For all who exalt themselves will be humbled (and by that I mean specifically the people at this party with me)
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Summer is over, and the kids are back to school, so I’m back to this week’s scripture, and this is a fun one. We find Jesus at a fancy dinner party, and he is there to serve up some Emily Post style etiquette advice with a side of theology. The scripture says that Jesus is at the home of the head of the Pharisees, and everyone is staring at him. In the previous scriptures Jesus had just healed a person who was sick, and then lectured the onlooking Pharisees at this party about healing people on the sabbath. Jesus then looks at the group and lets them know that he has thoughts on their seating.
For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
At this party there are places for honored guests to sit and there are places for the rest of the rabble, and the Pharisees have all taken seats in the honorable section. Jesus gives them a bit of advice that seems like it was probably dripping with contempt. He tells them to sit in the lower places first and let the host tell them to move into the section of honor. That way no one will ever have to awkwardly tell you hop back to the lame table. Sound advice, as well as a little jab at the Pharisees by implying that maybe they need to move it on out of the honored section.
Jesus follows up by repeating what really is the theme of Luke’s gospel, “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” As with many other stories in the gospel, Jesus reminds us of God’s great reversal of fortune in the Kingdom of God where the last shall be first, the hungry will be fed, etc. Normally in the gospel we hear this as good news, but in this case it is basically a threat delivered directly to some of the rich who Jesus says will be brought down. The scripture doesn’t say what the Pharisees reply to this, but one would have to assume that it is not something they want to hear.
Jesus keeps the insults coming as he then goes to the person who invited him with another piece of advice. He tells him that whenever he has a big meal like this he should invite poor people rather than inviting friends, family and rich people to impress. In essence saying, “If you ever host one of these things, don’t invite the Pharisees who are in the room with us, they are just here to impress people.” Ouch. The scripture continues the theme of reversal of fortune by calling the man, and also the reader to reject building up favor with the people in power and instead feed people who are in need.
I think what is most interesting about this passage is how un-nuanced it is. Jesus has an opportunity to dine with rich bigwigs and he uses it to literally speak truth to power. He walks right in and does things he knows will offend them, insults them to their face, and then tells his friend to stop associating with them. Jesus does not like the people in power, and he has no interest in currying their favor for any reason. He is here to serve those in need, and we should be too.