Luke 14:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

NIV: For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

NASB: For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.'

CSB: For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

NLT: For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.'

KJV: For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

NKJV: For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus comes to the moral of His parable. He has watched guests file in for a formal banquet and try to figure out how closely they can sit to the host based on their social rank. Jesus is telling them they're going about it wrong. If they assume an honorable seat and a more respected guest arrives, they will be told to make a shameful walk to the foot of the table. If they sit at the foot of the table, however, the host may honor them by insisting they move up (Luke 14:7–10).

In the next lesson, Jesus tells the host to stop inviting people of renown who can repay the favor. Instead, he should throw feasts for the poor, blind, and injured and let God repay him for his generosity (Luke 14:12–14).

The two parables have basically the same meaning: do not try to work the system to win honor or reward. Serve humbly and let others—including God—choose to give you honor or reward as they see fit. "Honor" that comes only by manipulating others isn't really honor.

Jesus revisits this theme later with the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9–14). A Pharisee proudly prays before God about how righteous he is. A tax collector laments his sin. When they leave, it is the tax collector who is redeemed because of his humble repentance.

This verse also echoes a prior quote: "And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last" (Luke 13:30). In that context, Jesus was saying that there will be Gentiles who follow the Jewish Messiah when many Jews will not.

Luke 14:7–11 occurs at a feast given by a Pharisee and is the first of three parables about how people enter God's kingdom. Jesus advises that when attending a banquet, not to assume a place of honor. If someone more important arrives, the host will make you shamefully walk to a seat at the foot of the table. Assume humility and you may be honored by another. Living in God's kingdom requires humility: knowing you don't deserve His blessing but accepting it when He offers. Next, Jesus teaches the Pharisees to bless those who cannot repay. These parables are unique to Luke's gospel.

A Pharisee invites Jesus to a formal dinner. There, Jesus teaches lessons using invitations and feasts as a theme. These emphasize humility and the importance of not making excuses. After the dinner, Jesus warns that those who seek to follow Him will experience hardship. Believers should "count the cost" and understand what aspects of this world they may have to give up.

Luke 14 continues Jesus' doctrinal march to Jerusalem and the cross. Luke 14 and 15 contain the second grouping of one miracle and a series of discussions about the kingdom of God and salvation; Luke 13:10–35 is the first. Next will be a collection of warnings about rejecting God's kingdom (Luke 16:1—17:10) and two more sets of lessons about the kingdom and salvation, each beginning with a single miracle (Luke 17:11—18:34; 18:35—19:27). After this comes Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.