Luke 14:7 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Luke 14:7

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(Synoptics: Luke 14:7-14)It is the same occasion, and Christ is still speaking as a guest in a chief Pharisee’s house. The Lord had previously been invited into another Pharisee’s house as a guest (Luke 11:37), and then too he spoke as no guest would normally speak, but with an honesty and a directness which shocked those present. The word ‘marked’ is significant. It doesn't just mean he noticed them. It means that he fastened on, he fixed his attention on them as they chose out the chief places, the places of honour. He is now going to draw the most pointed lessons from what he observes going on among these guests manoeuvring around the table. Our Authorized Version talks of ‘rooms’ here – ‘when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms’ – which probably is best rendered as places at a table. We learn in this passage about the basis of our acceptance with God – How can we approach him? How can we ever stand before him? – and the key to this is in verse 11: ‘For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.’ They all knew the games they were playing, and the subtle vying with each other which they engaged in. Everyone knew which were the places of greater honour as they sat down to eat, and each one sought that for himself. The head of the table was for the important people, and then, as you worked down the table, the less significant people were seated, and down at the end of the table you had those who just about got an invitation. All this type of protocol was very important to them. To obtain their place, they needed to evaluate each other – who else was after that place? – and so there was constant unseemly comparison going on in their hearts, and, of course, each one rated himself more highly than he ought. And because they were all doing the same thing, there was friction among them; they experienced the painful side of this, when one who was lower in their estimation, placed himself above them. A meal was supposed to be a time of mutual love and fellowship, but they turned it into a time of mutual disparagement. Christ observed all this, and then gave his judgment about it. He did not wait to be invited to speak; he assumed his right as the one who will be the Judge of all at the last day. He saw that their behaviour around the table was a true picture of their whole life’s policy, and of their approach to God. And of course, Christ is fearless. Does the Creator tremble before his creature? Is he intimidated by us, even when he came to live among us? No, although he was born in a relatively low position in Jewish society, he knew he was the Lord from heaven. He never lost his rightful authority as Lord of all. It is to him that we owe allegiance, and these Pharisees were transgressing his law, and withholding obedience from him, the God Man, as they jostled for position around the table.

Application

Christ’s parable was about exactly the same thing happening, but at a wedding feast. At a wedding supper, the same kind of system was followed. The difference was that at a wedding, the seating arrangement was much more seriously regulated. You could abuse a formal dinner, but you couldn't get away with that at a wedding feast. Somebody more important than you may have been invited, somebody higher up the social scale, somebody who is your senior, and you will be ashamed when you are told to take a less significant place at the table.

The Lord turns what he has seen to account, as though to say to them, ‘It is the same in your relationship with God.’ This is a parable about life; it’s not just moral instruction, though it would be perfectly good for moral instruction. It's not just a little story which says, ‘Be humble; wait until you're promoted. Don't promote yourself, don't brag about yourself, don't advance yourself in all the affairs of life.’ Of course, that is right, and it could be used to teach that, but it means more than that. A parable is a lesson about heavenly and spiritual things, about how God works towards men, how God saves us or condemns us.

Human nature is so predictable. We are so self-seeking by nature; we are so presumptuous; we think so well of ourselves. The greatest man in Jerusalem at that time – of course he was the greatest man, because he was the incarnate Son of God, who took human personality and walked on earth – was really a lowly person in demeanour. He was the most powerful one, the sinless one, the greatest teacher, but they were so prejudiced against him that they wouldn't give him any honour at all. They wanted prestige for themselves, and they didn't want Jesus Christ to be recognized. We too do the same with Jesus Christ before we are converted. To whom do you extend honour, who do you admire? Before we are converted, the answer is, just about anybody but him. How foolish we are! The one who created us, the one who will one day be our judge, the one who came from heaven to suffer and to die in indescribable agony to bear the punishment of sin for those who believe in him. Yet we don't think anything of him.

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Luke 14:7 Commentary and Bible Study