Places of Honor / Humility
Luke 14:7–11
Opening:
Seating Charts and the Heart
Jesus watched guests choose the best seats at a meal in a ruler of
the Pharisees’ house. He told a story everyone at the table
understood: when invited to a wedding feast, choose the lowest
place. If the host calls you up, you receive honored seating before
all. If you seize a high place and are told to move down, the walk
of shame follows. He then gave the principle that governs the
kingdom: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles
himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). The story exposes motives and
trains disciples to pursue the low place on purpose.
Setting the
Scene: An Eye on First Chairs
Luke places this teaching after a Sabbath healing and a quiet
scrutiny of Jesus by the religious elite (Luke 14:1–6). The meal
that followed revealed another disease—an appetite for status.
People reached for prominent seats because they measured worth by
visibility. Jesus redirected their attention from position to
character, from self-promotion to integrity before God.
A Wisdom
Thread Through Scripture
Long before this banquet, wisdom urged restraint: “Do not put
yourself forward in the king’s presence…for it is better to be told,
‘Come up here,’ than to be put lower” (Proverbs 25:6–7). The
apostles echo the same thread: “Let nothing be done through selfish
ambition or conceit; in lowliness of mind let each esteem others
better than himself” (Philippians 2:3). “Humble yourselves…He will
lift you up” (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6). The Lord’s words in Luke 14
stand within this steady call to quiet, deliberate humility.
What
Humility Looks Like at the Table
The Lord’s counsel reaches further than dining etiquette. Humility
chooses service before recognition, responsibility before rank, and
obedience before display. It listens first, speaks after, and
refuses to measure worth by applause. It yields preferences to honor
others, assigns high value to those with little public weight, and
answers God’s call without bargaining for better placement (Romans
12:3, 10, 16; Proverbs 27:2).
Why the
Lower Place Matters
The lower place protects the soul. It keeps pride from taking root,
keeps comparisons from stealing joy, and keeps ambition from shaping
decisions. The lower place also creates room for God to act.
Exaltation belongs to Him; timing and degree sit in His hand
(Matthew 23:12). Those who chase honor usually find embarrassment;
those who choose humility often find influence they never sought.
The parable trains us to leave promotions to the Host.
A Word to
Hosts and Guests
Jesus applied the lesson to hosts in the very next breath: invite
those who cannot repay—“the poor, the maimed, the lame, the
blind”—and expect reward at the resurrection (Luke 14:12–14). Guests
learn to take the low seat. Hosts learn to set a table for those
without leverage. Both learn to act without calculating return. This
is humility with sleeves rolled up.
Testing Our
Motives in the Assembly
Congregational life offers frequent seating charts of the heart.
Tasks with few thanks, prayers offered when nerves shake, classes
taught when time runs short, visits made when schedules strain—these
moments reveal what we seek. The Lord’s pattern holds: do all by His
authority, seek His approval, and let Him handle honor (Colossians
3:17; 1 Corinthians 4:6). Reputation grows healthy when obedience
becomes our only aim.
Christ, Our
Pattern of Humility
No one embodied the low place like Jesus. Though worthy of every
seat, He washed feet, ate with the overlooked, and accepted the path
of a servant (Matthew 20:26–28; Philippians 2:5–8). His resurrection
and exaltation validate the path He prescribes. Following His steps
aligns us with the way God works.
How to
Choose the Low Place Today
Begin the day with a settled decision to honor others. Speak
truthfully without self-display. Defer when conscience permits. Take
assignments that cost time and comfort. Give without announcing.
When recognized, give thanks and point upward. When passed over,
give thanks and keep working. The banquet Host sees every seat taken
for His name.
Invitation
and Assurance
The kingdom welcomes those who step down to follow the King.
Entrance belongs to those who do the Father’s will (Matthew 7:21)
and continue in obedient faith, for He is the author of eternal
salvation to all who obey (Hebrews 5:9). Believe the gospel, repent
of sins, confess Christ, and be baptized for the remission of sins
(Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3–4; 1 Peter 3:21). Then walk
humbly with God (Micah 6:8) and let Him assign the seating.
Exhaustive
Sermon Outline
Call to
Action
Pick the lowest seat three times this week. Choose one unnoticed
task at church, one quiet act of generosity, and one conversation
where you elevate another’s name above your own. Record the choices.
Pray over them. Keep choosing the low place until it becomes your
favorite chair.
Scripture
Reference List (with notes)
-
Luke 14:7–11
— Parable and principle of humility at a feast
-
Proverbs
25:6–7 — Wisdom about waiting to be invited higher
-
Philippians
2:3–8 — Lowliness of mind; Christ’s self-emptying and service
-
James
4:6,10; 1 Peter 5:5–6 — God opposes pride; He lifts the humble
-
Romans
12:3,10,16 — Sober self-assessment; honoring others; associating
with the lowly
-
Matthew
23:12 — Exaltation belongs to God; humility precedes honor
-
Luke 18:9–14
— Pharisee and tax collector; humility commended
-
Matthew
20:26–28 — Greatness expressed through service
-
Luke
14:12–14 — Invite the unrepayable guest; reward at the
resurrection
-
Colossians
3:17; 1 Corinthians 4:6; Deuteronomy 4:2 — Authority and the
safeguarded pattern
-
Matthew 5:16
— Good works that glorify the Father
-
Matthew 7:21
— Doing the Father’s will and the kingdom
-
Hebrews 5:9
— Salvation connected to obedience
-
Mark 16:16;
Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3–4; 1 Peter 3:21 — Appointed response to
the gospel
-
Micah 6:8 —
Walking humbly with God
Prepared by David Hersey of the church of Christ at
Granby, MO |
The
church of Christ
