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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke
PART 4 - JESUS' MINISTRY DURING HIS JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM (Luke 9:51 - 19:27)
19. Christ at a Pharisee's House (Luke 14:1-24)
LUKE 14:07-11
7 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them,
8 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9 and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus sat down at the feast. He watched the people and their behavior, and soon noticed how they crowded around their chief that he might see them, salute and kiss them, for they thought they would receive his help thereafter. There is nothing more evil than flattery, when it fosters hatred, jealousy, and contempt inside the heart. Keep away from all kinds of hypocrisy, and prefer to be humble among men lest you become proud. Then God considers you great indeed.
Christ came down from God’s presence, and became a simple man like you. He bore our sins as a rejected, crucified slave; but God exalted and glorified him as no man was ever glorified before or after. He who follows Christ becomes changed by his lowliness, for the Son of God said, “I am lowly in heart.” What about your conscience? Do you seek honor, fame, and esteem from the public, or do you wish to remain unknown, serving the poor? Christ did not go to kings, rulers, and chiefs, but sought the sick who longed for healing and truth. Are you prepared to follow Christ in practice?
Know yourself. Every man wishes to become proud as a peacock. This spirit is found even in little children: A five year old girl said, “I wish I were a tall statue in a public square, so that everyone would see me far above them.”
Discipline yourself, deny your evil nature, and ask Christ to humble you and show you that you are nothing, know nothing, have nothing, and can do nothing apart from him. Then he will purify you with his precious blood, and fill you with his Holy Spirit. You will be a child of God, if you humble yourself, repent truly, and believe that you are nothing, and therefore the Spirit of God will dwell in you, and raise you to him.
But the misguided one who thinks he is something, who prides himself among men as a minor god, and seeks leadership in his community, will fall. Because of his sins he will become a slave to his lusts, lose his untroubled conscience, and neglect God’s grace in his pride, for he will expose himself to the spirit of Satan who is the full of pride. Christ, on the contrary, made himself of no reputation, and was completely and truly humble.
Dear brother, are you proud or lowly in heart? Your honest answer will show you if you are going to hell or to heaven. Do not go your way indifferently, but renounce all that suggests pride. Ask Jesus to pour out his Spirit on you that you may not live for yourself any further but hide your name in the name of the Lord, serve the poor, sacrifice your money, and help build the kingdom of God by obeying Christ. Pray to Christ constantly that he may eradicate every inclination of your heart to pride, condemn your selfishness, and deliver you from the power of Satan.
LUKE 14:12-14
12 Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.
14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
Christ told the rich rulers not to think of themselves better than the poor, lest they fall into the usual temptation of meeting only in their own social circle. Woe to the rich, learned, and pious in their circles. They do not realize that they are no better than poor ignorant sinners. We all live by the mercy of God, the Highest. So seek the despised and needy, and not the rich. Seek those who labor, and leave the lazy. Do not look at sports stars, but at the maimed, and blind, for Christ meets you in the poor and not in those esteemed by the world. Who are your friends? Are they the good, handsome, and clever? Certainly not! Christ consoled the sick and the hopeless, sat with repentant adulterers, and saved sinners who sought God. Your right place is with them. Do not think that you are better than them. But speak the word of God, that their hearts may be glad, and help them with food and advice that they may listen to reason and serve God as you do.
Christ says: you have the poor with you at all times. So seek and serve those who are poor, that you may gain the crown of glory at the resurrection, when the servants of the Lord will shine as the sun, while the rich and the unbelieving will be in darkness.
PRAYER: O Lord, the Highest, Humble, Meek, Loving, and Merciful, forgive my pride, purify me, and fill my heart with a spirit of service and love for the poor that I may become a servant as you serve all men.
QUESTION 97: How in practical terms do we become humble?