Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Be not proud of race, face, place, or grace.

- Charles Spurgeon

Pride is the carbon-monoxide of Sin.

It silently and slowly kills you without you even knowing.

- Tim Keller

The Messiah’s Observation

The setting is still the same as in verses 1-6.

He is having a meal at one of the religious leader’s homes.

He challenged them in their religious hypocrisy.

Now, he is going to give them additional instruction.

He does so by telling a story, a parable.

If you recall a parable is an earthy story that communicates a spiritual truth.

Jesus uses common realities to help his hearers understand deeper realities.

Luke gives his readers the reason Jesus began to tells this parable.

when he noticed how they chose the places of honor - Jesus observed something about their actions.

They picked for themselves the best seats.

R.C.H. Lenski writes concerning the places of honor, “The chief reclining places at table were those on the left end of each couch (not those in the center as some suppose), for the person reclining there had the fullest view of the table and the guests while those toward the right end had to bend back in order to see.”

In this time, the best seats were given based upon societal rank, reputation or age.

In all honesty, this type of action is pretty much common place among humanity.

For example, what parking space do you look for when you go shopping?

What seats do you desire when you are at a sporting event or play watching your children or grand-children?

How many cars do you allow to get in front of you when there is a lane that is ending?

Jesus sees something that he wants to address and he does.

The Messiah’s Admonition

When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast - The occasion is that a person has asks you to attend a special gathering, which includes a meal.

This occasion is similar to the one that his hearers are attending at the moment.

Do not sit down in a place of honor - Jesus commands them to do the exact opposite of what he has observed them do.

He tells them to avoid seeking the highest seat or the best seat for themselves.

This reveals the silliness of their actions.

When they sought the best place for themselves, they have simply honored themselves.

They have made the determination that they are deserving of honor.

Others have not honored them, but they have made themselves something special.

But there is a risk in this short-sighted, selfish way of thinking.

Lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person’ - Here is the issue.

If their view of their own reputation and rank was wrong, the host would be forced to remove from their place in order to seat someone of higher rank.

The host would not offend one of higher rank simply because someone thought more of themselves than they should have.

Jesus continues with the result.

And then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place - This would be the walk of shame.

Jesus said they would be humiliated.

It is important to note that this concept of shame or humiliation is not synonomous with humility.

Let me give you an example (CNB-Times Classic Basketball Tournament removal).

The Messiah’s Recommendation

In contrast, to choosing the best seat for themselves, Jesus gives an alternate approach.

But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place - On the occasion, choose for yourselves the least honored place.

He tells them to choose the place of the lowest ranking person.

Instead of taking the best seat in the house, take the worst.

Why?

So that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’

- Jesus plays of their desire to be honored in the presence of men.

The scenario has the one giving the dinner seeing a person of higher rank seated at the lower place.

In this case, they will be invited to move up closer to the host seating.

What will be the result of this action?

Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you.

- Instead of the first result or shame from having to move down, there is the sense of recognition and glory.

Wow!

Those gathered at the meal would be impressed that you were asked to move close to the host.

This person must be important.

This person must be a distinguished guest.

The Messiah’s Declaration

Here, we have moved from the story to the point of the story.

Jesus is constantly attempting to help the religious types get it right in regards to their relationship with God and others.

He gives the final instruction on this subject with a proverbial saying that highlights the spiritual realities in regards to pride, shame, humility and honor.

In the two parts of the following saying, God is actively involved.

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled - The person seeks their own honor as a motivating influence based upon a prideful determination of their own value and importance will be brought low.

This warning strikes that the Pharisaical religion of earning God’s favor through law observance.

This warning strikes at the heart of hypocritical religion that finds ultimate value in the way things seem to be or in the way things look.

And he who humbles himself will be exalted - In contrast, the person that does not have a high and convoluted view of themselves and brings himself low will be lifted up by God.

The essence of humility is dependence on God.

Jesus is calling the Pharisees and lawyers to realize that they cannot save themselves and need to trust God’s provision of grace in him, the Messiah.

Humility knows that human works have no saving merit and one must depend on God to save and rescue.

Jesus reminds them of what has always been true in God’s economy or way of doing things.

The humble will be lifted up and favored by God in the end.

Practical Application:

How should we then live?

Two main categories of application:

1) Unbelievers - Pride is ultimately what keeps you from being right with God by becoming a follower of Jesus.

Wave the white flag of surrender.

Give up on your own way and trust God’s way in Christ.

He is the only way.

2) Believers- God hates all pride, but unrepentant pride in a believer is most ugly, most contradictory and most damaging.

George Whitefield writes, “We have nothing but what we have received, and therefore to be proud of our titles, wealth, knowledge, success, or any temporal advantages by which the providence of God has distinguished us — is downright sinful!

For those who confess themselves to be ‘sinners’, and therefore deserving of nothing but misery and wrath — to be proud of those peculiar blessings which are derived from the gospel of God’s grace — is a wickedness of which even the demons are not capable of!”

Questions to identify a prideful spirit.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth

Do you look down on those who are less educated, less affluent, less refined, or less successful than yourself?

Do you think of yourself as more spiritual than your mate, others in your in your church?

Do you have a judgmental spirit toward those who don’t make the same lifestyle choices you do . . .

dress standards, how you school your kids, entertainment standards, etc.?

Are you quick to find fault with others and to verbalize those thoughts to others?

Do you have a sharp, critical tongue?

Do you frequently correct or criticize your mate, your pastor, or other people in positions of leadership (teachers, youth director, etc.)?

Do you give undue time, attention, and effort to your physical appearance—hair, make-up, clothing, weight, body shape, avoiding appearance of aging?

Are you proud of the schedule you keep, how disciplined you are, how much you are able to accomplish?

Are you driven to receive approval, praise, or acceptance from others?

Are you argumentative?

Do you generally think your way is the right way, the only way, or the best way?

Do you have a touchy, sensitive spirit?

Easily offended?

Get your feelings hurt easily?