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Wisdom to Sit in a Humble Place

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[Luke 14:11]

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,

and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

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On one Sabbath, Jesus had gone to the house of a Pharisee leader to eat.

The people gathered there were watching closely what Jesus was doing.

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At that time, a patient who had a disease of water filling and swelling appeared before Jesus.

Then Jesus asked a question to the people gathered there.

“Is it right to heal on the Sabbath? Isn't that right?”

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At the time, the Jews made and kept 39 separate Sabbath laws in addition to the Law.

There it was illegal to heal on the Sabbath if there was no harm to life.

However, the law that God gave through Moses did not prohibit healing on the Sabbath.

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None of them ever answered Jesus' question.

Because they too knew that the law did not contain what their Sabbath law forbids.

Jesus enlightened them with one question about what they were doing wrong.

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Jesus approached the patient. And he caught him and healed him.

The patient returned after being healed by Jesus.

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Jesus continued to ask the Pharisees and law scholars other questions about the Sabbath.

“If you say that your son or ox fell into a well on the Sabbath,

wouldn't you immediately bring your son or cattle out of the well?”

No one has answered this question either.

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Jesus pointed out the error that the Jews were bound by the Sabbath law and forbade even

the pleasure of God. The most proper keeping of the Sabbath is to do what pleases God.

He showed that it is the true spirit of the Sabbath to reflect on and to meet the needs of those in need.

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Jesus also saw the people invited to the house trying to sit in high places.

They looked at each other and flirted in order to sit in a higher seat, even one space.

Jesus gave an example of how foolish their actions were.

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Someone was invited to a wedding feast. The man took a high seat and sat down.

He was enjoying the gaze of others who saw him.

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However, a much more precious guest came to the house than this person.

The owner took the guest and came to the man's seat and said.

“Please give your place to him.”

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Those who came to the high seat first and sat down were forced to give up the seat.

Other seats were already filled with people.

The man was embarrassed to go to the last lowly seat and sit down.

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After telling this story, Jesus taught wisdom to the people gathered. He said,

“If you are invited to someone's house, go to a lowly seat and sit down.”

Why did he tell Jesus to go to a lowly seat and sit down?

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What will happen if someone who can sit in a high position sits in a lowly seat at a feast?

The inviting owner will find him and rush to him.

And he will encourage him to go up to the place of dear.

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The person will be guided by the master to a high position.

Jesus told them that everyone who saw this would think,

'He is a very humble man who knows how to humble himself.' He will be glorified.

After Jesus finished speaking this, he said to those who gathered.
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)

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Today, we must keep the two words that Jesus taught us deeply in our hearts.

First, on the Sabbath, that is, on Sunday, we must strive to act more pleasing to God.

Second, we must imitate Jesus, who humbled ourselves and saved us.

No matter what you do, you should not be selfish or proud.

We should be humble and have a heart that respects others more than I do.

Jesus exalted these people and made them precious people.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,

but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)