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JESUS HUMBLES THE PROUD (I)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1
Luke 14:1-15

1 Peter 5:1-7

 

“For whosoever exalteth

himself shall be abased…”

 

JESUS HUMBLES THE PROUD (I)
 
Jesus was invited to the house of one of the chief Pharisees for a sabbath day meal. This was done not because they wanted to honour Him, but to find a reason to accuse Him for Luke tells us they watched Him closely with insidious intent. And it so happened (or was it arranged?) that a man suffering from dropsy was standing there right in front of Him. The lawyers and Pharisees were no doubt waiting to see if He would heal on the sabbath. Knowing their thoughts, Jesus asked them a question, “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?” They kept quiet and would not answer. Then Jesus took the sick man, healed him, and let him go. Before they could accuse Jesus of breaking the sabbath, Jesus questioned them, “Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?” The question was rhetorical, expecting the answer “None.” They thus had to shut their mouths. If they allowed an ox or ass to be rescued from the pit on the sabbath, then how could they forbid the saving of a human being from sickness? They could not fault Him. If they accused Jesus, they accused themselves too.
 
In this parable, Jesus taught how we ought to be humble for “whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” So, if we are invited to attend a wedding dinner, we ought not to be presumptuous and plant ourselves at the VIP table. The situation Jesus described was quite similar to Chinese wedding dinners where there are special tables reserved for important guests. The tables are usually numbered with table #1 being the chief table, and the tables nearest to it being the more important ones. It would be truly embarrassing to be told to vacate one’s seat for another, and be relegated to a lower place. Humiliation often results when one is not humble. But if we are found at the last table, and the host invites us to the first table, it would be a promotion indeed.
 
THOUGHT: Humility begets honour.

PRAYER: O Father, for a humble heart I pray.

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