“So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."(vs7-11)
Jesus teaches us to walk humbly with God (vs7-11). We are not the Christ, and compared to Him, we are lowly. If we GIVE Him glory - believing on Him and trusting Him for salvation - then we'll be saved. If we think ourselves big shots, then we'll be damned and brought low in the end.
Hear the Son. “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted”.
Secondly, our reward is in heaven with God, and not on the earth (vs12-14). Jesus said, “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just." Live an obedient life, looking for God to bless you, rather than men. Don't think that you can get from sin and sinners the honor that comes from God. Don't labor to impress men. Honor God ALONE, and you have all that you need. Honor Him by loving people, preaching Christ to the poor in spirit and doing good unto men.
Thirdly, room is plentiful in God's kingdom, so that sinfulness never keeps any away (vs15-24). He said, “‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ He only saves sinners, the worst of the bunch, people who know themselves WORTHY of hell.
The Lord's grace is rich and glorious in who He saves, giving the Son for the lowest to prove the greatness of His condescending love, as He comes to us, gives us life, and saves us by grace. Ephesians 2 says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)... that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (vs4-7). Anyone who is willing may enter into paradise through Jesus the Lord, by trusting Him. The problem is that men are unwilling, unconcerned about the soul, and they haven't been HUMBLED to see need. Scripture says, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ But they all with one accord began to make excuses”. They see Him as nothing more than an option. To them, He is not the only hope there is.
Finally, only sinners take the terms of salvation (vs25-33). Our Lord said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple”. Only those who know themselves condemned will bow down to the Son, surrendering all. Faith isn't anything less than the only option that I have, the God given realization that He rules, and I'll be spared only by faith in the Son, which is surrender. People think that faith is in a doctrine or creed, but faith is BELIEVING God, not a part, but the whole. I believe Him on how I'll be saved, what salvation looks like, and what I'm to do. I believe the promises, rewards, warnings, and commands. I believe Him and not self, repenting daily. This hard life of denial is only available to sinners who need the Son of God to save them, to give them the power, and to walk with them in loving-kindness, so that we can do His will.
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