Do you believe what Jesus says here or do you dismiss it?

Question

Luke 14

7When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8"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. 9If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10But 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 your fellow guests. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Answer 1

It seems like good advice up to a point, but, then I wonder...

What would Jesus do when told 'Friend, move up to a better place', knowing that the person taking his old place would be humiliated by being put in the lowest place?

Isn't that prideful to accept that 'honor' & feel good about it, knowing that it left someone else feeling dishonored?

Answer 2

I like the line of reasoning and the conclusion that we should be humble, but there is some room for interpretation here. Is Jesus saying that the reason to be humble is that it will cause someone else to honor you? Is that really humility? As a social strategy, it might work, depending on the friends you keep--but I think a better reason to be humble is that it affords you an opportunity to learn from others. I haven't read what comes before and after this passage; is this addressed by the context?

Answer 3

I believe it completely.

I find it so much easier to be humble because I'm not always struggling to keep my self-image up, or pretending to be someone I'm not, or fretting, or having to compromise my beliefs and values in order to be looked upon highly. Granted, it is hard more most people to become willingly humble. But it's Worth it.

It's absolutely true what Jesus says- the first shall be last and the last shall be first.

Answer 4

Not sure if you are using "believe" the right way... anyhow...

I think what he says here makes a lot of sense. Most people I know who go around thinking they are all that, are the butt of everyone's jokes when they are out of the room. But those who are humble and just are your friends, are the ones who get asked to hang out all the time, and are always spoken of well.

Answer 5

I believe what Jesus says here because its true. When you make yourself out to be something really great, its a long fall for your pride when someone tells you otherwise. Likewise, when you humble yourself and others speak of how great you are then it becomes a great complement.

Answer 6

Yes, I believe it because its happened to me before. This one girl who I knew from so long ago always said she was a Christian girl who did everything right, but somehow judged everyone even me, I didn't even know this girl. She would always make stupid comments and brag that she was a real christian. A few months ago a group of our youth went to a retreat including our Pastors and some other adults from church and this group included the girls parents. One night my best friend and I started walking towards our cabin when this girl and her sister stopped us and start cuzing us out and screaming that my friend was a you know what. They later stopped and we stod there quietly taking it all in as we noticed our pastor standing a few feet away from where we were. He came over looked at my friend and myself and asked if we had anything to say, I told him there was nothing for us to say other than God bless those girls. Somehow I know if I hadn't spoken I knew my friend would have and she might have said something inappropriate. Everyone found out about what had happened but in the story somehow my friend and I came out as the bad guys. It turns out the Pastor talked to her parents and told them what he himself had heard, the next day he talked to us and congratulated us because of how well we had taken care of that. When those girls left everyone found out by my friend of course what had really happened and what can I say actions speak louder than words and them leaving showed everyone who was right and who was wrong. You don't need to parade yourself to everyone and say your this and that because when you really are humble other will exalt you over those who exalt themselves.

Answer 7

this sounds like king james work for the pre gala rules. these are obviosly the rules to behavior at a party from way back in the days. this **** is garbage. the rules of slaves(slaves being anyone who believes in the stuff).it also implies that the rich are blessed and the poor are rich if they serve the rich typical rascist european thinking for conquering folks.

Answer 8

I wonder if this passage has been used to justify the exalted position of the church and keep the masses in their place?

Answer 9

I totally 100% believe it and all of scripture. Jesus even humbled Himself, and came to earth to die for our sins. If Jesus, who is perfect and is Lord, humbles Himself like that- how much we as humans should.

Answer 10

It makes me glad that it is now the custom to have assigned seats at the reception and ushers at the wedding.