Monday Devo
Scripture:
Luke 14:7-14
7 When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: 8 “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? 9 The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!
10 “Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. 11 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
12 Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. 13 Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”
7 When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: 8 “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? 9 The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!
10 “Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. 11 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
12 Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. 13 Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”
Commentary:
14:7–11 The parable of the wedding feast was directed to those who were invited to the dinner at the house of the Pharisee (v. 1); similarly, the parable of the great banquet (see vv. 12–24) was directed to “the man who had invited him” to that dinner (v. 12). when he noticed. Here (as in 18:1, 9; 19:11), Luke states at the beginning Jesus’ purpose in telling the parable. The parable teaches the wisdom of humility: it is better to be humble than humiliated (lowest place … move up higher; cf. Prov. 25:6–7). will be humbled … will be exalted (cf. Luke 18:14). As the parable shows, sometimes this happens even in this life, but it will take place most fully at the final judgment (cf. James 4:6, 10; 1 Pet. 5:5–6).
14:12–14 do not invite your friends (but do) invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. Jesus again emphasizes the radical generosity and care that his disciples are to show toward those who are physically impaired and economically deprived.
14:12–14 do not invite your friends (but do) invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. Jesus again emphasizes the radical generosity and care that his disciples are to show toward those who are physically impaired and economically deprived.
Study Questions:
- In ancient Jewish culture, honor and shame were a huge deal. Who you knew and what parties you were invited to meant everything about your worth and identity. After seeing everyone clamoring for the best seats at the table, Jesus gives everyone a warning. He basically tells them that it's better to humble yourself than it is to be humbled by God. Can you think of a time that you were humbled by God? What fruit did it bring to your life?
- He then scolds the host for only inviting people that can do something for him in return. That's what their society was based on... an intricate web of who you know and what they can do for you to help you move up the social ladder. Do you ever notice this tendency in yourself? How often are you serving people that can't do anything for you in return?
Pray:
- That you would humble yourself daily.
- That you would serve people that can do nothing for you in return.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
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