Luke 14:11-15
Luke 14:11 (KJB)
For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself
shall be exalted.
Jesus then gives the principle concerning those who attempt to exalt themselves.
First Exalt - Present tense
Abased - Future tense
Humbleth - Present tense
Second Exalt - Future tense
Jesus states that if a person attempts to exalt themselves in the present,
presenting themselves as something they are not, then it may last for a while
but the guarantee is that at some time in the future, they will be abased. Those
arrogant unbelievers who are living a luxurious life with high social position
and if they do not become saved, they will be severely humbled at the Great
White Throne Judgment. The word “abased” carries with it the meaning of “made
low, degraded, or humbled.” In this case it will be a humility which is forced
on the person. Then the second part of the verse speaks about the opposite.
Those who humble themselves in the present, at some time in the future will be
exalted and that exaltation may come in this life or it may come in the next
life in Glory.
Luke 14:12 (KJB)
Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper,
call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich
neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee.
Then Jesus turns to the host who invited Him and gives him a lesson in humility.
He states that if you make a dinner or a supper, then do not invite those who
are your friends who will have the same social status, or your brethren and
family for they too will be of the same social status. Don’t invite the rich
neighbors either because they will in turn invite you to one of their dinners
and it will be like you are getting paid back for your invitations. In today’s
language we would call it, “one hand washing the other.” You invite those who
can only do good for your career and status rather than those who are really in
need. Basically, by inviting those kind of people to your dinner, you are, in
essence, inviting yourself to their dinner.
Luke 14:13 (KJB)
But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
The Pharisees were always in the habit of making banquet festivities for the
purpose of inviting their friends. Jesus puts a different spin on it. He tells
them they should invite the poor because they might need a good meal because of
being in an impoverished state. Then they should invite the maimed. Those who
are maimed are those who are crippled or are disabled in their limbs. Then those
who are lame are the ones who cannot walk or walk very crookedly. Then they are
to invite the blind, those who cannot see. By naming these groups of people,
Jesus is basically stating that they have as much value as those who have wealth
or strong bodies. These people are considered the outcasts of society. The
attitude of prejudice still continues to this day, especially in the area of
senior citizens. We have senior housing, developments, apartments, etc. It
sounds good but when you analyze it, it is taking the senior citizens out of the
mainstream of life and sequestering them in some senior ghetto until they die.
All the wisdom and knowledge of age that is taken out of neighborhoods today is
seen by the way society is turning out. In the old days, seniors lived with
their families and imparted wisdom to young people to keep them on the straight
and narrow.
Luke 14:14 (KJB)
And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be
recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
Then Jesus states that there is blessing for those who do not ignore or neglect
those who have physical disabilities or those who are poor. When you help them,
normally they cannot recompense or repay you for the kindness that you have
shown them. True love is giving without expecting anything in return. Now Jesus
does not stop there but He tells them that they will be repaid at the
resurrection of the just. Here He is speaking about those who have become truly
saved because the unbeliever normally looks out only for themselves and what can
benefit them best. Only the saved will be raised at the resurrection of the just
at the last day. These are acts of kindness and they are also an open door to
witness to those who are not saved. In fact, inviting them to a dinner when they
know they cannot pay is also a testimony of the spirit of giving that indwells
the believer. Spiritually speaking, each of the conditions that Jesus named in
the previous verse can be applied to the unbeliever such as being spiritually
blind and we are to give the Gospel to everyone, no matter what their physical
or financial condition is because the soul is the important part. If they become
saved, it will not matter what condition their body is in because they will
receive a new one anyway.
Luke 14:15 (KJB)
And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto
him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
There was probably a Pharisee, a strict orthodox Jew who was sitting at the
table with them and thought that because of his status that he would
automatically be part of the great messianic kingdom to come. Amos had warned
Israel in his day that they should not be desiring the day of the Lord because
they were not prepared for it since they had rejected the truth. (Amos 5:18
KJV) Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you?
the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. It is the same with the
time of Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees had thought that because of their
positions, they too would be ready for the kingdom of God to come on earth. They
had rejected their Messiah who was sitting with them and even though they
thought they were ready, they were not because they were still in their sins, as
religious as they were.