On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.” vs. 1
Luke 14:1, 7-11
Jesus interacted with a variety of people, and he often accepted dinner invitations from his opponents. On this occasion he was in the home of a leader of the Pharisees, and Luke notes that they were watching him closely. They knew that he was unpredictable and that he was likely to violate some sabbath ordinance. What’s ironic is that as they were watching him, he was also observing how they were behaving. And in what he saw he was reminded of an old proverb about putting oneself forward in the presence of the king, and he told them a parable about choosing the place of honor at a wedding banquet. Of course he’s not just giving wedding reception etiquette here. What he said reflected his desire that his disciples be known for their humility. And as the centuries have passed, that’s exactly what they have done. All the great saints of the faith were humble to the core and avoided exultation whenever they could. It’s not easy to behave that way. Many believers struggle with being humble, because it feels so good to be exulted. We love it when someone singles a person out for praise in the presence of others. Now sometimes to our chagrin, such things do happen, but woe to those who cultivate the praise of others. That’s just not the Jesus Way!
Thought for the Day: How do I feel when others are praised, and I am not?
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