Pentecost Season · Year C
Proper 17
September 3, 2028
Overview & Insights
“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)
This is the third time Luke has depicted Jesus as an invited guest at a Pharisee’s table (see also 7:36–50; 11:37–54), and on each occasion Jesus makes things uncomfortable, challenging the social conventions and the moral values of his hosts and fellow guests. In this case, the meal setting continues into 14:15–24, in which Jesus will use the motif of a special meal as the basis for a parable about the kingdom of God that picks up the theme of 14:12–14. But Jesus was equally at home in less respectable company, and the great parables of chapter 15 will be prompted by the objections that Pharisees raised to his eating with “sinners.” So the Pharisees, despite their occasional hospitality to Jesus, are finding themselves increasingly at odds with his teaching and his style of ministry.
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Commentary
Commentary on Luke 14:1, 7-14 Working Preacher
Notes that Jesus' words about the guest list are aimed at the host, not just the other guests.
Luke 14:1, 7-14 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reads the meal scene as continuing Luke's theme of an upside-down banquet.
Luke 14 Bible Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik
Walks through the seating parable and the guest-list instruction verse by verse.
Luke 14 Commentary Precept Austin
Collects word studies and cross-references for the chapter.
Luke 14:7 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregates classic commentaries on the parable of the places of honor.
Luke 14:7 Interlinear BibleHub
Shows the Greek text of the seating parable word by word.
Background & Word Study
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Questions preachers ask
What does Jesus teach at the feast?
Healing a man on the sabbath, Jesus then tells the guests not to take the place of honor but the lowest place, for the humble will be exalted (Luke 14:1–11).
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