Parable of the Invited Guests
Luke 14:7-14
Have you ever been in a conversation where someone mentions that they know someone famous? It’s a strange thing that people do. It’s one of those things people like to brag about, even though another person’s fame has nothing to do with their own talents. This type of comment usually starts as a fun fact, but sometimes we might start to believe that associating with fame or importance somehow makes us more important. We like to flex on our friends.
Jesus is using this desire to associate with importance to warn his listeners against being prideful and power-seeking. The impulse for importance is strong - we all have it. But using these two party parables, Jesus teaches that in the kingdom of God, His followers are to foster an impulse that elevates others and makes them feel important.
First, the wedding banquet. Jesus was teaching in an “honor-shame” culture. This means that people would have more or less honor depending on factors such as family of origin and gender. At parties and banquets, there was a seating arrangement that reflected this culture. People would sit at places according to their honor so everyone would know who held the power and importance. Note that Jesus was responding to the Pharisees when he taught these parables. This was a crowd that displayed this impulse to self-exalt by doing all of the right religious things and wanted to usurp Jesus’ ministry. These parables were intended to ruffle some feathers.
The banquet is a metaphor for the Kingdom, and the host represents the Father. At God’s party, those who give up power, humble themselves, and allow others to feel more important is who really have honor. The guests who make others feel more important than themselves are the guests who are most in touch with themselves, with God, and with God’s character of love. This is truly the most honorable thing. At God’s party, the real power is acknowledging that without the host, we have nothing to party about. So, it’s not about our honor; it’s about His. It’s about loving the other guests enough to sacrifice your own importance for them. This is why the host chooses to honor the humble guest - they get the point of the host’s party.
Second, Jesus talks about a party where we, the listener, are the host. Both the original audience and ourselves today seem to have the same tendency to party-throwing. It’s natural to invite friends, relatives, and neighbors. Yet, Jesus warns us about the heart posture we might have in these invitations. Do you invite people who can repay you?
In other words, do you invite people into your life primarily because they have something you want? Do you want to benefit from their reputation? Their resources? Their connections and friends?
In the first parable, God is the host, and he elevates the humble - those who have nothing to bring to the party - and he seats them in the place of honor. In the second parable, the listener is the host, and we have a choice to make - will we act like the host of the first parable and invite the humble person? Or will we invite the people who give us the clout and ignore people who don’t benefit from our impulse for importance?
Jesus came to seek and serve the lost. He came to throw a party for the people who are shamed, rejected, and poor. He gave up his seat of honor and communion with God so that you might be reconciled to God. Do we have the same impulse as Jesus? Or do we have the power-seeking impulse of culture?
Take a moment to reflect on the following questions:
As a “guest” in God’s party, what is your tendency? To elevate yourself or others?
As a “host,” do you tend to invite people who don’t seem to benefit you & have nothing to bring? Or do you invite people who give you clout, resources, or status?
Is there someone in your life you have a difficult time inviting in? Why? What would it look like to love them and invite them into your life like Jesus would?
