Luke 14:7 - Meaning and Application

Our Lord Jesus gives us a good example here of useful and edifying talk at the table, when we are with friends. Even when he was only with his disciples, who were like his own family, his words were helpful and built them up. And when he was with strangers, even with enemies who were watching him, he still used the moment to correct what was wrong and to teach them.

Though wicked people were in front of him, he did not stay silent about what was good, as David did (Psalm 39:1, Psalm 39:2). Yet he was not stirred up inside by anger, and he did not lose his calm. We should not allow corrupt talk at our tables, such as the speech of hypocrites who mock at feasts. We should go beyond harmless small talk and use God’s goodness at our meals as a reason to speak well of him and turn ordinary things toward spiritual use. The lips of the righteous should feed many.

Our Lord was among people of rank, yet he did not favor anyone based on status. He used the moment to reprove the guests for trying to sit in the highest places, and from that he taught humility. He noticed how these lawyers and Pharisees, teachers of the law and religious leaders, wanted the best seats near the head of the table (Luke 14:7). He had already charged this kind of behavior in general (Luke 11:43), but here he applies the charge to particular people. Christ gives each person what belongs to him.

He saw how they chose the chief places, and each man, as he came in, tried to get as close to the best seat as he could. Even in ordinary life, Christ watches us and notices what we do, not only in worship, but also at our tables. He marks our actions and makes comments on them.

He also showed how those who try to raise themselves often end up shamed, while the modest often gain honor. Those who take the highest seats may be moved down and told to give place to someone more important (Luke 14:8, Luke 14:9). This should check our proud thoughts when we remember that many people are more honorable than we are, not only in public rank, but also in personal worth and ability. Instead of being proud that others give way to us, we should feel humbled that so many people deserve our own respect.

The host of the meal will arrange his guests and will not allow someone more honorable to be pushed aside. So he will have to say, “Give this man your place,” and that will shame the one who claimed more than he deserved. Pride will end in shame, and in the end it will fall.

But those who take the lowest place are likely to be honored (Luke 14:10). If you sit down low, as if your host may have guests of higher rank than you, it may turn out differently. Then he will say, “Friend, move up higher.” The host will not keep you at the lower end just because you were modest enough to choose that place yourself. The way to rise high is to begin low, and that wins respect from others. They will see that you are honorable, more than they first thought, and honor looks brighter when it rises out of humility. They will also see that you are a humble person, and that is the greatest honor of all.

Our Savior is pointing to Solomon’s advice: do not put yourself in the place of important men, because it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower (Proverbs 25:6, Proverbs 25:7). Dr. Lightfoot also quotes a rabbinic story like this. Three men were invited to a feast. One sat highest, saying he was a prince. Another sat next, saying he was wise. The third sat lowest, saying he was humble. The king put the humble man highest and the prince lowest.

Jesus applies this more broadly, teaching us not to chase high places, but to be content with humble ones. Pride and ambition bring shame before people, for whoever lifts himself up will be brought down. Humility and self-denial are truly honorable, for whoever humbles himself will be lifted up (Luke 14:11). In other places, we see that pride brings a person low, but humble people are upheld, and humility comes before honor.

Jesus also reproved the host of the feast for inviting so many rich people, who could entertain themselves at home. He says the host should rather have invited the poor, or, in effect, sent food to those who had nothing prepared for them and could not provide a good meal for themselves. The point is that using what we have in acts of charity is better than using it on grand hospitality. It brings a better reward than expensive dining and showy household spending.

He tells us not to be eager to treat the rich, or to invite our friends, brothers, and neighbors who are rich (Luke 14:12). This does not forbid entertaining such people. There may be good reason for it, especially for building friendship among relatives and neighbors. But we should not make it a regular habit, because it uses up money that could be given in a far better way, in almsgiving, or giving to the poor. One feast for the rich could provide many meals for the poor. Solomon says that whoever gives to the rich will surely come to want (Proverbs 22:16). Pliny also said, “Give to your friends, but let them be your poor friends, not those who do not need you.”

We should not be proud of such entertainments. Many people hold feasts just to show off, as Ahasuerus, the Persian king, did (Esther 1:3, Esther 1:4). They think it is no credit to them unless important people dine with them, and so they rob their own households to satisfy their vanity. We should also not aim to be paid back in the same way. That is what Christ blames in these meals. People often do them hoping to be invited in return, so that they can enjoy the same rich food and serve their own appetite and luxury. In the end, they gain nothing real.

Instead, we should be ready to help the poor (Luke 14:13, Luke 14:14). When you make a feast, use plain and wholesome food rather than rare and costly dishes. Invite the poor, the disabled, and those who have nothing to live on and cannot earn their keep.

These poor people are worthy of our care, because they lack what they need. Give to them, and they will repay you with their prayers. They will speak well of your generosity, even if rich people despise the food or gifts you offer. They will leave thanking God for you, while the rich may leave and criticize you.

Do not think you are losing out because they cannot pay you back. What you give is not wasted. It is like money placed in the safest and best investment, because you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. There will be a resurrection of the just, a future life for God’s people. God has set aside a place of happiness for them in the world to come, and we can be sure that the charitable will be remembered there, because acts of mercy are counted as righteousness.

Works of charity may not be rewarded in this life, because the things of this world are not the best things. For that reason, God does not always pay the best people in worldly rewards. But they will not lose their reward in any case. They will be repaid at the resurrection. In the end, the longest journeys bring the greatest returns, and those who give to the poor will not be losers at all, but great gainers, because their payment is delayed until the resurrection.