Personal Humility, Public Honor

Have you ever heard of the 1983 movie TRADING PLACES? This has always been one of my favorite TV movies. Since it came out before my parents were even married, I obviously didn’t watch it when it came out, but I was able to see it multiple times on television as a teenager. The basic plot of the story is that 2 very wealthy brothers argue over what makes people successful or unsuccessful. One brother believes it has everything to do with your environment, and being given the proper tools and opportunities to succeed. The other brother believes success depends on DNA, genetics, or personal wiring. They make a bet to test their theories. They fire their blue-blooded young star (Dan Aakroyd) in their organization, and decimate his life to the point where he becomes penniless, loses his fiancee, loses his standing in his social circles, and joins the dregs of society. These wealthy brothers find a young man (Eddie Murphy) who is of the lowest circles in society, and give him everything their other assistant had in the past. They turn him into a financial superstar, although he has no idea what he’s doing. He hadn’t earned the honor, but lucked into it. In the end, the brother who believes environment is more important wins the $1 bet after ruining the lives of 2 men. However, the 2 men join forces and eventually make millions off the brothers as payback. It’s a funny story, and a really enjoyable movie. Some of the takeaways from this film are actually rather interesting. While the brother who believed environment was the deciding factor won the bet, in reality, they were both right. Who we are on the inside and what our experiences are on the outside both have a big effect on our success.

- Sitting down to dine at the house of a ruler.(Verse 1)

But God, takes what’s on the inside (which is made in His image, but depraved through sin) takes what’s on the outside (a sinful world influenced by sinful people) and renews us, through His Son Jesus Christ, to spiritual success and goodness in His grace. God ultimately pulls us up next to Him through the work of Jesus, and grants us an honor we don’t deserve. God’s grace is for all, but those who are humble before God are in a special position to receive that grace more readily.

Jesus may have been a friend of sinners and a poor man himself, but he clearly attracted people from all walks of life. He was known all over Israel, and became the most influential “teacher” of His time on earth. This further points out the false narrative that Jesus only cares for the poor or the low. Does Jesus care about them a lot? YES! He even proves it in the following verses. But we should not ignore that Jesus often dined, discussed, and had great relationships with rulers and wealthy people. Was it their wealth or position that made them able to sit with Jesus? On the contrary, it was the fact that Jesus loved them in spite of their wealth.

The man who had everything taken away from him learned what it meant to be humble, for the first time in his life.

This unbiblical, faux Christian cultural ideal of attacking wealth is misguided. We should challenge the wealthy to be content with little, love generosity, and be wise with what they have been entrusted. The wealthy should not be ashamed of their wealth, only humble in their stewardship of it! The poor should not be ashamed of their poverty, only grateful to God for His Providence and sovereignty over their lives.

man had dropsy (Verse 2)

As we look through this passage, it’s a story on humility, both the giving of it and the receiving of it. Humility is an important virtue that is necessary if we are to have right relationship with God. Even as we today worship God in communion, we are reminded that we approach the Lord’s table in humility, lest we eat in an unworthy manner.

It’s hard to tell if this man that had dropsy was wealthy or poor. Monetarily, he could have been a family member of people in power, or a ruler whose health began to go; more likely, he was a man who sat near the open air of the ruler’s house to gain what he could.

Charles Spurgeon, a hero of mine, said this of Humility:

Jesus asks the question, the Pharisees remain silent (Vv. 3/4)

“Humility is to make a right estimate of one's self.”

Let’s take a look at the text of and read together this lesson

Jesus challenging the Pharisees with the question was a politically strategic move. The Sabbath was a major source of power for the Pharisees, an area in which they questioned Jesus on many occasions. By asking the question, Jesus sets up for them a similar trap that they often tried to set for him when asking him questions, like the paying taxes (render unto Caesar) question. If the Pharisees said no, they’d be denying this man with edema/dropsy an opportunity to be blessed with healing and God the opportunity to be glorified in it; they would seem cold-hearted and lose the trust of the people who sat under their teaching and spiritual leadership. If they said yes, they would be opening up a HUGE can of worms that would also question their behavior and teaching of following the Law. After all, healing could be considered “work,” and it was unlawful to work on the Sabbath day in the Old Covenant/Mosaic Law. This was a predicament for the Pharisees who knew the value of saving face; they overvalued it in reality, as Jesus would further point out.

Luke 14:1 ESV

One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully.

What did the Pharisees want to answer? They wanted to answer NO, because that’s what they believed! They believed it to be wrong to perform any works, even works of righteousness/necessity, unless it affected them. (see below)

- Sitting down to dine at the house of a ruler.(Verse 1)

Jesus asks them another question to make his point and further silence the Pharisees (Vv. 5/6)

Jesus may have been a friend of sinners and a poor man himself, but he clearly attracted people from all walks of life. He was known all over Israel, and became the most influential “teacher” of His time on earth. This further points out the false narrative that Jesus only cares for the poor or the low. Does Jesus care about them a lot? YES! He even proves it in the following verses. But we should not ignore that Jesus often dined, discussed, and had great relationships with rulers and wealthy people. Was it their wealth or position that made them able to sit with Jesus? On the contrary, it was the fact that Jesus loved them in spite of their wealth.

This unbiblical, faux Christian cultural ideal of attacking wealth is misguided. We should exhort all people to be content with little, love generosity, and be wise with what they have been entrusted. The wealthy should not be ashamed of their wealth, only humble in their stewardship of it! The poor should not be ashamed of their poverty, only grateful to God for His Providence and sovereignty over their lives.

Jesus is asking them if they’d let their son or their ox sit in a well for a day until Sabbath was over is the funniest and most perfect question he could have asked. First, isn’t it hilarious he basically compared children to farm animals? Obviously Jesus thinks people are more important that animals, but he’s drawing something out of them by posing this question. If you’re a parent, would you do whatever it took to make sure your child was ok? What laws would you break to take care of them? If I needed to get my child to the hospital as fast as I could, do you think I’m just going to sit in traffic and wait for the light to turn green? NO! I’m going to do whatever it takes to take care of my child. God has the same passionate love for us. He’s not going to sit idly by and let this man suffer when his heart is ready for his body to be healed. Jesus knew this man needed Him. Jesus wasn’t going to give up on this man because of the Sabbath. Jesus IS the Sabbath! He is the fulfillment of the Law and the grace that came with Jesus covers the Sabbath. He didn’t just fulfill it, he superseded it. His death on the Cross and resurrection were the final picture of what the Sabbath was about.

Luke 14:2 ESV

And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy.

man had dropsy (Verse 2)

Jesus seizes the opportunity to teach everyone, not just teach the Pharisees a lesson

man had dropsy (Verse 2)

Jesus begins to draw out of the meal an evaluation of the hearts of the people there. It says that he noticed how they chose the places of honor. Wouldn’t we all try and do the same? Wouldn’t we all like to be in the company of good people and be well-liked in a social situation? Of course we would. Having a desire to be liked or blessed is not in and of itself a sinful thing, but the self-appointing to places of honor is the fruit of a sinful attitude in our hearts. Practically, Jesus is pointing out how unwise this is in a social situation. Have you ever assumed something, acted on the assumption, and then had the rug pulled out from under you? I’m sure we all have at some point. It’s a disastrous social outcome, an event that is often followed by ridicule and mockery, and perhaps even dishonor. Jesus is certainly speaking to this, but what’s he really getting at?

It’s hard to tell if this man that had dropsy was wealthy or poor. Monetarily, he could have been a family member of people in power, or a ruler whose health began to go; more likely, he was a man who sat near the open air of the ruler’s house to gain what he could. Maybe he heard Jesus was there, or maybe he often sat by the ruler’s house as important/wealthy people walked by, hoping for a benevolent person or two.

Luke 14:3–4 ESV

And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away.

- Jesus is reminding us of our place, showing us that there is always someone out there more worthy and more distinguished than we.

Jesus asks the question, the Pharisees remain silent (Vv. 3/4)

When we place our own righteousness in a place of honor (next to God, the host), we assume that what we are doing and who we are is more highly exalted than the truth of the situation. We say to ourselves and to everyone around us, “Look at me! God has me near Him because I’m doing well! I’m righteous, and you all have some work to do.” That sounds like a Pharisaic attitude, doesn’t it? Yes, and that’s exactly to what Jesus was speaking. While Jesus was correcting the Pharisees and their attitude of self-righteousness and self-appointed honor, he was pointing out that it was much more lovely to be in a place of humility and be brought up.

Jesus challenging the Pharisees with the question was a politically strategic move. The Sabbath was a major source of power for the Pharisees, an area in which they questioned Jesus on many occasions. By asking the question, Jesus sets up for them a similar trap that they often tried to set for him when asking him questions, like the paying taxes (render unto Caesar) question. If the Pharisees said no, they’d be denying this man with edema/dropsy an opportunity to be blessed with healing and God the opportunity to be glorified in it; they would seem cold-hearted and lose the trust of the people who sat under their teaching and spiritual leadership. If they said yes, they would be opening up a HUGE can of worms that would also question their behavior and teaching of following the Law. After all, healing could be considered “work,” and it was unlawful to work on the Sabbath day in the Old Covenant/Mosaic Law. This was a predicament for the Pharisees who knew the value of saving face; they overvalued it in reality, as Jesus would further point out.

What did the Pharisees want to answer? They wanted to answer NO, because that’s what they believed! They believed it to be wrong to perform any works, even works of righteousness/necessity, unless it affected them. (see below)

I think of the story of the mother of James and John. She came to Jesus and asked that her sons be able to sit at the right and left hand of Jesus in the Kingdom. Jesus reminds her of a few things. First, that it wasn’t something of which James and John were truly capable. It wasn’t an honor for which they were deserved. Then He reminded her that it was the Father who gave those distinctions, not Him. He goes on to say in , (INSERT TEXT).

Luke 14:5–6 ESV

And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” And they could not reply to these things.

In the age of the Mosaic/Jewish Law, it would have been very appropriate for the teachers/leaders to be given the honorable seats, but this lesson from Jesus shows that the grace that came with Jesus would bring about a new era. It would show that those who thought they were in the seat of honor as God’s people (the nation of Israel) would really have to give way to the Church (made up of mostly Gentiles) as God’s people.

Jesus asks them another question to make his point and further silence the Pharisees (Vv. 5/6)

3 Layers of Gospel Implications

Jesus is asking them if they’d let their son or their ox sit in a well for a day until Sabbath was over is the funniest and most perfect question he could have asked. First, isn’t it hilarious he basically compared children to farm animals? Obviously Jesus thinks people are more important that animals, but he’s drawing something out of them by posing this question. If you’re a parent, would you do whatever it took to make sure your child was ok? What laws would you break to take care of them? If I needed to get my child to the hospital as fast as I could, do you think I’m just going to sit in traffic and wait for the light to turn green? NO! I’m going to do whatever it takes to take care of my child. God has the same passionate love for us. He’s not going to sit idly by and let this man suffer when his heart is ready for his body to be healed. Jesus knew this man needed Him. Jesus wasn’t going to give up on this man because of the Sabbath. Jesus IS the Sabbath! He is the fulfillment of the Law and the grace that came with Jesus covers the Sabbath. He didn’t just fulfill it, he superseded it. His death on the Cross and resurrection were the final picture of what the Sabbath was about.

Luke 14:7 ESV

Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them,

Jesus seizes the opportunity to teach everyone, not just teach the Pharisees a lesson (verse 7)

Jesus begins to draw out of the meal an evaluation of the hearts of the people there. It says that he noticed how they chose the places of honor. Wouldn’t we all try and do the same? Wouldn’t we all like to be in the company of good people and be well-liked in a social situation? Of course we would. Having a desire to be liked or blessed is not in and of itself a sinful thing, but the self-appointing to places of honor is the fruit of a sinful attitude in our hearts. Practically, Jesus is pointing out how unwise this is in a social situation. Have you ever assumed something, acted on the assumption, and then had the rug pulled out from under you? I’m sure we all have at some point. It’s a disastrous social outcome, an event that is often followed by ridicule and mockery, and perhaps even dishonor. Jesus is certainly speaking to this, but what’s he really getting at?

Luke 14:8–9 ESV

“When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, 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,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.

- Jesus is reminding us of our place, showing us that there is always someone out there more worthy and more distinguished than we. (vv. 8-9)

When we place our own righteousness in a place of honor (next to God, the host), we assume that what we are doing and who we are is more highly exalted than the truth of the situation. We say to ourselves and to everyone around us, “Look at me! God has me near Him because I’m doing well! I’m righteous, and you all have some work to do.” That sounds like a Pharisaic attitude, doesn’t it? Yes, and that’s exactly to what Jesus was speaking. While Jesus was correcting the Pharisees and their attitude of self-righteousness and self-appointed honor, he was pointing out that it was much more lovely to be in a place of humility and be brought up.

In the age of the Mosaic/Jewish Law, it would have been very appropriate for the teachers/leaders to be given the honorable seats, but this lesson from Jesus shows that the grace that came with Jesus would bring about a new era. It would show that those who thought they were in the seat of honor as God’s people (the nation of Israel) would really have to give way to the Church (made up of mostly Gentiles) as God’s people.

, (INSERT TEXT).

Matthew 20:26 ESV

It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,

In the age of the Mosaic/Jewish Law, it would have been very appropriate for the teachers/leaders to be given the honorable seats, but this lesson from Jesus shows that the grace that came with Jesus would bring about a new era. It would show that those who thought they were in the seat of honor as God’s people (the nation of Israel) would really have to give way to the Church (made up of mostly Gentiles) as God’s people.

Luke 14:10–11 ESV

But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus gets to the final point, the climax of the lesson (vv. 10-11)

This teaching is reiterated in multiple points of the gospels. First will be last, etc. What is important to realize is that we are all unworthy of even the humble seat at the table of the Lord and are all offered a seat at the table through the invitation of the grace of Jesus Christ.

3 Layers of Gospel Implications

Global - The Church has now become the people of God. “God’s people” in the Old Testament/Old Covenant was the nation of Israel. In the parable that Jesus told, this was represented by the person that placed himself in the seat of honor. The Gentiles were brought up from a place of humility to a place of honor, as the Church would explode over thousands of years in receiving the good news of Jesus Christ.

Local - In the context of our local Church, it is important to heed this lesson as a warning similar to the warning that Jesus was giving the Pharisees. As Christians in communion with God and worshipping him, we must maintain our piety and humility, lest we lose sight of God being the one who deserves and shares in honor. Should we think too highly of ourselves, our knowledge, or our standing with God, we forfeit it all.

Personal - The final layer of the story and what the gospel implies is personal. How should we take this in our personal lives? First, we are reminded to guard our hearts from the Pharisees’ assumptions and self-righteousness. Second, we are reminded that God’s heart is with the humble. Lastly, we must be reminded public honor is available to all who come to God with personal humility. What does that look like? That personal humility is something that says, I don’t have life figured out. Spiritually, I need God’s help, and I trust that God’s plan for my life is better than mine. What is the public honor? It’s our salvation, first and foremost, but a maintained humility is a maintained honor - it’s a life that is worth emulating, one that people love and want to be around. It’s the best example of how God changes hearts and lives.