke 14 verses 18 to 20)
The servants returned to the master of the feast to report all these excuses. This made the master of the house angry and He said them. Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.
They went and did as commanded but behold there were still many rooms to be filled. The servant asked them to go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, so that the house may be filled.
Jesus ended the chapter, by talking about the cost of true discipleship. If you must come to Jesus, you must make him a priority over your father and mother, wife and children and brothers and sisters, even your own life,
Jesus did not say this to punish anyone, He also demonstrated the same attitude in Luke chapter 2, when He deserted his parents for three days chasing the things of God.
“So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” ( Luke 2 verses 45 to 49)
Anyone who cannot renounce all that he has cannot be a true disciple of Jesus.
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.
What is the difference in biblical translations of” For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”(NKJV, KJV, NIV & ESV)?
NKJV biblical translation
“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
KJV biblical translation
“For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
NIV biblical translation
“For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
ESV biblical translation
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
There is no difference between NKJV, KJV, NIV, and ESV translations. The four translations are written almost the same way apart from KJV which replaces humbled with abased which means humble.
However, the four translations have the same meaning.
How can I apply Luke 14:7–14 to my life?
If you want to be honoured in life, you must first humble yourself. You don’t need to struggle to announce yourself or to compete with unbelievers. We are expected to be meek and lowly in heart. God resists the proud, He gives grace to the humble person. Your relationship with God cannot be smooth if you are proud.
Moses, a friend of God was said to be meek. We saw how God relates with him in the bible.
“Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.” (Numbers chapter 12 verse 3)
We must also show generosity to all especially the poor. The bible taught us that those who consider the poor will not lack, they will be blessed above measure but those who hide their eyes will have many curses.
“Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed.” ( Psalm 41 verses 1 to 3)
If you want to be honoured in life, meekness is a must and if you want to be blessed abundantly, you must make the poor your priority. The good news is that the best places are reserved for the children of God.
What is Luke 14:7–14 prayer?
Almighty Father, thank you for your mercy and your grace given to me. Let me not think of myself more highly than I ought, but rather think of you. Deliver me from every spirit of pride and arrogance, and give me the grace to give continually to the less privileged, this I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Conclusion
Anything you struggle to achieve cannot last. Let us, therefore, behave like children of God. Love without hypocrisy. abhor what is evil. Stick to what is good. Be kind and affectionate with brotherly love with respect and giving preference to one another.
Show a lending hand to the needy, bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Promotion does not come from any human being but from God.