Luke continues carefully following our Lord’s teachings and
revelations on life. To his eyes every word Jesus spoke and every act he did penetrates
through the illusion and delusion of fallen race. The world is full of twisted
and distorted truths for the cunning and crafty devil is manipulating the mind
of humans. The devil is called the prince of the kingdom of air and the world
of darkness. Under a strong man (the devil) the goods in his palace are safe
and secure until a stronger man (Jesus Christ) comes and binds the devil and
liberates the captives (Luke 11:21-22). That’s what our Lord Jesus was doing in
the first century, going through the villages and towns and teaching them as he
made his way to Jerusalem. Our Lord was invited for dinner in the house of a
prominent Pharisee and went to eat with them. Although Jesus knew he was being vehemently
opposed and carefully watched by the Pharisees, he stepped in the house of the
Pharisee. There our Lord rolled out the truth on who is truly honored and
respected in his kingdom.
”One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a
prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. There in front of him was a
man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. Jesus asked the Pharisees and
experts in the law, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?’ But they
remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his
way. Then he asked them, ‘If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a
well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?’ And they had
nothing to say.” (Luke 14:1-6)
In the midst of being carefully watched, our Lord Jesus
healed a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. The experts in the
law and the Pharisees remained silent when Jesus asked them whether it was
lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not. Jesus knew what they were thinking. They
hardened their hearts to rebel against Jesus Christ whom they thought a law
breaker. Regardless of their stubbornness and opposition our Lord Jesus did
what the Father in heaven wanted him to do. The Son of Man came down to earth
to do the will of the Father. Isaiah prophesied what the Son of Man would do
some seven hundred years before Christ came.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the
prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to
proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)
Our Lord Jesus came down to earth to proclaim good news to
all people especially to the poor and freedom for the prisoners and recovery of
sight for the blind, and to set the oppressed free. That’s the will of the
Father for the Son to do even before the time began. To make alive those who
were dead in sins and transgressions is the work of the Father who anointed the
Son to suffer and die with the blood in our place. After healing the man Jesus told
a parable which reveals what the true place of honor is.
“When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor
at the table, he told them this parable: ‘When someone invites you to a wedding
feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you
may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and
say to you, “Give this person your seat.” Then, humiliated, you will have to
take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest
place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, “Friend, move up to a
better place.” Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other
guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who
humble themselves will be exalted.’” (Luke 14:7-11)
Jesus noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at
the table and told them this parable. Most likely the Pharisees picked the
places of honor because they loved to be respected and honored in public. Jesus
gave a warning to the Pharisees who loved the most important seats in the
synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplace. Wherever they go they
want to be recognized and respected by the people.
“Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important
seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.” (Luke
11:43)
Why are the people so obsessed to be respected and honored? It
is not wrong to have been honored and respected since the urge to be honored
and respected in humanity is the reflection of the imprinted image of God. But
what’s gone wrong is that they look after it from the wrong resource. They think
that they can get honor and respect from other people in the name of status and
position. The scriptures say that all honor and respect and glory are coming
from God. Even our Lord Jesus did not seek the earthly glory but the true glory
which the Father sought after.
“I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks
it, and he is the judge.” (John 8:50)
That’s the point of this parable. Anyone seeks the place of
honor for themselves shall be ashamed when a more distinguished person comes. But
anyone who does not seek the place of honor for themselves shall be honored by the
host in the presence of all the other guests. Note that the place of honor is
not something they have taken but given by the host of the table. No one
deserves to be honored and respected because no one is righteous in the sight
of God. Only by grace and mercy anyone can be honored and respected through
faith in him who generously gives.
“So you also, when you have done everything you were told to
do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"
(Luke 17:10)
Our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated this through his life on
earth. Though he was God he emptied himself and became a servant in the
likeness of man and gave up his life in obedience to the Father in the cross of
Calvary. Though our Lord was the most distinguish man in the dinner table, he
didn’t seek the place of honor for himself. Rather, he gave his life unto the
Father in heaven who would dispose true honor and glory justly and faithfully
to those who follow the footstep of Christ Jesus the Lord. That’s what it means
of the saying of our Lord Jesus.
“For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and
those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)
When the Son submitted and gave his life unto the Father in
heaven to the point of death, God honored the Son and exalted him to the
highest place and gave him the name that is above every name in heaven and on
earth and under the earth.
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him
the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians
2:9-11)
Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or
dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives,
or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be
repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame,
the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be
repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Luke 14:12-14)
This is a test to know whether anyone stands in the side of
the Lord Jesus Christ or not. The test is to seek honor and glory on earth or in
heaven. Our God is the God of reward. Hebrews says so.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because
anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those
who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Those who seek reward on earth they have already been paid in
full and will be broke in heaven. But those who invite the poor, the crippled,
the lame, and the blind who cannot repay will be blessed and receive reward in
heaven. Jesus revealed the truth in heaven that those who have been faithful
with a few things will be put in charge of many things and come and share the
master’s joy. Entering into the joy of the Lord is the greatest reward in
heavenly places for the faithful servants.
“His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many
things. Come and share your master's happiness!'” (Matthew 25:23)
The measurement of life does not lie on whether or not we receive
honor and glory in this age. Our God sees and knows our heart. The prominent Pharisee
who invited Jesus to the dinner table didn’t pay any attention to the most
distinguished person who was present in the midst. So, the question is, “Do I
pay honor and respect and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst now? Or
do I seek my own honor and glory?”
Prayer: Our compassionate and generously giving Father in
heaven, Thank you for teaching us who is truly honored and respected in heaven.
God help us not to seek our own glory and honor but pay our full attention and
respect and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ who is present in our midst. In
Jesus’ name. Amen.
November 21, 2015
© 2015 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.
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