Jesus told another parable beginning in verse while at the dinner at the Pharisee’s house. The scripture says that this parable of the wedding feast was prompted by the way He saw that the guests had chosen the “places of honor.” Some versions call these seats “the chief seats,” while others call them simply the “best seats.” We cannot be sure which these were, but a good assumption might be that the very best seats would be those closest to the host.

What Jesus makes the analogy to is being invited to a wedding feast and choosing one of those places of honor, only to get “bumped down” to a more lowly seat when someone “more distinguished” shows up. It would be better to choose the lowly seats, and then the host might move you to a better seat, bringing you honor instead of embarrassment. This is certainly sound advice, and would definitely make you seem less presumptuous and more polite anyway.

English: An etching by Jan Luyken illustrating Matthew 25:14-30 in the Bowyer Bible, Bolton, England. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But beyond the practical advice for everyday life that this parable involves, it resounds with the way that Jesus has taught all along. He tells them that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” He taught this at the sermon on the mount. And he drives this point home to His apostles (Matthew 19:30, Matthew 20:16 , Luke 13:30). The teaching was very relevant for these Pharisees, many of whom had a high opinion of their own importance.

And of course, its relevance to us today is the same as in the passages just mentioned. It is the same mindset that is commanded to us in Matthew 6:3-4, when Jesus tells us to do good for others in secret, so that the right hand doesn’t know what the left is doing. Christians should not be about the business of making themselves feel important. Humbleness and humility are valued by God, and we will be rewarded by Him for the good that we do. That is enough.

(This year’s reading plan for Luke, Acts, and 1 and 2 Chronicles averages just 15 verses per day – 5 days per week!)
Schedule for this week
Read or listen to audio of today’s selection from Luke here
Read or listen to audio of today’s selection from 1 Chronicles here

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.