The Parable of the Best Seat
Edwin Whittlesey
Everyone knows of someone who always wants
the best of everything. Whether it is being first in
line, having the best seat in the house, or just trying
to one-up the neighbor, we can all agree that these
types of people are unpleasant to be around. In
Luke 14:7-11, Jesus provides spiritual teaching
against such selfish characteristics. Let’s consider
together the setting of this parable and draw
applications from it.
Jesus was eating at the house of one of the
Pharisees’ rulers on the Sabbath day. Luke implies
that the Pharisees invited Jesus with the
intention of watching Him. Their plot was clearly to
oppose and accuse Him of healing a man with
dropsy (Luke 11:53-54). Jesus then questions the
Pharisees regarding the lawfulness of healing on
the Sabbath, to which they had no response.
Then, Jesus heals the man and presents them
with another question. He points out their inconsistency
by asserting that Sabbath law did not
forbid acts of mercy (see also Matt. 12:12). Again,
the Pharisees could not answer.
After noticing how the invited guests were
choosing the best seats, Jesus begins the parable.
Using an example of a wedding feast, He
warns them against choosing places of honor, as
certain seats at the table were considered more
honorable. The rationale being, if a more distinguished
and respected guest arrives, they would
be asked to take a seat of lesser importance. As
a result, being demoted would bring about humiliation
and embarrassment. Jesus continues, and
advises them to take a lower seat, instead. Then,
by being asked to move to a better seat, they would
receive glory rather than shame. Solomon imparts
the same principle in Proverbs 25:6-7, “Do
not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and
do not stand in the place of the great; For it is better
that he say to you, ‘Come up here,’ than that you
should be put lower in the presence of the prince...”
Jesus concludes with a general teaching which
summarizes the very thrust of this remarkable
parable: that true humility leads to exaltation.
So what lessons are we to learn from the
parable? One is to keep our self-perception in
check. We need to see ourselves through the
same lens that others do. The challenge is to not
allow pride and selfish ambition to take pre-eminence,
for both are disgraceful before God and
men. All the proud in heart are an abomination to
the Lord (Proverbs 16:5), and will be punished.
Likewise, Paul instructs the Philippians to “Let
nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit,
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem
others better than himself,” (Philippians 2:3). Just
as Jesus points out in the parable, the proud set
themselves up for a fall. We can avoid the dangers
of pride by constantly comparing our unworthiness
to God’s greatness. Furthermore, we can fend off
pride by keeping proper perspective of our place
and purpose in God’s kingdom: to serve and glorify
Him.
Another lesson from the parable is to understand
the significance of humility. We need to see
the value of self-denial versus the destructiveness
of self-gratification. Let’s consider some benefits
and rewards of humility, according to scripture.
James tells us the humble receive God’s grace
(James 4:6), and are lifted up or exalted (James
4:10). The humble are recipients of God’s guidance
and leadership (Psalm 25:9). Solomon attributes
wisdom to the humble (Proverbs 11:2). In
addition, he states humility coupled with fear of
God results in wealth, honor, and life (Proverbs
22:4). Paul even charges us as God’s people to
“clothe” ourselves with humility among other virtues
(Colossians 3:12). In the context of this
parable, humility allows us to be content with
“lower” things, and thereby warrants opportunity
for “higher” things.
In closing, Jesus has taught us the need to be
humble in our relationships with each other, as
well as our servant relationship with God. Compared
to humility, pride is much less desirable;
especially knowing the Lord hates it. Through
Jesus’ simple story, we see the danger of pride
and how it leads to humiliation and embarrassment.
We must not fall into the trap of thinking
we’re more prestigious and glamorous than we
really are. Perhaps more importantly, we must
learn the value of humility, as it is respectable and
honorable before the Lord and others. May God
bless us as we strive to overcome pride and
practice humility while living in service to Him.