V 1.

One Sabbath he went to have a meal in the house of a leading Pharisee; and they were watching him closely.

Jesus  was being watched continually. The Jewish religious leaders were looking for him to incriminate himself.  They were willing to make the most of any and every opportunity and to set him up whenever they could to trap him into saying or doing something they could accuse him of.  Jesus would have been very much aware of what they were on about, but he continued on his way, doing the work he came to do.  He was totally focused on his ministry and did not allow anyone to move him from his path.

As Christians, we are also being watched as we go about our daily lives.  When we are living according to God's will for us, we can go about our lives with confidence, as Jesus did.

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V 7 - 10

When he noticed how the guests were trying to secure the places of honour, he spoke to them in a parable: 'When you are asked by someone to a wedding-feast, do not sit down in the place of honour.  It may be that some person more distinguished than yourself has been invited; and the host will come and say to you, "Give this man your seat."  Then you will look foolish as you begin to take the lowest place. No, when you receive an invitation, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he will say, "Come up higher, my friend."  Then all your fellow guests will see the respect in which you are held.

I can imagine the twinkle in Jesus' eye as he gives this 'advice'.  The image of a social climber being brought down to his proper level would have raised a few chuckles - except from the social climbers!  This is also a parable, so what Jesus was saying has more to teach us than just how to mind our manners in a social situation.

New Bible Commentary, p 1004.  As a parable it has spiritual significance.  A wedding feast was a recognised symbol for the kingdom of God and heavenly bliss.  The parable is based on the practice of seating guests at table by rank and distinction.  The more important guests would arrive last, and an unwary early arrival might have to be moved to a lower place so as to accommodate them.  Far better to adopt a position of modesty and wait to be invited to a better seat.  For God exalts the humble and debases the proud.

The Pharisees considered themselves to be a cut above the ordinary people as they religiously kept the Law.  They were the religious 'establishment'.  They would have expected that, in the Kingdom of God, at God's feast, they would be among the most honoured guests.  Jesus warned them that they may not be the most honoured guests as they thought.  God may consider others,  more humble, to take precedence.

As well, the Pharisees considered themselves 'first' in God's scheme of things, just because they were Jews.  In hindsight, we know they were wrong.  How often do we tend to feel we are 'superior', just because we are Christian?

We must remember that we may not be first in God's eyes, just because we faithfully go to worship, spend time in prayer and study, work for our churches, help the poor, or whatever other good works we include in our lives.  It's very easy to become self satisfied and patronising of those we try to 'help' in the name of Christianity or spreading the gospel.  Because we live 'good, clean' lives, we can look down our noses at those who don't meet our standards.  That was not Jesus' attitude towards the people who flocked around him.

V 11.

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.'

It is not for us to decide where we stand in God's order.  We know, individually, that God loves each of us as if we were his only creation.  But that is how he loves everyone else too!  (A bit hard to get the mind around!) So, it's no use trying to pretend we're more important to him than anyone else.  We're not. We're not less important either.  It's God's privilege to decide when and where we 'sit at his table'.

Quest Study Bible note, p 1444.  Humility is more than what shows outwardly.  Humility means seeing what God has done to overcome faults and sins.  Those who role play at humility to impress others, those who compare themselves to people instead of God, and those who put themselves down to gain God's favour have missed true humility.  Outward humility alone often masks inner pride.

V 12 - 14.

Then he said to his host, 'When you are having a party for lunch or supper, do not invite your friends, your brothers or other relations, or your rich neighbours; they will only ask you back again, and so you will be repaid. But when you give a party, ask the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind; and so find happiness. For they have no means of repaying you; but you will be repaid on the day when good men rise from the dead.'

Jesus wasn't suggesting that we never invite our family and friends to party with us. It was the motive behind the invitations that he was thinking about.  Nor was he talking only about inviting people to dinner or to a party. When ever we do something for another person - whether it be friends, family or strangers in need - it is important that we do it with no thought of what we may gain from it ourselves. Good deeds are best done in secret, so only God knows what we have done.

Someone once asked Corrie ten Boom how she could possibly handle all the compliments and praise that were constantly heaped upon her, without becoming proud.  She said she looked at each compliment as a beautiful long-stemmed flower given to her.  She smelled it for a moment and then put it in a vase with the others.  Each night, just before retiring, she took the beautiful bouquet and handed it over to God saying, "Thank you, Lord, for letting me smell the flowers; they all belong to you."  She had discovered the secret to genuine humility. (Bouquet. David Seamands, quoted in More Stories for the Heart, Mulynomah Publishers Inc. 1997)