Parables on Discipleship

GOLDEN TEXT: “Whosoever exalteth himself, shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” —Luke 14:11

LUKE 14:7-11, 16-24

THE sentiments of our Golden Text are well illustrated by Jesus in his parable of the man who, invited to a feast, upon entering the banquet hall promptly selected for himself the most prominent seat. Jesus explained that the better way to do would be voluntarily to take a lowly seat, so that the host, if he so chose, could honor him with an invitation to a more exalted position. Obviously, as Jesus explained, this would be much more appropriate than for the host to ask a guest to give up the honorable seat he had himself selfishly taken.

This is good advice in the conduct of human relationships, but we may assume that Jesus’ purpose in relating the parable was to help us understand our proper attitude before the Lord, and among the brethren in Christ. James wrote, “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) Peter admonished, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”—I Pet. 5:6

The greatest contrasting examples of the operation of this principle that is brought to our attention in the Scriptures are the cases of Lucifer and the Logos. Lucifer said, “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: … I will be like the most High.” (Isa. 14:13,14) Ultimately, however, it will be said of Lucifer, “Thou shalt be brought down to hell [sheol], to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee.”—Isa. 14:15,16

How different was the attitude of Jesus, and how glorious the outcome of his humility! Paul wrote, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery [a more correct translation would be, ‘thought not by robbery,’ or, Diaglott, ‘did not meditate a usurpation’] to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”—Phil. 2:5-11

Verses 16-24 of our lesson tell of another feast, but to illustrate a different truth in connection with the divine plan. In this parable a “certain man made a great supper” to which many had been invited. When the proper time came, he sent his servant to announce to the invited guests, “Come; for all things are now ready.”

Forthwith the invited guests began to make excuses as to why they could not attend the feast. One had bought a piece of land which he had to inspect. Another had acquired “five yoke of oxen” which he said he had to prove. Still another had married a wife, and for that reason could not attend the feast.

The “master of the house” was quite provoked over this, and said unto his servant to go out into the “streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.” This the servant did, but still there were empty seats at the feast. The places of the invited guests had not yet all been filled.

The servants were then instructed to “go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” Verse 24 emphasizes that none of the originally invited guests were to taste of the supper which had been prepared for them.

One of the important lessons of this parable would seem to be that the indifference of God’s professed people can in no way interfere with the outworking of his plan. This is reassuring. However, the parable also reveals that those who do not appreciate the Lord’s arrangements for them lose the blessings which otherwise might be theirs.

Should we make a specific application of the parable, it would be that Jesus was the “master of the house” and that the originally invited guests were the religious rulers of Israel, those who sat in Moses’ seat. Almost without exception, these spurned the spiritual feast of truth which Jesus provided. Many of the common people who heard him gladly did come to the feast—at Pentecost three thousand in one day.

But still the foreordained number had not been found, so another call went forth to those in the highways and hedges. This might well have been fulfilled by the Gospel going to the Gentiles. The filling of all the seats at this great banquet has required the work of the entire age. It is not yet fully completed. Happy are we if the call has reached our ears. But let us not be too busy with our “land,” “oxen,” and “wives,” and spurn the opportunity that has come to us!

QUESTIONS

What is a good scriptural illustration of the text, “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble”?

Who was the “certain man” who made a great supper, to which his invited guests refused to come?

Who are the two groups who took the places of the invited guests?

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